City of Dublin ETB Quality Governance Structures

The Chief Executive is supported by the Senior Management Team including the FET Director(s) has executive authority and reports to the Board of City of Dublin FET College on strategic planning and QA developments in-line with the approved City of Dublin FET College Further Education and Youth Services Strategy (2015-2020). This corporate strategy is approved by the Board on a 5 year basis and provides for the highest level statement of strategy, and includes the following key goals for City of Dublin FET College are to:

  • Continue to develop and provide inclusive, professional, high quality education, training and youth services in Dublin City.
  • Deliver programmes that provide suitable qualifications for, and progression routes into more advanced education courses, training programmes and employment.
  • Be recognised as a primary provider of such courses and programmes in Dublin City.
  • Develop a comprehensive youth service in Dublin City.
  • Have in existence a well-managed, efficient and fully accountable national awarding authority for student grants.

City of Dublin FET College must also adhere to the ETB Code of Governance published by the Department of Education and Skills, which places a strong emphasis on risk management. City of Dublin FET College is required to evaluate risk as part of effective risk management, and the Risk Management Policy should takes account of the risks to the FET College that would significantly obstruct or undermine the achievement of its objectives as set out in the strategy statement[7]. This includes risk registers for every centre with the FET Director responsible for risk management at corporate level, and reports to the City of Dublin FET College Audit Committee which then reports such matters to the City of Dublin FET College Board. The Board then, articulates and approves the response to the identified risk. Financial planning oversight occurs through the City of Dublin FET College Finance Committee, which also reports to the Board of City of Dublin FET College.

Service Spheres

There are 5 service spheres within City of Dublin FET College further education and training services which include:

  • Youthreach
  • The Training Centres which provide training services directly and which includes indirect provision of training through the management of contracted training and funding provision to community providers including LTIs, and CTCs which operate City of Dublin FET College QA system (TQAS)
  • The Adult Education Service providing programmes directly and indirectly through the funding of community providers operating their own quality assurance systems
  • The Prison Education Service and
  • The Colleges of Further Education

There are management teams for each service and centre, which reflects the nature of their service, and includes monthly management team meetings. These teams provide for the strategic planning at service and centre level in conjunction with the FET Director with responsibility for the service and represent the core management structures with relevant lines of authority. The Principal of each recognised school which include Colleges of Further Education report to their own Board of Management. These Boards of Management are classed as City of Dublin FET College sub-committees, which also includes inter alia the City of Dublin Youth Services Board, and also report directly to the Board of City of Dublin FET College. These sub-committees provide independent oversight at school and in some cases service level. City of Dublin FET College Board approval is required for their activities as per the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. The Board of City of Dublin FET College approves the agreed City of Dublin FET College Further Education, Training and Youth Services Strategy every 5 years.

Collective planning structures which operate at a supra serve or FET College level include:

The FET Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning Council (QASPC) (QASPC membership) will form Subgroups reporting into it as required. The Groups required are as follows:

a) The Quality Assurance Development Group (QADG) will focus on the development and enhancement of the QA Policy and Procedures.

b) The Strategic Performance Development Group (SPDG) will have overall responsibility for monitoring and supporting the achievement of agreed City of Dublin FET College-SOLAS FET targets.

c) The Programme Management and Development Group (PMDG) will focus on the need to manage the existing QQI programmes and to recommend and oversee development of new programme proposals. This will enable quality assured programme development and facilitate the re-validation of existing programmes in a strategic manner within the context of City of Dublin FET College Strategic Planning. Programme development will be monitored by this group.

d) City of Dublin FET College-led programme boards will report on the quality and delivery of validated programmes for which City of Dublin FET College is the lead/ co-ordinating provider.

City of Dublin FET College QA Governance Structures