Kilkenny and Carlow Education & Training Board

2021

Agreed Key Dates

25 June 2021 – Submission of the Provider Self-Evaluation Report
6 October 2021 – Reviewer Briefing
11 October 2021 – Training Session
14 October 2021 – Planning Visit
13-17 December 2021 – Main Review Visit of Kilkenny & Carlow ETB to take place virtually
Publication of the review report – TBC

Review Documentation

Terms of Reference

Provider Profile

Self-Evaluation Report

Handbook for the Review

Final Report

Follow Up Actions

Action Plan
Follow-up Report

Review Team

	Chair Mr David Jones stepped down as Chief Executive/Principal of Coleg Cambria at the end of 2019 after steering the institution to great acclaim. A champion of work-based learning, apprenticeships, fundraising and accessible education for people of all ages, he has made a vast contribution to shaping the careers of tens of thousands of youngsters and mature learners over more than three decades. Initially a chartered electronics engineer, as the Principal of Deeside College from 2004, he led its mergers from 2009 to 2013 with the Welsh College of Horticulture, Llysfasi College and Wrexham’s Yale College, to create Coleg Cambria. David has chaired several non-executive boards, currently including Qualifications Wales, and AMRI (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Cymru). He is also a board member of the Defence Electronics Component Agency (DECA), the Wales Appeals Board of NSPCC Cymru and Welsh Government’s European Advisory Group. He is also a commissioner for the Independent Commission on the College of the Future, which reported in late 2020.
	Coordinating Reviewer Eleanor Howie is the Assistant Head of Student Experience for Apprenticeships in the Faculty of Business and Law at the Open University. She is responsible for the management of associate lecturers delivering work-based learning modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Having previously pursued a career as a solicitor, Eleanor developed an interest in degree-level apprenticeships. She has expertise in quality assurance, particularly in relation to work-based or practice-based learning. She also has experience as an academic reviewer and member of annual review monitoring panels. In addition to academic roles, Eleanor is interested in entrepreneurship and runs her own business. She is also the trustee of a charity.
	Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha was Director of Further Education and Training with Galway and Roscommon ETB from 2016-2021. She has a BA, HDip in Education, Master’s in Education (M. Ed) and Master’s in Rural Development (M. Rd). Eithne spent over 40 years in education at second level and further education and has designed QQI awards in aquaculture, tourism, and the Irish language at levels 5 and 6. She led the development of the new QQI Level 6 National Apprenticeship in Arboriculture. She has been an external examiner since 1996 and is currently on the national panel. Eithne is Chairperson of the GRETB Quality Council. She is currently developing QQI micro-qualifications in aquaculture –Special Purpose Award at Level 5. Eithne has industry experience in film & television and is Director at Aesop TEO, Film & TV Production.
	Michael Vaughan is a graduate of GMIT and is a fourth-generation hotelier and proprietor of Vaughan Lodge Hotel, Lahinch. He is a past president of the Irish Hotels Federation, Chair of IHF Education and Training Committee, member of the Hospitality Careers Oversight Group, member of the National Training Fund Advisory Group, and former member of GMIT’s Governing Body. Michael is also an external examiner CIT, having also acted as an external examiner for GMIT. He is a member of the Commis Chef Apprenticeship Steering Group and a member Kerry ETB’s Quality Council. Michael is a former chair of the Hospitality Sector Careers Oversight Group, Hospitality Training Policy Activist.
	Priscilla Kieran lives in Dublin and is currently employed in customs. She completed the QQI level 4 Office Skills qualification in Fingal Adult Education service. She then went on to achieve a QQI level 5 Office Skills award in Balbriggan. Finally, Priscilla completed a QQI level 6 award in Customs Clearance, which led to her current employment in the logistics sector. These courses have been extremely beneficial, as they enhanced an existing skill set and helped her obtain employment in a new sector.
	Tom O’Mara developed and ran the National Adult Literacy Agency’s (NALA) Distance Learning Service (DLS) from 2006 to 2015 and wrote all of NALA’s (FETAC/QQI) QA policies and procedures. Tom also designed and developed www.writeon.ie, Ireland’s only Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) site for qualifications at NFQ levels 2 and 3. When he left NALA in 2015, the site had 35,000+ learners across 52 countries and was in use by over 200 further education settings in Ireland. NALA’s accreditation system was recognised by the EU and UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning as an example of best practice in further education. Since 2015, Tom has managed a team of instructional designers responsible for developing and supporting 21 online and blended learning courses in University College Cork (UCC).