Report of the Independent Expert Panel: Evaluation of Irish FET Practitioner Staffing Structures in ETBs against International Comparators

This report has been produced during a time of economic expansion and demographic changes across Irish society and the economy leading to a significant rise in employment as well as concerns about skill mismatch and critical skill gaps. In response, there is increasing learner and policy interest in the further education and training (FET) sector.

FET is facing particular challenges, including whether it has a sufficiently strong identity given its broad purposes, and whether it is sufficiently robust to meet current and future skills needs of the labour market. The importance of establishing and strengthening staffing capabilities and structures in order to meet these challenges is highlighted in the FET Strategy 2020-20241. This strategy sees staffing as one of the key enablers in the development of a stronger, more dynamic and relevant FET system.

This report aims to support the further and future development of the FET sector. Over the next ten years, the implementation of the report’s recommendations will help to ensure that growth in the number of FET learners continues, that FET is fully established as an attractive destination for all learners, and that FET is at the forefront of addressing Ireland’s economic and social challenges.

The report is focused on FET staffing arrangements in the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Ireland. It was commissioned by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), and was produced by an independent panel of experts. The report covers all staff in a learner-facing role as described by DFHERIS; it does not include staff whose role is exclusively managerial or administrative.