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Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018

Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Questions (53)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

53. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions taken to date to improve linkages between those providing apprenticeships and third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49450/18]

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Written answers

Apprenticeships currently lead to qualifications at levels 5 to 9 of the National Framework of Qualifications so span further and higher education.   Both the Higher Education Authority and the Technological Higher Education Association are represented on the Apprenticeship Council and on the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC) which advises the board of SOLAS on the craft apprenticeships. Third level institutions are coordinating providers for eleven of the seventeen new apprenticeships now operational following the Apprenticeship Council’s two calls for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 and 2017.  These new programmes span a variety of sectors ranging from financial services, biopharma, logistics to hospitality.  In addition, third level institutions are the proposed coordinating providers for almost half of the further 35 apprenticeships currently in development. 

Furthermore, Institutes of Technology provide two of the three off-the-job phases (phases 4 and 6) for 23 of the 25 craft apprenticeships.  Currently twelve Institutes of Technology are involved in this provision. Institutes of Technology are also involved in the remodelling of the curricula for those apprenticeships to keep pace with new methods and technologies in the workplace and to ensure that apprentices have a broader range of literacy, numeracy, ICT and teamworking skills.

It is important to note that all apprenticeship programmes lead to full awards on the National Framework of Qualifications, leading to clarity around the level of learning outcomes and supporting progression arrangements for apprentices when they complete their programmes.

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