Learners’ Information

1. General Information

ICOS Skillnet has agreed their quality assurance system with FETAC and can offer programmes leading to QQI awards at levels 1 to 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

ICOS Skillnet currently offer the following QQI programmes:

• Train the Trainer
• Managing People
• Supervisory Management
• Coaching & Mentoring
• Retail Security

QQI- The Quality & Qualifications Ireland is the national awarding body for further education and training providers in Ireland. Organisations that come under its brief include both public and private sectors.

QQI (www.qqi.ie) has been encouraging the registration of private course providers as one of its main objectives. To achieve registration, ICOS Skillnet had to demonstrate our capacity to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of Programmes and Services to learners, which we achieved first time through the formal submission of our Quality Assurance systems by QQI.

ICOS Skillnet now has access to the National Framework of Qualifications. This means that we can now offer our customers existing QQIAwards aligned to our course areas, where learners will be able to get recognition or “credits” for training completed.

2. Assessment Information for Learners

The following sections are covered.
a) Learner assessment responsibilities
b) Assessment deadlines
c) Assessment malpractice
d) Reasonable accommodation
e) Compassionate consideration
f) Policy on repeats
g) Learners appeals

a) Learner assessment responsibilities 

It is the responsibility of the Learner to do the assessment as per the instructions given.

b) Assessment deadlines 

ICOS Skillnet instructions on assessment deadlines will make it clear to the learner his/her responsibility to present evidence for the assessment activity within the deadline specified and the resulting consequences should a learner fail to do this.  In majority of cases learners will be given all information relating to assessments upon commencement of Training Programmes by the Trainer or the ICOS Skillnet Project Manager.

ICOS Skillnet will facilitate and give due consideration to a learner who provides evidence of extenuating circumstances. See below on compassionate consideration.

Any consequences for late submission of evidence will not however interfere with the marks awarded. Once learner evidence is accepted by ICOS Skillnet it will be marked and graded in accordance with the standards for the award. The actual marks and grade awarded are determined solely on the basis of the evidence submitted in accordance with the standards for the award.

c) Assessment malpractice 

ICOS Skillnet will investigate and deal with any form of assessment malpractice which could impact on the validity of the assessment. Learners must sign that work submitted by them is their own work. If any evidence of plagiarism/assessment dishonesty is found, it will result in the disqualification of the learner.

d) Reasonable accommodation

The Equal Status Acts, 2000 to 2004, requires ICOS Skillnet to provide reasonable accommodation to meet the needs of a learner who has a disability.

In the context of assessment, reasonable accommodation is the term for the adaptation of assessment as necessary to cater for the needs of learners whose personal situation means that the assessment would otherwise be unfair e.g. learners with a disability, and/or other learners covered by equality legislation.
Any adaptation of the assessment by the tutor will facilitate the learner to demonstrate their achievement of the standards without significantly altering the standard.

Special assessment arrangements/adaptations are not intended to and will not reduce the validity and reliability of the assessment or compromise the standard.

The adaptation will seek to amend the aspects of the assessment technique or instrument which prevent a learner’s participation in the assessment. It will be used where the particular assessment technique(s) or instruments disadvantages the learner in assessment.

These adaptations may include the following and/or other reasonable adaptation:

• modified presentation of assignments/examination papers e.g. enlargements
• scribes/readers
• use of sign language
• practical assistants
• rest periods
• adaptive equipment/software
• use of assistive technology
• extra time.

The implementation of these adaptations will ensure that all learners are assessed on an equitable basis. ICOS Skillnet is responsible for their implementation and any associated costs incurred.

e) Compassionate consideration 

ICOS Skillnet will enable learners to apply for compassionate consideration in relation to their assessment. ICOS Skillnet will enable learners who have been prevented from undertaking a specific assessment activity or who feel their performance is seriously impaired because of exceptional circumstances to apply to defer the assessment i.e. to be allowed to complete the assessment activity on another occasion.

The following are examples of circumstances under which ICOS Skillnet may consider giving compassionate consideration to the learner:

• a physical injury or emotional trauma during a period four to six weeks previously
• a physical disability or chronic or disabling condition such as epilepsy, glandular fever, or other
• incapacitating illness of the learner.
• recent bereavement of close family member or friend
• severe accident
• domestic crisis
• terminal illness of a close family member
• other extenuating circumstances.

ICOS Skillnet requires the learner to provide appropriate evidence/documentation e.g. a statement from a medical practitioner.

ICOS Skillnet will consider the severity of the circumstances, the nature of the assessment activity and the quality of past achievement of the learner where appropriate in making the decision to grant compassionate consideration.

f) Policy on repeats 

Where a learner is unsuccessful, on a first attempt in an assessment activity, ICOS Skillnet will provide learners with an opportunity to repeat the assessment activity to achieve a higher grade. Opportunities to repeat an assessment activity are dependent on the nature of the activity and the practical and/or operational issues involved. It is acknowledge that there may be specific constraints on ICOS Skillnet which prevent us from offering repeat assessment opportunities to learners.

ICOS Skillnet will inform learners of whether opportunities are available or not to repeat assessment opportunities and the associated procedures if applicable.

g) Learners appeals 

ICOS Skillnet has put in place an Appeals Process. An Appeals Process will enable the learner to appeal

a) the Assessment Process, if they perceive there to be irregularities/inequality in its implementation
b) the assessment result.

Only approved results can be formally appealed by the learner. ICOS Skillnet will inform the Learner of their approved result.

Delegates must inform ICOS Skillnet of their application to appeal within one month of receiving their approved result.

The appeals procedures will involve a review of the Assessment Process for the specific learner concerned; including where appropriate the review of learner evidence and the assessment results. The tutor who evaluates a learner appeal will not be the tutor who made the original assessment decision.  The only evidence which may be presented by the learner at appeal is that which has already been presented for assessment. New evidence may not be added by the learner for the appeal.

The learner will be informed of the outcome of the Appeals Process within an agreed timescale.

Following the completion of the ICOS Skillnet Appeal Process, the results for the learner(s) concerned will be forwarded to QQI as the final result. These final results are the basis on which QQI will issue certificates.

QQI operates a National Appeals Process. This is only on the basis of;

(a) the completion of the ICOS Skillnet Appeals Process
and
(b) appealing the process, not the result.

QQI only accepts appeals from ICOS Skillnet, on behalf of learners.

QQI will not accept an appeal on behalf of a learner until that appeal has gone through ‘due process’ within the ICOS Skillnet Appeals Process and all opportunities to appeal within this process have been exhausted.

QQI’s National Appeals Process is outlined in the document ‘National Appeals Process’ www.fetac.ie/nationalappealsprocess. This document sets out full details regarding

a)    the conditions under which an appeal can be made to QQI
b)    the process
c)     the timeframe for processing the appeal.

Please download our Appeals Procedure Here.

3. QQI Assessment Periods

ICOS Skillnet delegate results are issued at the following Assessment Periods – February, April, June, August and October.

Further Detailed information with regards to learners information can be found in our Learner Handbook.

The ICOS Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd. funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education & Skills.