FETRC wins SOLAS Research Tender

FETRC have recently been successful in winning a research tender from SOLAS in relation to the new FET Professional Development Strategy launched in Nov 2016. The focus of the research relates a range of related aspects within the Strategy. The changing nature of teaching and learning in Further Education & Training (FET) in 21st century Ireland presents a series of opportunities and challenges to practitioners, policy makers and learners working in this ever developing and strategically important sector of the education system. The FET sector has grown organically in recent years and it is vital to develop a knowledge base in order to capture this growth and to predict and plan for future possibilities.

The contribution from Higher Education to this agenda is well established through the provision of qualifications and skills development. On the awarding of the tender Dr Justin Rami, Director of the Centre said, ‘The role of Higher Education also concerns the provision of research that establishes an evidence-based approach to policy and practice which supports the ongoing professional development and upskilling of practitioners in the FET sector which has been a long-established area of interest for the DCU team’ .

As part of the Higher Education response to the growing research requirements of the FET sector, FETRC (the Further Education and Research Centre), based in the Institute of Education in Dublin City University, is uniquely positioned and experienced to contribute to the development of such a knowledge and evidence based research philosophy and practice. It is with this in mind that the tender was submitted and successful won by a team from FETRC. Reflecting the fact that the new FET landscape is still establishing itself, the strategy will aim to support the growth of a unified sector identity - an identify that has the quality and professionalism of the FET practitioner at its heart. The reform of the FET sector creates challenges that ensures its workforce is supported to meet the diverse needs of the sector, and an opportunity to provide a consistent system of professional development for all those working in the field.

The new SOLAS strategy sets out how, over the next three years, the sector can collectively renew and further embed a strong professional development culture across the ETBs. The strategy aims to ensure that professional development is planned, delivered and reviewed as an integrated process throughout the FET sector.