Cork Education and Training Board Self-Evaluation Report 2021 Table of Contents List of Illustrations X Glossary and Abbreviations XII Foreword 1 1. Overview of Cork ETB and Context 3 1.1 General ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................3 1.2 Population ......................................................................................................................................................................................................4 1.3 Educational Attainment ...................................................................................................................................................................5 1.4 Employment ................................................................................................................................................................................................5 1.5 Regional Overview ..............................................................................................................................................................................6 1.6 Challenges .....................................................................................................................................................................................................7 1.7 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic .......................................................................................................................................7 1.8 Cork ETB’s COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges .............................................................................................................8 1.9 Demand for Services at Cork ETB .........................................................................................................................................9 1.10 Pandemic Inequalities ........................................................................................................................................................................9 1.11 Cork ETB’s Strategic Priorities ..................................................................................................................................................9 2. Self-Evaluation Review – the Approach Adopted 10 3. Governance and Management of Quality 12 3.1 Cork Education and Training Board’s Mission and Core Values ............................................................12 3.2 Strategy Statement ............................................................................................................................................................................13 3.3 Evaluation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4 Structures and Terms of Reference for the Governance and Management of Quality Assurance .....................................................................................................................................................................................................15 A. Cork ETB Corporate Governance 15 B. Executive Level Governance 16 C. Management and Governance of Further Education and Training 16 D. Management of Quality Assurance 18 E. Programme Approval Group 19 3.5 Evaluation .....................................................................................................................................................................................................19 3.6 An example how this operates from Kinsale College’s Self Evaluation report ....................20 3.7 Effective Practice Identified ....................................................................................................................................................20 3.8 Challenges Identified ........................................................................................................................................................................21 3.9 Potential Future Enhancements ............................................................................................................................................21 3.10 The Documentation of Quality Assurance Policy and Procedures ....................................................21 3.11 Evaluation ....................................................................................................................................................................................................23 3.12 Effective Practice Identified .....................................................................................................................................................23 3.13 Challenges Identified ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24 3.14 Potential Future Enhancements .......................................................................................................................................... 24 3.15 Staff Recruitment, Management and Development........................................................................................ 24 A. Staff Recruitment Process 24 Cork Education and Training Board Self Evaluation Report III B. Contracted and Second Providers Recruitment 25 C. Self-Financing Adult Education (Evening Class) Recruitment 25 D. Induction of New Teaching Staff 26 E. Professional Development 26 F. European Work Shadowing: Erasmus Initiative 26 G. Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) 27 3.16 Case Study: FET Cork Staff Placement in Industry Programme .........................................................28 F. Quality Assurance Training 29 3.17 Evaluation ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 3.18 Effective Practice................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 3.19 Challenges Identified ......................................................................................................................................................................30 3.20 Potential Future Enhancements ..........................................................................................................................................30 3.21 Programme Development and Review .........................................................................................................................30 A. Programme Development and Approval process 30 B. History of programme validation in Cork ETB 30 C. Cork ETB Processes for Programme Approval 31 3.22 Case Study: Collaborating Provider on Post 2016 Apprenticeships .................................................31 D. Programme Validation by Cork ETB 32 3.23 Case Study One: Level 6 Advanced Certification in Music for Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa (CSN) ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................32 3.24 Case Study Two: Level 4 Special Purpose Award in Cleaning Skills for Cork Training Centre ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................33 3.25 Case Study Three: Level 6 Supplemental Award in Domestic Gas Safety for Cork Training Centre .......................................................................................................................................................................................33 3.26 Case Study Four: Collaboration with other ETBs .............................................................................................. 34 3.27 Evaluation ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.28 Effective Practice Identified .................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.29 Challenges Identified .......................................................................................................................................................................35 3.30 Potential Future Enhancements ...........................................................................................................................................35 3.31 Access, Transfer and Progression .......................................................................................................................................35 A. Admissions Policy 35 B. Access – Information to Learners 36 C. Guidance 37 D. Recognition of Prior Learning 38 3.32 Case Study: TOBAR Project .....................................................................................................................................................38 E. Transfer 38 F. Progression 39 3.33 Case Study: Communications Class linked between Youthreach and Cork College of Commerce ..................................................................................................................................................................................................39