By now, the tale about the woman who took part-time course after course, only to find that when it came to entry to third level none of the qualifications she had achieved were any use to her, is well known in adult-education circles.
The issue of accreditation has been close to the top of the sector's agenda for some time. Just recently, the NUI took a small but important step forward in this regard. The NUI's senate has adopted as policy the inclusion of all NUI qualifications, and NUI certificate and diploma courses in particular, in an integrated framework.
Once all the details are worked out, this will allow progression from one level of awards to another and transfer between institutions. Already, all NUI Maynooth's sub-degree courses have been converted into NUI certificates, with explicit credits and degree course exemptions.
A great deal of work has gone into harmonising the sub-degree courses, according to Dr Garret FitzGerald, the NUI's chancellor. NUI certificates will now be awarded on the basis of 300 hours of active student participation, including upwards of 75 contact hours in the case of full and part-time courses. They will attract between 15 and 20 credits. NUI diplomas will be awarded on the basis of 600 hours of active student participation, including 200 contact hours in the case of full or part-time courses. They will attract a minimum of 30 credits.
According to FitzGerald, a particularly good match between credits and courses could mean some students will be able to go directly into the second year of an undergraduate course. Other developments - bridging courses to facilitate people moving from sub-degree to undergraduate programmes, for example - are also on the cards, he says.
It will, however, take several years to determine which courses in the NUI will offer exemptions, he says. The next step will be to negotiate exemptions with other institutions and examine their certificate and diploma programmes in order to decide where exemptions could be offered.
