In 2013, the state agency SOLAS (an tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna, translated as’Further Education and Skills Service’) was established, replacing the former agency FÁS. SOLAS was founded under the Further Education and Training Act, as an agency of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
With the establishment of SOLAS came the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country, in an effort to bring education and training systems together on both a local and national level. Each year SOLAS invests approximately €800 million of funding in Further Education and Training (FET). The majority of this funding is directed towards ETB further education and training provision directly and through a network of education and training providers.
Solas has set out an ambitious strategy for further education and training for the years 2020-2024. Entitled “FET: Transforming Learning”, it is based around three core pillars of building skills, fostering inclusion and facilitating pathways. It was preceded by the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014 – 2019, as SOLAS must prepare a new strategy on the provision of further education and training every five years.
Now, at the halfway point through the strategy, there has been significant progress, notwithstanding the not so small matter of a global pandemic.
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris says in the strategy that “FET will be critical to our post-Covid recovery. Now more than ever, FET will support the economy through targeted initiatives, particularly around re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities”, and emphasises that the strategy “offers a clear pathway to recovery and opportunity for everyone”.
Regarding the pace of the strategy in the midst of the pandemic, SOLAS CEO Andrew Brownlee says: “The pandemic posed challenges for all sectors of Irish society, not least FET. The wider further education and training system continued to operate online and onsite as an essential service. This was critical in enabling apprenticeship waiting lists to be addressed and learners to enjoy a full and effective learning experience.”
Despite the momentum that kept SOLAS and FET running during the pandemic, Brownlee acknowledges there were some who lost out on further education and training opportunities. “However, we are aware that some learners were ‘lost’ to FET during the pandemic because of the move to wholly online learning for some periods and the general uncertainty and other life-affecting issues which the pandemic caused. SOLAS with FET partners are focusing efforts on how to address the main barriers which are limiting participation in FET, particularly by key target groups.”
The strategy examines the evolving environment around us, and how the world in which we work is constantly changing. Digitisation, globalisation, an ageing population, major technological advancements and climate change are all huge influences on how we work, and the skills we will need to carry out this work. When planning ahead in terms of what training should be offered, for how long, and in what manner, it is hugely important to take into consideration these constantly evolving conditions.
Solas has reacted to the ongoing Ukrainian crisis in a proactive manner, integrating FET for Ukranians arriving in Ireland into the 2020-2024 FET strategy, with tens of thousands of people of all ages entering the country. As part of an immediate response, FET and ETBs around the country have begun offering access to FET courses, English language training and a refugee settlement programme. SOLAS is part of an emergency task force set up by the Department of Education, alongside DFHERIS and ETBI. Some other initiatives in progress include:
- Recognition of 14 Ukrainian qualifications and direct translation of these to Irish awards from Levels 3-10 on the Irish NFQ system
- Consideration to be given to entire family literacy and learning approaches to develop English language skills across Ukrainian families
- A shared and common referral process from the Department of Social Protection to ensure access to FET for those in need
- A system through which previous qualifications and learning for applicants to apprenticeships and positions within the construction industry will be recognised.
Green Skills has become integral to the “Skills” pillar, with the development of the Green Skills Roadmap, the development of Green Skills micro qualifications, and the first ever FET Green Skills Summit held in March 2022. The Green Skills Summit emphasised that green skills are relevant and applicable to many areas, particularly construction, but also across other careers, and as skills for life. Looking at the skills area for the remainder of the strategy, Brownlee believes that “the focus remains on promoting apprenticeships and the green skills agenda, as well as meeting Government targets on its Housing for All commitments”.
As a major part of the “Inclusion” pillar, in September 2021 a new ten year strategy, “Adult Literacy for Life” was published, aiming to address adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs in Ireland. Recent statistics on literacy show that Ireland is among the lowest performing developed countries. Targets set out in the report include a reduction of the number of adults with unmet literacy needs from 18 per cent to 7 per cent and a reduction of the number of adults with unmet numeracy needs from 25 per cent to 12 per cent. It also aims to reduce the share of adults without basic digital skills from 47 per cent to 20 per cent.
In relation to the inclusion pillar for the final two years of the 2020-2024 strategy, “the focus will be on implementing the 10-year Adult Literacy for All Strategy, transforming provision and supports for learners, and the development of a community education framework”, according to Brownlee.
The ”Pathways” pillar focuses on creating accessible routes to further education and training, from school, within further education and training, and to and from higher education. There is also an emphasis on facilitating lifelong pathways, encouraging people to continue learning, upskilling and cross-skilling throughout their lifetimes.
At present there are ongoing and planned campaigns to facilitate entry to FET and apprenticeships via the CAO, as well as mapping of Transition Year taster modules. Research is to be undertaken on barriers to entry to further education and training, while standardisation of university entry requirements for FET graduates, and FET to Higher Education Transitions Reform are in progress. Research is also underway on progression outcomes by QQI level.
As regards to the next FET strategy, there have been some indicators about what areas the government would like to see included. “Since the development of the current FET strategy, SOLAS and the FET sector have been asked to play a key role in driving Government’s flagship policies on Housing for All and Climate Action as well as the broader area of Green Skills,” explains Brownlee. “We would envisage these areas being reflected in a future FET strategy.” The emphasis on skills, inclusion and creating pathways from the current strategy will remain as strategic priorities, and the focus will continue to be on outcomes for learners.
To find a course, visit: fetchcourses.ie
