Education and Transition - Contributions from Educational Research

Dr Justin Rami and Sarah Gunning (Further Education & Training Research Centre, DCU) and Ita Tobin (Director DCU Access Office ) presented a paper for this years ECER (European Conference for Educational Research) in Budapest in September. Presenting within the VETNET network and echoing the ECER conference theme, Education & Transition, this paper explores two core aspects of the initial findings from an ongoing Irish research study. The research focuses on the concept of transitions from further to higher education in Ireland. This paper explores aspects of the findings from the research, which, along other interventions, identified and recommended the need to design a blended bridging-typeprogramme, between Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) in Ireland for ease of transfer, equity and progression among all students. 

Background

The genesis for this paper began with the identification of a gap for a blended bridging-type programme between HE and FE, initiated by a broad-base research projected supported by the Irish Higher Education Authorities’ Strategic Innovation Fund. This SIDF project brought together four higher education institutions (HEI’s) and eight Education & Training boards (ETB) responsible for the provision of higher and vocational education and training. This ambitious and innovative project sought to increase collaboration, integration and synergy between HE and FE at a strategic level with a focus on Access, Transfer and Progression (ATP). Though the research produced a range of broad-reaching conclusions. This paper focuses on two main aspects of the findings; firstly, the data collected justified a future cohesive, collaborative effort for learner transition pathways in Ireland and secondly it justifies why future research should be implemented with a focus on the absent learners’ voice.