One size doesn’t necessarily fit all
IT is easy to think that third level education is the only show in town when students and their families think about life after secondary school. As the CAO deadlines loom, students can quickly get sucked into the ‘points race’ to secure a place in a particular college or course. But what is often missed and is equally important is to identify and consider all the options available and make sure that students find the best route for them to their future careers.
Life is all about choices, and the value of having options to pick from should not be underestimated. After all, it is our choices that will determine our future experiences so students should opt for what is best for them and not what might be considered the most popular course. People learn in different ways and some students can reap huge benefits from different learning environments. The Further Education and Training (FET) sector offers a different learning experience such as smaller class sizes on a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course or learning on-the-job through apprenticeships and traineeships.
FET offers a unique opportunity to engage in learning across a number of course types and offers a pathway to progress further, be that into a job or on to higher education.
In the past when most people thought about apprenticeships they would think about construction, electrical and motor industries. A new wave of apprenticeships has been developed in areas including CGI (computer generated imagery), lean manufacturing, finance, ICT, logistics, hospitality and sales. As well as the range of apprenticeships delivered through Education and Training Boards and the Institutes of Technology, school leavers can now do honours and masters degree-level apprenticeships in partnered third-level institutions.
The numbers entering apprenticeships have been on the increase for the last number of years. There are currently 17,500 people in apprenticeships and new registrations have been increasing year-on-year since 2011. Last year there were 6,177 registrations. Included in these figures is a welcome increase in the number of females taking up apprenticeships. The range of options is increasing, too. There are now 54 different types of apprenticeship available, 29 of which are new and more are on the way.
And it is not only students who are starting to take notice, employers are also turning to the FET sector as a talent pipeline for their businesses. In 2019, there were 6,000 employers involved with the apprenticeship system in Ireland. Micro companies, SMEs and large companies, including multinationals, are increasingly turning to apprenticeships for their recruitment and business growth. The expansion of apprenticeships in these new areas has resulted in companies that had never hired apprentices before becoming part of this growing trend.
The aim is to have more than 70 types of apprenticeships available by the end of 2020, leading to qualifications from NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) Levels 6-9, or equivalent.
Apprentices are employed by a SOLAS-approved employer for the duration of the programme which is generally between two to four years. The key benefit of an apprenticeship is the opportunity to earn while you learn and getting into employment earlier can mean there is lots of potential to progress. Apprentices build valuable work-ready skills in a chosen occupation. They open up exciting and rewarding careers, with learning grounded in the practical experience of undertaking a real job.
PLC courses are also a great option for school leavers. The PLC programme is the largest of the fulltime further education and training programmes with more than 30,000 places. These one or two-year programmes offer NFQ awards at Levels 5 and 6. PLC courses are not accessed via the Central Applications Office. Interested students can apply directly to the colleges.
These programmes can equip students with the necessary skills for the workplace. There over 200 ETB colleges of Further Education around the country offering PLCs across a diverse range of subjects including science, business, social studies, childcare and more niche areas such as costume design, animation and performing arts. PLCs can also offer students the opportunity to explore their interests and to make sure they are studying a subject area they wish to pursue.
These courses can also act as a stepping stone to third-level study with many students who take up PLCs deciding to continue studies when they finish their course and progressing on to higher education. Many universities, colleges and Institutes of Technology have programmes in place to recognise further education and training qualifications as a route to entry. If a student completes a PLC programme with good results, they have a good chance of securing a reserved place on a third level course. A database of such linked programmes is available on careersportal.ie.
A new strategy for the FET sector is due to be published soon. As part of this strategy, SOLAS is hoping to build on the successes to date with the establishment of much clearer learning pathways and a more consistent transitional approach to higher education.
A traineeship gives participants the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and knowledge on the job, making them more employable. All traineeships lead to an award at NFQ Levels 4-6, or equivalent, are six to 20 months in duration and are delivered through local Education and Training Boards. Traineeships also enable employers to access a pipeline of talent and learners. The training content and occupational standards for traineeships are developed in consultation with employers, trade unions, regulatory bodies and interest groups. Currently, there are more than 50 traineeship programmes available around the country across a range of industry areas including aviation, IT, animation, hospitality and digital marketing. This number will increase with the development of more traineeships across a range of industries and sectors.
‘Learning is grounded in the practical experience of undertaking a real job’