Micro-Credential in Policy and Practice in the Technological Higher Education Sector

Overview

This micro-credential enables practitioners in the Higher Education sector to develop a deep understanding of current Higher Education policy in Ireland and internationally, with a particular focus on the Technological Higher Education sector that has been formed through the establishment of five Technological Universities in the period from 2019 to 2022. The micro-credential enables participants to explore the distinctive characteristics of a Technological University as set out in Irish law and as realised in the strategies and practices of the Technological Universities.

The micro-credential aims to encourage reflection and dialogue among practitioners regarding the profile of the Technological Higher Education sector, its positioning relative to the broader Higher Education landscape, its interface to industry, the professions and society, and its evolutionary pathway. The micro-credential aims to shape this dialogue by developing an in-depth knowledge among participants regarding the policy context for the establishment of the Technological Universities in Ireland and the strategic development of those institutions in the period since their establishment.

Participants will write a paper focussed on a policy, set of policies, and/or policy-informed practices of relevance to their working context and the Technological Higher Education context. The paper will draw on relevant literature, international best practice, the learner’s own professional experience and the experiences of colleagues.

Details

5 ECTS credits; 15 hours of class time plus peer engagement and independent learning; delivered online and/or in-person.

Entry Requirements

Participants must be working in Higher Education. Participants must have an NFQ Level 8 (or higher) qualification or complete a Recognition of Prior Learning process to demonstrate their capacity to participate in this micro-credential.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module the participant will be able to:

Critically evaluate contemporary Higher Education policy issues in both national and international contexts, with a particular focus on the Technological Higher Education sector.
Evaluate a selected range of Higher Education policy and practice issues, as they apply to the Technological Higher Education sector.
Critically examine the influence of key academic scholarship and policy debates on the governance and management of higher education institutions, with reference to their own practice context.
Critically appraise the distinctiveness in practice on different higher education institutions within the Irish higher education landscape.
Describe the history of higher education policy development in Ireland and internationally, with a particular focus on the Technological Higher Education sector.

Assessment

Participants will write a paper of circa 3000 words in length on a relevant topic to be negotiated with the tutors. Participants will be expected to select a policy, set of policies, and/or practices of relevance to their working context and in relation to the Technological Higher Education sector.

The paper will draw on relevant literature, international best practice, the learner’s own professional experience and the experiences of colleagues.

Indicative Syllabus

The History and Evolution of Higher Education Policy and Practice in Ireland

Establishment of Universities, Regional Technical Colleges, Institutes of Technology, Vocational Education Committees, Education and Training Boards

International Trends in Higher Education Policy and Practice

European policy, Bologna agreement, international practice

The Higher Education Policy Landscape in Ireland

Quality and Qualifications Ireland, Higher Education Authority, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science