Welcome to the Tipperary FET College Student Hub, with information to help you make the most of your adult learning experience.
Whether you’re a full or part-time learner at Tipperary FET College, click on any of the headings below to find information to help you with your learning journey.
As a new learner at Tipperary FET College, you will be asked to attend an induction. An induction is an introduction to the course. Induction is important as it gives you an opportunity to get to know other learners and staff. It also helps you to understand more about the services and procedures in operation in your centre.
At the end of the induction, the centre may ask you to sign a checklist to say that you understand what has been covered.
Your coordinator will tell you whether your course leads to an award. If it does, they will give you information about:
They will also tell you if your course is recognised by the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), and if so, the award type and NFQ level.
They will tell you if you can use your course towards further education. If it is, they will tell you how you can do this. For example, for:
Progression: When you successfully complete the course, your teacher or coordinator can tell you about other opportunities to use your award to gain higher-level qualifications.
Each level has specific knowledge, skills and competencies associated with it, which you need to achieve to get a particular qualification at that level.
Level 5 is the regular Leaving Certificate award. Higher levels cover some of the courses Tipperary ETB provides and courses in other third-level institutions. Tipperary ETB provides courses on the NFQ framework at levels 1-6.
The NFQ shows how you can move from one level to the next when you meet the requirements for that level. If you are doing a certified course, make sure that you understand what level your course is at and if it is on the NFQ. It is important to know this, so that you can progress after you complete your course with us.
If you are a learner doing an accredited course, you will need to know how you will be assessed. Tipperary ETB has a separate guidebook that contains all the information you need to know about assessment.
This PDF guide is called the ‘Learner Guide to Assessment: all you need to know about assessment for certified courses’.
You can also find information about assessment in this video:
If you change your contact information, such as address or mobile phone number, please update your online FETCH account or, please notify your centre as soon as possible.
It is important that we have up-to-date contact details for you, so that you receive all necessary communications from your centre and from Tipperary ETB.
Once you register on a course in Tipperary ETB, personal data (information) about you will be collected, processed, shared, and/or kept.
Examples of personal data include your:
When you apply for or attend a course with us, you must agree to us PROCESSING YOUR PERSONAL DATA. This includes sensitive personal data that we collect so we can coordinate, evaluate, fund and organise our courses. We do this in compliance with Irish and European Union law.
This sensitive information includes things like race, ethnicity and nationality. It gives SOLAS, the Department of Education and relevant EU bodies statistical data on enrolment and graduates of the FET sector. (FET stands for Further Education and Training.)
When you apply for or attend a course with us, you must agree to us SHARING YOUR PERSONAL DATA:
Other people or organisations may monitor and report on what we do when it is related to European Union co-funded operations.
We may have to reveal your personal data to comply with reporting obligations where you are taking part in a European Union co-funded programme. This will allow monitoring, reporting and evaluating of programmes. SOLAS may also disclose your personal data to Governmental, regulatory, and public bodies.
There may be other legal reasons when we will also need to share your personal data such as when we request certification for you.
When you apply for or attend a course with us, you must agree to us KEEPING SOME OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA on file.
Some of it, we will keep for a short time only. For example, we will destroy some data at the end of an academic year when it is no longer needed. Some data we keep for longer, for example, after you leave or otherwise finish your studies with Tipperary ETB.
The PLSS Data Protection Statement is at the end of the Learner detail form. PLSS means Programme Learner Support System, and this is a software application that collects and processes (uses) the personal data of learners using our services.
If you need any more information, or have questions about data protection, please contact Tipperary ETB’s Data Protection Office by email: [email protected]
Data Protection & GDPRYou can apply for an ISIC International Student Identity Card as a Tipperary ETB learner in any of our centres.
The student card provides discounts on some travel, sport and in some retail outlets and entertainment. Contact your coordinator or teacher for details of the application process.
Or, you can contact Tipperary ETB on 051 640 746.
All Tipperary ETB learners with access to children and vulnerable people must be Garda vetted. Your coordinator will tell you if you need to be Garda vetted as part of your course.
You can learn more about the Garda eVetting process here.
You give yourself the best opportunity to learn and the best chance to succeed in your course when you attend all:
The number of attendance hours required per week depends on your course. Your coordinator will give you the details.
For some courses, your attendance is connected to your grant payment or training allowance. This means that if you are absent, you may not get the full amount for the week or month.
For some certified courses, you must attend a certain amount of hours or your work will not be assessed. This means that if you fail to meet the attendance requirements, you may be unable to get certification. Make sure you know what attendance is required for your course.
Each centre has its own attendance policy, which the centre will explain to you at induction. You may be absent, and if so, you can discuss your particular circumstances with your coordinator or teachers. They will do their best to guide and support you.
Finally, punctuality (being on time) is important so that you don’t miss out on any learning. Being on time also shows respect to your fellow learners and your teachers.
Don’t drop out – drop in and chat!
Please talk to us if you are struggling. We will try to help you. We can tell you about available supports or put you in touch with guidance or other advisory services.
If you are absent because you are ill, you may need to show your Tipperary FET College centre a medical certificate. The centre may also ask for proof of appointment(s) for other types of absences, for example, dental appointments or court services. If you are absent, we expect you to make every effort to catch up on missed work.
Tipperary ETB has an Equality Policy and Code of Practice in place for all staff and learners. It respects diversity and makes sure that our places of learning and work are free from discrimination and harassment.
This helps us to make sure that our centres are positive and respectful learning environments for everyone. We support positive and safe learning, so each centre has policies relating to equality and anti-bullying. The centre will explain these to you at induction.
These policies apply to all learners while on Tipperary ETB premises. They also apply when away from the centre as part of the course, for example, on trips and work placements.
We have policies in place to make sure that you are learning in a safe and respectful environment. In some centres, this is called the Code of Behaviour; in others, it’s called the Code of Conduct. We explain these to you at induction.
These policies describe the standards of behaviour expected, and the behaviour that is unacceptable. If a learner does not meet the standards of behaviour we expect, the centre will use these codes to support the learner to improve their behaviour.
You must make sure you understand these procedures so that all aspects of the course and your experience will be positive. The centre may dismiss the learner from the course where they:
If any learner is excluded from a course, they may appeal the decision.
