Certification and Accreditation

The Open College has agreed its quality assurance procedures with FETAC and is registered with FETAC to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards. This official recognition authorises The Open College to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards within the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland.

The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. More Info on FETAC»

Why FETAC?
As the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland, the Further education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) gives people the opportunity to gain nationally recognised awards for their learning.

FETAC’s mission is to make quality assurance awards in accordance with national standards within the national framework, creating opportunities for all learners in further education and training to have their achievements recognised and providing access to progression.

FETAC External Monitoring Reports

FETAC complete regular monitoring audits to ensure that all providers adhere to the quality standards. The FETAC monitoring process consists of desk monitoring, site visits and reporting on the effectiveness of providers' quality systems with follow up and reviews. The process involves a review of the provider’s quality system and identifies good practice and areas for improvements as appropriate. A standard monitoring report is completed by the monitor and when complete is published on the FETAC website. These reports are invaluable in assisting learners in choosing a course provider. The OpenCollege advises all learners to read these reports before choosing a provider.

2011 - In June 2011, FETAC completed a monitoring exercise of The OpenCollege's assessment procedures during Certification process. This review covered our assessment procedures for June 2011. Following the review, The OpenCollege were commended by FETAC on 'Quality assurance of authentication of assessment is effective with minor areas for improvement'.

Read the FETAC Monitoring Report here»

2011 - In Dec 2010, FETAC completed a monitoring exercise of The OpenCollege's assessment procedures as part of an overall review. This review covered our assessment procedures for December 2010. Following the review, The OpenCollege were commended by FETAC on 'good practice' & 'reporting is to a very high standard'.

Read the FETAC Monitoring Report on The Open College here»

About The Open College

With this FETAC recognition, The Open College is now officially registered to provide accredited qualifications.
Our continuing goal is to provide the opportunity for people to gain recognised qualifications in the most convenient and flexible way possible through distance and online learning and substantially less that any other course provider. This is why we urge prospective students to visit other websites and compare prices. The Open College, provide the same quality courses with FETAC recognition at prices substantially less than anyone other course provider.
We are committed to the highest standards in providing accredited distance learning training and education in Ireland.

Click here for a Full List of our FETAC Courses.

The Open College Quality Assurance

The Open College is committed to the highest standards of Quality Assurance and has put in place comprehensive processes and procedures to ensure high standards of service are provided to learners. These standards are all FETAC approved. We were certified holders of the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Following our own internal review of the relevance of this ISO and our experience in securing it we formed the view that it is something that is available to be purchased.

Our basic core values are to provide:

• Quality, externally accredited courses at reasonable prices.
• One-to-One Support: the provision of one-to-one support to learners by qualified and experienced Tutors.
• External Certification: our quality systems are externally certified and audited.
• Customer Service: providing best-in-class customer service.
• Innovation: embracing new technologies (e.g. email, internet, electronic documents, interactive CDs, online tutoring) to make education more accessible.
• Accessibility: encouraging and facilitating access by those in society normally excluded from further education.
  
  

Certification:

The Open College provides courses that lead to Certification by Ireland’s national awarding body for further education – FETAC –THE FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARDING COUNCIL

Learner Outcomes

Up to quite recently, the traditional way of teaching was based on what is called a teacher - centred approach where teachers/lecturers decided on the course content, how they planned to teach this content and then went on to assess the content.

One of the perceived drawbacks of this system was the difficulty to state exactly what the student had to be able to do in order to pass.

In recent years there has been a shift from this 'teacher - centred' approach to a 'student-centred' approach. With this latter system the focus is on what the student can expect to be able to do at the end of a particular module/ lesson or programme. This approach is now commonly referred to as an outcome-based approach and the learning outcomes are used to express what it is expected that a student should be able to do at the end of the learning period.

In summary, teacher-centred approaches place the emphasis on the teacher while outcome-based approaches place the emphasis on the student.

We have adopted the outcome-based approach as a integral part of our mission to contribute to the achievement of learners in as an efficient manner as possible for all our FETAC approved courses.

Our Definition of Learning Outcomes.

Learning outcomes are statements of what a student is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after completion of a process, (module/lesson or course/programme) of learning.

Therefore, when you enrol for a course or programme of study with The Open College you will find that there is a written statement of the learning outcomes for each module/lesson of the entire FETAC accredited course/programme.

These learning outcomes will state what the student will be able to do or demonstrate and they are written at the beginning of each module/lesson in simple and unambiguous terms so that they are clearly understood by students, teachers, lecturers, colleagues, employers and external examiners.
Learning outcomes specify the essential learning for a module/lesson and whenever possible the minimum accepted standard is specified that a student must achieve to pass the module/lesson or course/programme.
This is why there is a small number of important learning outcomes rather than a large number of superficial ones that are capable of being validly assessed.

There is a difference between (module/lesson, course/programme) aims, objectives and learning outcomes.

The aim is usually a broad general statement of the teaching intention – on what the teacher intends to cover in a period of learning.

The objective is generally a statement of teacher intent – on what specific areas the teacher intends to cover in a defined period of learning.

Both of these tend to concentrate on the intent of the teacher and are therefore rather limiting in this regard.

Learning outcomes, on the other hand are clear statements on what the student is expected to achieve and how the student is expected to demonstrate that achievement.
They are therefore, of themselves more precise, easier to compose and far cleared than objectives.

The Open College is committed to practical, easily understood learning outcomes for its entire range of course/programmes and has agreed it quality assurance procedures with FETAC to enable us to offer recognised awards on the National Framework.

Guaranteed Irish:

We are proud members of this movement which is your guarantee for Irish quality and Irish jobs.

Our Student Charter further outlines our commitment to quality assurance.

FAS:

The Open College are a FAS approved training provider. 

Our Promise to You:

• We are Irish, 100% Irish and proud members of the Guaranteed Irish movement – 'your safeguard for quality and Irish jobs'. We do not offer UK distance learning courses with questionable second-hand UK accreditation.
  
  
• We are Ireland's leading College providing Accredited Courses at the best Prices. Nobody can match us either for Quality or Price. In addition to our 2 for 1 offers we are at least 40% cheaper for FETAC Award Courses compared to some of our compeditors. »Click here to review the Price Differences.
  
  
• One-to-One Tutor Support: Our Students are provided with one-to-one support by qualified and experienced Tutors.
  
  
• Study at your own pace. We allow ample time to complete your courses and we do not impose restrictive or our punitive conditions when you avail of our special offers.
  
  
• All Our Courses are FETAC Approved. The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. The Open College is registered with FETAC to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Click here for details of the National Framework of Qualifications.