Further Adult & Community Education

Course Outline

Are you interested in a teacher qualification in Further, Adult and Community Education?



Further, Adult and Community Education programmes are designed for learners over the age 16 and not in post-primary (secondary school) education. The sector caters for all age groups from early school leavers to people upskilling in a new area or returning to education after a break away from it. Adult learners are a diverse cohort with different needs that vary according to where each student or class is along their journey of lifelong learning. This means that Further, Adult and Community Educators must be responsive to the needs of their students and adapt to the range of educational tools that best suit adult learners.



The Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education is custom built for teachers in this sector to enable them to meet the needs of their students. This course is aimed at:



- practising teachers in this sector that have teaching experience but do not have a formal Further Educational Training, or an Adult and Community education qualification.



- those wishing to enter the sector i.e. those with little or no teaching experience and who seek to specialise in Further, Adult and Community Education.



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. Further details about the Teaching Council can be found at this webpage: https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/



The Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education will equip students with the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes and values required to teach in a variety of settings in the Further Education sector such as Youthreach, PLC programmes, Further Education Colleges, Training Centres, Private Training Companies and broader Adult and Community Education settings. The programme promotes and maintains the professional standard expected of teachers in these sectors.

Requirements

- 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.



- Candidates with a Level 7 NFQ which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits degree and 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 will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in accordance with UCC’s Recognition of Prior Learning policy for applicants who have successfully demonstrated outstanding achievement.



Or



See https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/ovptl/documents/RecognitionofPriorLearningPolicy.pdf



- Certified accreditation of prior learning based on a minimum of three years’ experience in a workplace or instructional setting which is relevant to the candidate’s qualifications such as may be recognised by the Council as suitable for the purpose of registration as a teacher under this route.



- 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.



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 advised to review (prior to programme entry) the Teaching Council Regulations with specific reference to registration requirements and the education, training and qualifications criteria that apply. They are also advised to contact the Further Education section (www.teachingcouncil.ie) to fully determine if they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5 of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2009.



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

All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained:



- 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

Closing Date: Complete the expression of interest and you will be contacted when registration opens.

18 months part-time. Blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.

Start Date: September 2025.