Andrew Brownlee
@andrewbrownlee7
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Chief Executive Officer @SOLASFET , the further ed & training agency. Exiled Scot living in Dublin, clinging to my heritage via the Tartan Army. All views my own
Dublin, Ireland
Joined November 2011
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I love the idea of a Celtic alliance of nations, says
@NicolaSturgeon
- need to nurture bilateral relationship between 🇮🇪 & 🏴
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What an inspiring story of how a pathway through literacy support, Youthreach, PLC and then into HE changed a person’s life - FET can take you as far as you want to go
#ThisisFET
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Honoured and excited to be given the chance to lead such a great organisation with great people & support the next critical phase of FET development.
#thisisFET
#futureFET
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Big day tomorrow. For the 1st time, young people thinking about their next steps after school will be able to link to all the further ed & apprenticeship options available alongside HE choices when they go to CAO website. Hopefully the start of a wider conversation for everyone
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Congratulations to
@SimonHarrisTD
on his appointment as Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Science. We
@SOLASFET
& across FET look forward to working with him in his new role
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Critical message here from Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
on need for more integrated third level sector “current model fails to recognise the brilliance of further education & training, which should be a 1st choice, rather than a fallback option, for students”
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Excellent article explaining the value of FET “Most people are unaware that FET courses already have better retention rates than higher education but those who progress from them to college also have higher retention rates when they get there”
#ThisisFET
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Fantastic to hear the Minister talk about importance of FET & HE as a driver for the economy & social cohesion & immediate need to support upskilling & labour market activation. Also great to see the importance of further ed recognised in title of the exciting new department
A quick hello following my first day in the new job! Creating a brand new Department for Higher & Further Education & Research, Innovation & Science -a Department with both an economic & social policy focus. Lots to do! Will keep you updated as we progress
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Fascinating discussion between
@NicolaSturgeon
&
@DearbhailDibs
- with its natural resources & talent if Scotland doesn’t have the tools to be successful independent country with strong economy then no country does
#indyref2
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I do realise that 99% of my followers have zero interest but it’s been 23 years and only 2 days to go so here is my
#ScotlandStripoftheDay
- Isla says she likes the colours in this belter but that I shouldn’t go out the house in it 😂
#EURO2020
🏴
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Can’t think of anyone who epitomises ETBs & FET as drivers of equality as much as
@Carcher_PD
- so so we’ll deserved 👏
#ETBday
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Lots of potential for FET to play major role in delivery of new
#programmeforgovernment
- expanding apprenticeships, linking FET to schools, FET-HE transitions, upskilling those who lost jobs due to COVID & national retrofitting initiative (linking to our NZEB centres) 🚀
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Great to see Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
outline his vision for apprenticeship - looking forward to supporting the development & overseeing delivery of new apprenticeship action plan - have your say on how to shape the future 👇
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Great to hear the Minister speak at the Apprenticeship Council this morning & see his commitment to further growing apprenticeships as critical career pathways valued by everyone
#GenerationApprenticeship
Meeting with the apprenticeship council this morning and visiting An Cosan to hear about and see the impact of community education on the lives of people, their families and their locality
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Higher education has played a massive and positive role...but FET could be the right option for a more significant group of school leavers than are choosing it at present
#FutureFET
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Amazing launch today of the new
#FutureFET
strategy this morning - thanks to Ministers
@SimonHarrisTD
@NiallCollinsTD
Carol Hanney
@CityofDublinETB
& especially former FET learner Stephanie Thompson for their inspiring words
#ThisisFET
🚀
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FET is for everyone - available in every community, and offering you a pathway to take you wherever & as far as you want to go 🚀- so many exciting opportunities across
#ThisisFET
👇
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Only 30 people socially distanced in a room for our
#FutureFET
launch today, but the online stream has approaching 2k views on Facebook & we had
#ThisisFET
trending at No 1 in Irish twitter. The strategy talks about FET being louder and prouder and this is a pretty good start
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There is a fantastic new apprenticeship website now live at - your first stop shop for all you need to know about becoming an apprentice, taking on an apprentice or considering options across a wide range of exciting careers
#GenerationApprenticeship
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Another really good meeting with Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
this afternoon to talk about
#FutureFET
strategy (launch coming soon!) & how we can help
@DeptofFHed
deliver on the programme for government
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Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
stressing that the new apprenticeship action plan part of a wider system & cultural change across tertiary education, with focus on more diverse flexible pathways to take people where they want to go
#apprenticeshipforall
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Arrived in Washington DC. Looking forward to speaking at the National Association of Workforce Development Boards tomorrow at a special OECD international session on industry engagement with education
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Government to announce thousands of free courses to upskill workers hit by Covid crisis
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We opened up eCollege for everyone during the first lockdown last year and over 35000 had started a free online course (with etutor support) by the end of the year - check it out & find out how you can upskill 👇
Check out -delivers online training courses in business, project management, information technology, graphic design, web design, digital marketing, software development & basic computer literacy. Courses are free. Funded by my Department through
@SOLASFET
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Nice to see our new department
@DeptofFHed
join the twittersphere
Follow my new Department at
@DeptofFHEd
to keep up to date with our work as we create a new Department of Further & Higher Education & Research, Innovation & Science. A Department to help drive economic and social cohesion. An exciting journey ahead
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Really welcome & insightful article from
@pjprendergast
Provost
@tcddublin
“The Further Education sector is coming into its own, steered by Solas the State agency. The sector offers an incredible range of 25,000 courses for those looking for qualifications
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The team have been working hard to make this happen over the last 2 weeks - great to see the ecollege resources opened up - lots of great upskilling courses available -see links for details
#ecollegeisopen
📢 Interested in fully online, tutor supported & industry certified courses? 🤔In response to the
#COVID19
situation
@eCollegeIRL
courses are temporarily being made available FREE of charge to over 16s. More info @
#eCollegeisOpen
#edchatie
#COVID19ireland
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Great to see Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
engage with
@an_cosan
learners this morning - this type of community education is such a critical part of current and
#FutureFET
, especially the ways in which they use technology to widen access to education
Have you ever had one of those moments where you find yourself awestruck by the people you are with? Spent the morning meeting learners in
@an_cosan
-people who have overcome incredible challenge to excel & fulfil their dreams through community education. Let’s make this the norm
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This is so important - days of a block of education from age 17 to 21 serving you for the rest of your career are gone - we need a flexible credits based system that facilitates ongoing education & upskilling throughout lifetimes - both FET & HE have a critical role in this
We also need further education and higher education to be much more integrated and a credit system that can transfer from one to the other. Lots of work ahead. But want to start the conversation this week & want to see real progress for 2022
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Was great to meet the Minister on Wednesday and discuss the role and potential contribution of FET to the recovery, economic development & social cohesion. Lots to focus on & move forward over the next few weeks
Busy first week in the new role creating brand new Government
@DeptofFHed
. Met with lots of stakeholders including:
@TheUSI
✅
@aontas
✅
@IUAofficial
✅
@THEA_Irl
✅
@scienceirel
✅
@hea_irl
✅
@SOLASFET
✅
@tcddublin
✅
New Minister of State
@NiallCollinsTD
in situ ✅
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In
@SOLASFET
we’ve put a lot of effort into understanding the FET learner profile to help the ETBs develop exciting courses and pathways to meet their needs. FET data is work-in-progress but so fascinating to see these funky & focused publications start to emerge
#ThisisFET
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Today we celebrate 10 years since the establishment of
@SOLASFET
as an organisation with an event with all our great staff. Brilliant to hear such inspiring journeys from our learners & apprentices - Stephanie, John & Saoirse - which is the reason why we are all here 🎈
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Don’t quite know where they came up with the idea for calling it the wild Atlantic way - great weekend though
#clare
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Brilliant to hear
@LottieRyan1
talk to
@DoireannGarrihy
on InstagramLive tonight about her experience
@ColDhulaigh
doing media & comms - “best choice I ever made...PLC courses are amazing...I can’t speak highly enough about PLCs”
#ThisisFET
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My interview with
@BreakfastNT
this morning where I spoke about the great opportunities FET and apprenticeships can offer those leaving school via
@newstalkfm
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Just a reminder for anyone looking to upskill in spare time during these Level 5 restrictions - eCollege has over 30 exciting free accredited online courses available offering digital & other skills - all with personal eTutoring support to meet your needs
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Really interesting interview with Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
on why we need to give schools leavers a full range of options at CAO time including FET & apprenticeships to help support smarter choices via
@newstalkfm
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Good to see the Minister’s strong endorsement of the value of community education. It is such a critical part of FET, supporting 50,000 learners across every corner of Ireland
#ThisisFET
1/Delighted to see
@SimonHarrisTD
’s statement today:
"
#CommunityEducation
is at the heart of ensuring a better future for families. A key priority for me will be bridging the digital divide & ensuring everyone can access education in a way that works for them."
@an_cosan
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Great to see this announcement- delivering on a major commitment in the apprenticeship action plan by ensuring all employers get support for on & off the job training of their apprentices
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We’re going to need your help tomorrow as we want to stimulate a day long conversation about what
#FutureFET
looks like - we’ll be kicking off at about 10am so please take part, comment &retweet if you can - a few surprises up our sleeves as well
#ThisisFET
@SOLASFET
@ETBIreland
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We want to send out the message that FET is for everyone. It is available in every community in Ireland, and offers every individual, regardless of any previous level of education, a pathway to take them as far as they want to go
#ThisisFET
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Could FET play a role in supporting more vocational pathways and options as part of the senior cycle? Interesting article from
@PeterMcGuireIE
on Where next for the Leaving Cert?
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Brilliant to see these 23 tertiary courses launched tomorrow. A development led by the new
@NTOIreland
& product of a great partnership between
@hea_irl
&
@SOLASFET
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Looking forward to this major milestone in the development of FET tomorrow. In this environment we had to severely restrict nos attending the launch, so we are also streaming it live on our
#ThisisFET
Facebook page. Please try to join us to hear more about
#FutureFET
@SimonHarrisTD
&
@NiallCollinsTD
will launch the new
@SOLASFET
strategy
@RichBarracks
tomorrow.
You can follow the event by tuning into our live stream on Facebook from 10am:
#ThisIsFET
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That means we’ve now been out to all 16 ETBs since I started in the new role in September - the passion, commitment, value and shared sense of vision & purpose between
@SOLASFET
& ETBs all clear & such a great foundation in place to deliver
#FutureFET
&
#FETCollegeoftheFuture
🤝
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This is really important if we’re truly committed to ensuring that everyone can make a
#smartchoice
on leaving school - working intensively with ETBs & with fantastic support from CAO to find a way to put all FET & apprenticeship options on the table at CAO decision time
Revamp of online CAO system to allow school leavers apply for apprenticeships and training schemes -
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Good advice - FET is for everyone and will take you as far as you want to go - if you’re uncertain about your next steps after leaving school, FET provides a perfect opportunity to try something out, prepare for HE or take you directly into a range of exciting careers
#ThisisFET
With more free time at home recently, many of us will be thinking about the future.
Make sure to follow
@ThisisFet
which is showcasing the opportunities in Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland.
#ThisIsFET
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Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
thanking the passionate, committed dedicated professionals across FET who have gone above & beyond in keeping learning flowing during COVID
#FETFest
-critical now to build on digital transformation, address unmet literacy needs & focus on lifelong learning
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Also exciting to hear Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
plans to launch process to develop long-term strategy for literacy & numeracy & addressing the digital divide shortly with a key role for
@SOLASFET
& ETBs in its development & delivery
#ThisisFET
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With apologies in advance, here is my attempt at Irish for
#SeachtainNaGaeilge
🤦♂️ thanks to Clare
@SOLASFET
for being my teacher. If you want to brush up on your Gaeilge there’s a great course available on now
👏to our (Scottish) CEO
@andrewbrownlee7
embracing the Irish language for
#SeachtainNaGaeilge
running until 17th March. Check out his message below as Gaeilge-ish! 👇View for events or try the ‘Speak Irish With Me’ course on
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Brilliant to see this move forward so quickly - all at
@SOLASFET
looking forward to to supporting the new Department of Further & Higher Education Research Innovation & Science in realising this exciting vision - & against all odds it may even work as an acronym!
Progress today! Cabinet approves legislation to establish my new Department. This Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science is for you and your future. It will work to ensure everyone in Ireland can reach their full potential & fulfil their ambition
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"There is a whole world of opportunity out there to consider after school...the possibilities with FET are endless" FET can take you anywhere you want to go 🚀
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Great article in the
@Independent_ie
today from
@SOLASFET
’s Maria Walshe on the exciting options in FET that should be considered alongside any HE options for those planning next steps after leaving school
#ThisisFET
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Impressed by how FET staff & learners have adapted to a new way of learning during
#COVID19
. Have you adjusted to this new educational landscape? What best practices are working for you? FET teachers/learners share your ideas & stories. Start the
#FETisopen
conversation
@solasfet
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Almost 6000 a year move from FET to HE and there’s so much more potential to grow these pathways - congrats to all those getting offers today
Best of luck to all further education and training students receiving offers in Round Zero of the CAO this morning. An example of pathways and routes between further education & higher education. Determined to develop many more of these as we create a reformed third level system
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Real milestone moment for FET as we launch a suite of 24 microqualifications covering exciting areas like sustainability, lean techniques, digitalisation, manufacturing, robotics, marketing & aquaculture -all codesigned by enterprise developed by ETBs & validated by
@QQI_connect
Opening the FET micro-qualifications launch today,
@SOLASFET
Chief Executive
@andrewbrownlee7
welcomes this new FET offering to address the skills needs of the Irish workforce, as a real milestone in the nationwide provision of targeted, flexible upskilling options.
#MicroQuals
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Great to hear Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
talk about the value of other options like apprenticeships - the new employer incentive scheme already attracted applications for over 800 apprentices in first few weeks - great to see in this challenging business environment
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We had really good FET COVID-19 response meeting this afternoon. So inspiring to hear how ETBs & other FET providers adapting to this challenging environment by supporting learners & making learning available online. Stats on growth of Moodle & Teams through roof in last few wks
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First time I’ve ever had a countdown! Can’t wait for this amazing festival of learning & development to help us all drive
#FutureFET
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Good to see photos and plans emerging from Colleges of FE, training centres, CTCs and Youthreach centres on setting up facilities for safe re-opening. Personal contact & support so important in
#ThisisFET
& the often small group learning approach helps in managing the return
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In the new
@edmatters
yearbook I look back on how FET responded to the COVID challenge and how it has left it well placed to help lead the recovery
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Skills & education are the fundamental drivers of effective climate action. Great to be given opportunity to talk in-depth to
@DanielTMurray
on
#FiveDegreesofChange
for
@businessposthq
- full podcast coming soon
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11
51
This is a critical focus for FET - the
#FutureFET
strategy sets out framework for targeting literacy/numeracy support & addressing the digital divide: great to see the Minister prioritising this & looking forward to working with
@DeptofFHed
@ETBIreland
@nalaireland
& others on it
Today I am starting a big body of work on what will be a key priority for me in my new role: adult literacy -specifically digital literacy. The world is changing rapidly & we must ensure no one is left behind. Meeting with
@nalaireland
to plan the work ahead. Lots to do here
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This is an amazing initiative from
@LimClareETB
- apprenticeship taster courses delivered to TY students culminating in Junior Chef of the Year competition -exactly the type of thing
#FutureFET
strategy seeks to develop & mainstream to build skill pathways
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We will work together with
@ETBIreland
and all across FET, and with our partners in the education system, to ensure that we respond to these changes in a way that supports all our learners and potential future learners
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We had great engagement with Chief Execs & FET Directors across
@ETBIreland
today as our Expert Panel continued their work to advise on a future FET funding model. 1 plus of remote working is getting so many key people across country together without asking them to come to Dublin
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A quiet revolution is taking place...Traineeships in artisan bakery, Donegal weaving and bicycle engineering are among 50 programmes now available around the country. Others are in aviation, IT, animation, hospitality and digital marketing
#ThisisFET
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FET is for everyone, regardless of any previous level of education, available in every community in Ireland, and offering you a pathway as far as you want to go
#ThisisFET
#FETisforEveryone
Further Education & Training is for everyone.
Every year over 200,000 learners from a wide range of ages & backgrounds across every county in Ireland engage in
#FET
. In 2019 alone, that included 190 different nationalities!
#ThisIsFET
#FETIsForEveryone
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Almost 300 people at the stakeholder forum for the launch of the new apprenticeship action plan. Great to see so much commitment to working in partnership to realise an exciting future for apprenticeship
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Pleasure to join
@CityofDublinETB
today for their FET leadership seminar in Killester and to pay tribute to their retiring Principal
@roryos23
- we even got a fantastic vocal tribute ‘My Way’ from
@GuidanceStokes
👏
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Brilliant to see this vision from the Minister for the new
@DeptofFHed
- we at
@SOLASFET
look forward to helping him deliver it
This afternoon I gave my 1st major policy speech on the formation of the new
@DeptofFHed
and the four pillars on which it is being built:
* Innovation Island
* Island of Talent
* International Island
* Island of Inclusion & Engagement
Check it out here:
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Great coverage of the exciting new tertiary education courses co-developed by FET & HE partners following the announcement by Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
- pathways that further prove FET can take you as far as you want to go 🚀
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Such an important message-so many options out there. Let’s not forget that the days of doing one block of education at 17-21 are gone-you’ll be learning & upskilling throughout your lifetimes & careers - so why not start with something like
#ThisisFET
or
#GenerationApprenticeship
Thinking of everyone awaiting a CAO offer today. Always a day of mixed emotions - delight for some, disappointment for others. But today is a starting point for your future & not the end point. There are so many options & opportunities out there across higher & further education
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8
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Such an inspiring story from
@kaylarita98
on her incredible journey through FET & HE - stressing the need to get rid of the stigma around FET options - such a brilliant advocate for adult learning &
@aontas
2
7
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Great discussion at the
#LeaveNoOneBehind
webinar with Sec Gen
@DeptofFHed
stressing the importance of meeting people where they’re at, offering the tools & pathways they need, & making sure everyone across the education system works together to support this
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9
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This is absolutely incredible - congrats
@BCFE_Official
@CeciliaMunro
- officially world class!
#ThisisFET
Congrats to Ballyfermot College of FE who have come 18th in the WORLD ranking of Animation Colleges!!!!
#FET
#BCFE
#SimonHarrisTD
#CDETB
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Privilege to participate in
@aontas
#adultlearnersfestival
policy day event - good to hear Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
talk about the critical role of community education in making sure that
#FETisforeveryone
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Thanks to all who have contributed to the development of a new 10 year strategy on literacy numeracy & addressing the digital divide. So many great views & ideas coming through so far & looking forward to turning them into a clear plan of action early in the new year
It’s not talked about nearly enough but far too many people are effectively locked out of full participation in society & economy due to a lack of literacy, numeracy & digital skills. This must change! Next few months will see major initiatives on this
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Brilliant to see the Minister announce this funding yesterday, so many great community education initiatives supported - watch this space as we showcase the impact of the new fund early in the new year
#ThisisFET
Quick update on my announcement on community education funding today and the
#Covid19
situation in Ireland
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This is why we need to focus on balanced guidance and developing vocational tasters, pathways and options at second level to inspire smart education and career choices
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Important to note that during this period where FET & other educational facilities are closed, there are many opportunities for online learning - go to
@eCollegeIRL
to see a wide range of available programmes
This is a short course specific to the Moodle infrastructure we have in FET - it also includes access to a sandbox Moodle (which we actively challenge you to break!) The tutors are fabulous and anybody in the FET sector can join.
#onlinelearning
@FessIreland
@ETBIreland
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Nearing end of a record breaking year:
➡️150k+ doing construction safety training
➡️Apprenticeship popn 27k with registrations +7%
➡️217k FET learners (+20%) doing 371k courses
➡️22.5k taking eCollege courses (+20%)
THIS MEANS 1 in 10 ADULTS (>400k) IN 🇮🇪 LEARNING VIA FET & APP
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It was brilliant to see the
#UDLforFET
guidelines & toolkit launched yesterday after a couple of years of intensive work from
@aheadireland
@ETBIreland
@SOLASFET
& a wide range of stakeholders - the end product gives us a fantastic resource to embed across all FET learning
UDL is about building more flexibility, accessibility, learner voice and choice into the design of FET programmes to reduce barriers to learning.
#UDLforFET
@aheadireland
@ETBIreland
@RehabGroup
@DeptofFHed
@SimonHarrisTD
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Minister
@SimonHarrisTD
stressing role of
@DeptofFHed
to ensure education for EVERY person in country...COVID has shone light on society’s inequalities & education is the 🔑 to addressing this
@aontas
#experiencecommunityed
forum
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This is a great development from
@DCU
with FET access to degree programmes expanding significantly & real effort to build FET-HE integration across a range of disciplines. Real progress In delivering on
#pathways
strand of
#FutureFET
strategy
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Listen back to my interview with Anton Savage on FET & apprenticeship opportunities. Are PLC’s and Apprenticeships the Class of 22’s saviour? via
@NewstalkFM
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In
@SOLASFET
we recently revamped our intranet - seems like such a little change but it’s made a big impact in keeping us all connected & informed on what we’re all trying to do across the organisation - and it looks great too!
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Great to see these arrangements put in place - we have a big junior cert cohort going directly into apprenticeships every year so well done to our apprenticeship team &
@Education_Ire
for acting quickly to ensure that junior cert changes would not limit this flow
Arrangements are now in place for 2020 Junior Certificate students wishing to access Apprenticeship this year.
@ETBIreland
@Education_Ire
@Instgc
@NAYCEXEC
#JuniorCert
#GenerationApprenticeship
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