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Third Level Education Provision

Third Level Provision in Clare Update November 2007

During 2003/2004 a partnership between Clare VEC, Shannon Development and the Community & Enterprise Section of Clare County Council investigated the feasibility of developing an innovative model of third level provision for the county that would address the deficit of progression opportunities in the county. A major feasibility study, authored by Aisling Sharkey and concluded in 2005, was undertaken that was jointly funded by the group. The findings of the feasibility study clearly supported the demand for learning opportunities that would serve as progression for learners in the county who completed Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework through  various VEC programmes.

In mid 2006 Clare Lifelong Learning Network using its EQUAL 2 funding and supported by Clare County Development Board, Clare VEC and Shannon Development, was in a position to fund further action research in this area. The main objective of this initiative was the development of an innovative, sustainable brokerage model for third level provision in County Clare that responds to the needs of community, adult education and local business.

This objective led to the following actions.

• Appointment of Interim Director for Period of sixteen months (Sept 06 to Dec 07)
• Development of Legal Framework for the emerging structure
• Network directly with adult education, community, industry and business interests within the county to establish practical demand in the sector for higher education and training.
• Determine the viability of particular proposals and link these identified needs with specific course providers, both in the region and outside the region, with a view to course delivery using traditional and ICT methods.
• Lobby the Department of Education and Science for recognition and funding for the Clare College of Further and Higher Education.
• Develop a coherent marketing strategy for the developing service and promote the agreed legal name for the service in all possible ways.
• Seek funding from all available sources, including DES, other government departments, foundations and other private sources. Develop funding proposals as appropriate.
• Create a developmental evaluation process that allows a constructive critical reflection time at frequent intervals for both the steering committee and the director.

Programmes piloted by CLLN

Since the appointment of the Director, in September, 2006 the following programmes have been piloted by the Clare Lifelong Learning Network Third Level Initiative:

FETAC (L5) Community Development Certificate

• This individual module was completed by 50 people around the county (Ennis, 16; Ennistymon, 12; Shannon 8 and Kilrush 14). A number of these students have progressed to further learning and many others are seeking progression opportunities in the county. 

FETAC (L5) Youthwork Certificate

• This module was developed locally by CLLN in partnership with Clare Youth Services. 10 students completed the module and all are seeking progression.

NUI Maynooth Certificate in Community Leadership Programme

• 16 students completed this programme which ran in East Clare over the academic year 2006/2007. There are a significant cohort of learners seeking to progress to the Diploma.

MIC Pre University Programme (L5)

• The Clare Lifelong Learning Network ran the Mary Immaculate College, Pre University programme earlier this year. There were 19 participants and all but one completed successfully. Some of these learners have progressed to the NUIG/GMIT Access to University programme, others wish to study some of the MIC degree programmes, which are not available in the county.

NUIG/GMIT Access to University Programme (FETAC L5/6)

• The National University of Ireland, Galway and The Galway Mayo Institute of Technology ran their foundation programme for the first time in Ennis. This programme attracted 20 participants some of whom have progressed to full time undergraduate programmes in NUIG and GMIT.
• NUIG/GMIT are about to appoint a full time coordinator to manage this programme in Clare. The co-ordinator will have an office in the VEC Adult Education Building on Clonroad. It is envisaged that this programme will run for at least 3 years.
• The intake for 2007/2008 is 22. The programme commenced on October 3, 2007.

Clare Campus Skillnet:

Funding for the development of a Skillnet has recently been granted to the Clare Campus. The funding proposal was developed and submitted through the work of the Director of Third Level Provision in September 2007.  This proposal envisages increasing certified learning opportunities for businesses and industry in the Clare area. The Clare Campus Skillnet will commence operations early in 2008.

Proposals for which decisions are awaited

Significant discussion has taken place between the Director of Third Level Provision and the local and national Higher Education Institutes where various models of provision have been explored. The timing of the appointment of the Director was fortuitous given that simultaneously the Higher Education Authority was administering the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) and there is currently particular emphasis on widening access and participation at third level. The Shannon Consortium (including the University of Limerick; Limerick Institute of Technology, Mary Immaculate College and the Institute of Technology, Tralee) invited local VECs to make proposals to the consortium for joint initiatives in a range of areas including traveller education, adult counselling and shared delivery of programmes. As a consequence of this and other discussions on-going with the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, the following decisions are awaited:

1. The Shannon consortium proposed to establish a Regional Learning Centre in Clare. This initiative will be led by MIC and will provide the following:

1. To consolidate and further develop the Access to University programme which is being run for the second time this year, NUIG and GMIT will explore the possibility of establishing a larger presence in Clare, by way of an NUIG/GMIT outreach centre. Again, a number of programmes will be offered including newly developed modular programmes that will provide progression for learners on the Access programme.

Lessons emerging from CLLN experience

Many lessons are emerging as a consequence of the action research that has taken place over the past 13 months. These can be summarised as follows:

• The need for a person to work ‘on the ground’ to promote and advertise programmes, liaise with the provider HEI, and recruit and support learners as they progress from VEC programmes to HEI programmes.
• There is significant and on-going demand for progression amongst VEC learners both current and past.
• There is a demand for accredited training – work based learning – in the workplace.
• There is willingness among HEI’s to engage with the VEC’s and to provide progression opportunities locally using traditional and non-traditional delivery methods.

Challenges

The single most significant challenge facing Clare once the work of Clare Lifelong Learning Network comes to a close in December 2007 will be to ensure that there is coherence among the various offerings of both consortia of HEI’s who have indicated plans to consolidate and grow their offerings in Clare. The lessons learned through the work of the Director of Third Level Provision and CLLN indicates a need for dedicated personnel to work on the ground with HEI’s and to provide support for learners who are progressing towards higher education.