Further Adult & Community Education

Ultimately, the programme provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009: see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/teacher-education/initial-teacher-education/professional-accreditation-of-programmes/further-education/further-education-general-and-programme-requirements-for-the-accreditation-of-teacher-education-qualifications.pdf .



The programme seeks to provide students with the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes and values required to teach in a variety of settings in the Further Education sector (e.g., Youthreach, PLC programmes, Further Ed. Colleges, Training Centres, Private Training Companies) and broader Adult and Community Education settings. The programme promotes and maintains the standard professional knowledge, skills, values and attitudes as delineated in the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers (Teaching Council, 2016, 2nd Edition) - see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/publications/fitness-to-teach/code-of-professional-conduct-for-teachers1.pdf No prior experience of teaching will be required for entry (though some candidates may be practising teachers) and thus the programme will facilitate the training of new sector entrants to the teaching profession. Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, students on the programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as Further Education teachers, provided they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5, Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009. Students will undertake 100 hours of teaching placement in the delivery of QQI modules at NFQ Levels 1-6, as required by the Teaching Council.



The programme will be completed over three semesters, part-time. The practical teaching element of the programme will involve a total of 100 hours of teaching (with an additional 30 hours of observation conducted in Year 1 of the programme). This ordinarily includes (but it is not an essential requirement, in order to facilitate present practising FET practitioners) two different placements (FE and Adult and Community settings), and it involves both observation and four assessed teaching placement visits (two visits in both Year 1 and Year 2).



This programme carries a total of 60 ECTS credits. A variety of assessment modes (e.g., teaching placement portfolios, online reflective journals, group and individual research projects, peer presentations/School events and written assignments) will be employed in this programme. It is also envisaged that face-to-face and online lectures and tutorials will be employed. Thus, we are proposing a uniquely blended learning programme in line with Teaching Council (Section 38, Regulation Five) requirements and proofed against Covid-19 type restrictions into the future.



Please note: This new programme is currently undergoing a formal professional review process. Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, graduates of this programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland.

Course Practicalities

Teaching takes the form of blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.



Canvas (UCC’s Learning Management System) is utilised for central communication and resource supports.



Timetable details



Year 1: 40 credits total, 4 modules



ED6610: Professional Studies: Teaching in the Adult Learning Environment (20 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - Attendance at weekly workshops (4 hours) throughout Semester I (10 Saturdays) and II (10 Saturdays); 16 hours (8 hours each Semester) for supporting research study and self-assessment = 96 hours’ contact.



ED6607: Foundations 1: Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology of Adult Learning (5 credits; Semester 1) – Blended approach. Predominantly face-to-face teaching with some online sessions. Approximately, 10 x 2 hours (face-to-face); 2 x 2 hours (online) - (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact.



ED6608: Foundations 2: FET Policy and Practice in Ireland (5 credits; Semester 2) - Blended Learning: Attendance (compulsory) at 2 half-day (Friday afternoon) workshops – 6 hours plus six (3 hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.



ED6611: Professional Teaching Placement 1 (10 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - On-site teaching in one Further or Adult and Community Education setting.



Year 2: 20 credits total, 2 modules



ED6612: Professional Teaching Placement 2 (15 credits; Semester 1) - On-site teaching in one Further and/or Adult Community Education setting.



ED6609: Foundations 3: Adult Education and Social Change (5 credits; Semester 1) - Attendance (compulsory) at three (6-hour) workshops (Saturdays) = 18 contact hours; plus two (3-hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.

This programme thus provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009: see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/teacher-education/initial-teacher-education/professional-accreditation-of-programmes/further-education/further-education-general-and-programme-requirements-for-the-accreditation-of-teacher-education-qualifications.pdf It is the primary responsibility of candidates to ensure that their qualifications are acceptable for the purposes of registration as a Further Education teacher with the Teaching Council. Applicants are therefore advised to review (prior to programme entry) the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, with specific reference to Route 3 registration requirements and the education, training and qualifications criteria that apply in relation to Paragraph 2. They are also advised to contact the Further Education section (www.teachingcouncil.ie), should they need to do so, to fully determine if they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5 of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2009.



Applicants must have a Second-Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a subject area that is currently taught in Further and/or Adult Community Education in Ireland. No prior experience of teaching/tutoring is required. Graduates of the programme are entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as FET practitioners if they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5, Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2009. Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – in accordance with UCC’s Recognition of Prior Learning policy (see https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/ovptl/documents/RecognitionofPriorLearningPolicy.pdf) and with this programmes specific learning outcomes - may also be given to applicants who have successfully demonstrated outstanding achievement at Level 7 and have a minimum of three years senior professional experience in a related field such as educational leadership and instruction in FET and/or Community Education settings. To demonstrate professional experience, applicants will need to provide an up-to-date CV (including an outline of any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme), references from existing or previous employers and separate details of related teaching/tutoring duties in FET. An interview may also be required. We wish to ensure that this interview process is as inclusive as possible, with careful attention given to diverse forms of adult education provision and the working needs of our existing and new adult education provider networks; as well as attending to a more holistic evaluation of students’ competences, as well as attitudinal and dispositional characteristics, and their personal/professional positioning in the sector.



Garda Vetting



Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here (http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/admissionspolicies/) to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.



Fitness to Practise



This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found at https://www.ucc.ie/en/academicsecretariat/fitnesstopractise/



Minimum English language requirements



UCC’s programme adopts the following Minimum English language requirements (note that this is consistent with all CACSSS programmes in UCC, which stipulates that all applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS level 6.5 or the equivalent TOEFL):



IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score, with a minimum of no less than 6.0 in any single section

TOEFL (Paper based test): 585

TOEFL (Internet based test): 95

PTE (Pearson): 62

18 months part-time



Blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.

Start Date September 2024