As Leaving Certificate students across the country start thinking about their next steps after school, there has never been a better time to consider the increasingly diverse pathways to their future careers including through Further Education and Apprenticeship programmes.
Available in every county, Further Education and Training (FET) offers smart options at local level to Leaving Certificate students outside of the points race, whether they are looking for a pathway to university or direct entry into employment.
For everyone
FET is for everyone, with the provision of courses at local level enabling learners not yet ready or able to move away from home to further their studies locally, without having to relocate or face long commutes.
The possibilities with FET are endless, and can lead students into a diverse range of exciting careers or to progress onto higher education, through Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses in areas such as engineering technology, animal care, cloud computing, games design, cyber security, science and more.
At one to two years in duration, PLC courses provide learners with a strong foundation in an area of student interest leading to a level 5 or 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). These courses can provide a pathway to employment, or they can also provide students with the opportunity to try out a subject and then continue their studies in higher education if they achieve the certain results on their programme.
For those unsure of what should come next after school, FET provides a vast range of pre-university courses areas such as science, arts, engineering, law and more. Research suggests that studying a FET course first can prepare students better for going into university, with a greater chance of ultimately completing their degree.
SOLAS, together with the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland have driven significant change in the sector, growing opportunities for learners.
A game-changer
A real game-changer for students this year is the recent development of a number of Joint tertiary degree programmes, led by the National Tertiary Office, a partnership between SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority.
Students can apply to these programmes outside of the points system, starting their degree in further education and completing it in higher education.
The National Apprenticeship Office together with SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority and apprenticeship providers have overseen considerable expansion of the national apprenticeship provision in recent years with over 70 different apprenticeship programmes now available and with more in the pipeline.
Complementing the highly valued craft apprenticeships in the likes of plumbing and electrical, apprenticeships have diversified into new areas such as insurance, financial services, and software development.
Earn while you learn
Apprenticeships can take learners from the Leaving Certificate as far as they want to go, with a number of industry programmes going all the way to Masters and Doctoral degrees at levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ.
The “earn while you learn” apprenticeship model of training has become increasingly popular with school leavers who want to go directly into a ‘ready-made’ career, earning a qualification in an industry where skills are in high demand.
There have never been more opportunities for Leaving Cert students to get where they want to go after school.
This year, students can explore over 70 apprenticeships at apprenticeship.ie, together with a broad and varied range of FET courses available in their local areas, including Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) and pre-university courses at thisisfet.ie – both important starting points for students to consider all their options before taking their next steps.
