Further Education Northern Ireland

Member:

Sector
TVET Education, Higher Education, Teacher Training, Curriculum Design

Core Products / Services
TVET Curriculum Design, Teacher Upskilling, Digital Teaching, Learning & Assessment, Project Based Learning, UK Quality Assurance Model, Professional Training, Equality & Diversity, Private Sector Engagement and Centres of Excellence in Construction, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Health & Social Care, Hospitality & Tourism, IT and Life.

There are six regional Further and Higher Education Colleges, located in Northern Ireland (UK), specialising in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Collectively, the colleges operate across 40 campuses, resourced by 3,500 professional and technical staff who service some 154,000 annual enrolments. Working alongside a network of 10,000 employers, the Colleges provides a highly innovative curriculum that ensures learners develop professional and technical skills, increasingly at higher levels, to meet employer needs.

The Northern Ireland TVET sector is amongst the top performing in the UK achieving extremely high-level results in delivery of qualifications with 86% success rates across core TVET programmes and 95% for higher professional programmes. This is achieved through an integrated education framework from levels 1-7 which includes both academic and vocational education and training pathways.

The Colleges have a successful track record of delivering TVET training and capacity building projects across the globe with 250 international partnerships and over 60 “live” annual projects. We send 600 students and 220 staff on mobility each year and welcome over 420 visitors to learn, share best practices and explore the cultural aspects of life in Northern Ireland, UK.

Colleges in Northern Ireland can assist with all aspects of the development and delivery of TVET solutions, creating a framework for a skilled workforce. Our expertise lies in our experience of delivering the challenging Policy commitments relating to economic development by engaging employers in developing and delivering a demand-led curriculum.

Our ambition is to promote Northern Ireland as a destination of choice for internationally mobile students and staff. This culturally diverse region of the UK offers quality assured academic partnerships and proven expertise in the following key areas:

TVET Education & Curriculum Design
Colleges in Northern Ireland have over 100 years’ experience of delivering an employer led curriculum through creative and innovative solutions. All programmes are quality assured to UK National Standards. We support international partners to improve their curriculum, assisting them to develop qualifications to UK educational standards.

Higher Education Programmes
We offer a range of foundation Degree and bachelor’s Degree programmes in partnership with UK Universities. We hold the UKVI Tier 4 sponsorship licence, are a registered IELTS testing centre, a SAT testing centre for study in USA and certified Cambridge Assessment Centre.

TVET Teacher Training
A bespoke training programme for staff working in Adult and TVET Education mapped to UK National Standards. This programme can be delivered online, in-person or through a blended approach.

Digital Skills Development
Our professional development team can deliver bespoke training programmes to improve digital skills and competences with associated pedagogical approaches. Our practical approach to training will ensure that staff have the knowledge and tools required to deliver an online/blended curriculum.

Professional Development
Colleges in Northern Ireland are the largest provider of professional development programmes from the aspiring manager to senior executive level. We offer internationally recognised programmes to support capacity building projects. As a registered Chartered Management Institute (CMI) assessment centre we can deliver accredited management training. We have also developed a unique Global Leadership Programme tailored to the needs of middle managers.

Quality Assurance Model
The UK boasts one of the toughest quality inspection regimes in the world. Colleges in Northern Ireland have been deemed ‘Outstanding’ by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI, equivalent to Ofsted) and by the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) in recent inspections. The colleges Self-Evaluation and Quality Improvement process has been awarded the ETI highest grading over the past 9 years. The colleges have significant expertise in the development of TVET quality assurance systems and procedures both nationally and internationally.

Bespoke English for Specific Purposes
Our native English Language teaching staff has extensive international experience delivering English programmes that combine Academic English with General English. Our bespoke programmes can be delivered in-country, through a blended approach or online in “real time” providing interactive feedback and assessment.

Project Based Learning (PBL)
The PBL approach to student learning is embedded in our curriculum to help students develop their employability skills through the development of solutions to “real world” issues. This proven pedagogical approach has resulted in 97% of students moving into employment or higher levels of education. The programme is tailored to individual need and delivered in-person, online or through a blended approach.

Summer School Programmes
We offer a range of Summer (or Winter) programmes that combine English Language training, academic programmes and cultural and tourist experiences tailored to individual needs.