Spanning Third-level Institutions and Boundaries - The Higher Education Institutions Further Education and Training (HEI FET) Forum

Oct 15, 2026

The HEI FET Forum was established in 2012 by eight Higher Education Institutions that provide initial teacher education qualifications for accredited teachers in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Its remit advances teaching, learning and research in FET and strengthens engagement with stakeholders across the sector. The article outlines the Forum’s origin, purpose and aims, including promoting practitioners’ professional development and designing relevant research to support sector improvement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The HEI FET Forum’s purpose and aims

Background: teacher qualification requirements for FET

Forum membership and network vision

Spanning Third-level Institutions and Boundaries: The Higher Education Institutions Further Education and Training (HEI FET) Forum hei fet forum – anne walsh, jane o’kelly, michael kenny Abstract The HEI FET Forum was established in 2012 for the eight Higher Education Institutions who provide initial teacher education qualifications for those wishing to work as accredited teachers in the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector. Its remit is to advance teaching, learning and research in the FET sector and to widen the Forum’s engagement with stakeholders across FET. The article describes the origin and purpose of the Forum and its aims amongst others to promote and strengthen the professional development of practitioners, and design and conduct relevant and useful research for the sector.1 Keywords: Further Education and Training, Engagement, Initial Teacher Education, Teaching, Collaboration, Research Introduction This article provides the background canvas to the founding and development of the Forum of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who deliver initial teacher education programmes that are recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for Further Education and Training (HEI FET) student teachers. During 2012, a number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with Teaching Council approved teacher education programmes for FET came together to form the Higher Education Institutions: Further Education and Training Forum (HEI 1 The HEI FET Forum acknowledges the expertise and professionalism of the FET sector and aims to foster and progress a partnership approach and dialogue between educators, learners, providers and policymakers. The content of this article draws heavily on a presentation by Dr Anne Walsh titled ‘Developing Professional Practice in FET Teaching–HEI FET Forum Evolution ’ at a HEI FET Forum conference at Maynooth University, 2018. FET Forum) . Since then the eight HEIs have worked together, drawing on their own resources, to coordinate delivery and to build capacity among their respective programmes and within the FET sector to enhance programme quality. The Forum is unique in that it brings together a range of HEIs that do not normally cooperate across programmes. The unifying ethos of these universities, institutes, and colleges is a commitment to adult and community education. Each HEI has a history and/or legacy in this area and an allegiance to the people who work and learn in this space. Part of this connection is a shared participative, liberal approach to redressing social exclusion and an appreciation of the importance of adult and community education as a social good. The Forum is a national network focused on the continued enhancement of teaching and learning in the Further Education and Training sector. It aims to support the sector through collaborative working approaches and the development of communities of practice. In particular, the HEI FET Forum aims to share knowledge and practice in the further education and training sector with regard to qualifications for teachers, tutors and other facilitatorsof learning in Further Education and Training and promote awareness about initial and continued professional development for practitioners and new entrants to the sector. Forum membership comprises eight Higher Education providers: NUI Galway (NUIG); Marino Institute of Education (MIE); Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (MI); Maynooth University (MU); Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT); Dublin City University (DCU); National College of Ireland (NCI); National College of Art and Design (NCAD) . Its vision is to enhance and contribute to the quality of teaching and learning, engagement, pedagogy and research in Further Education and Training and contribute to the continual improvement of the quality of teaching and learning by drawing on the combined expertise of its members. The Backdrop to the HEI FET Forum The need for teacher qualification education for FET w

FAQs

What is the HEI FET Forum and when was it established?

The HEI FET Forum was established in 2012 by eight Higher Education Institutions providing initial teacher education qualifications for the Further Education and Training sector.

What are the Forum’s main responsibilities in the FET sector?

It advances teaching, learning and research in FET, widens engagement with stakeholders, and supports collaborative working and communities of practice.

How does the article describe the policy and legislative drivers for FET teacher qualification?

It links the need to Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001, and Regulation Five (Further Education) of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2009, including requirements effective from 1 April 2013.

Oct 15, 2026

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