This week, more than 60 people attended two webinars hosted by AONTAS on the new National FET Learner Survey. The webinars provided members with an opportunity to learn more about the survey, hear about progress to date, and share their feedback, ideas and concerns.

Representatives from several Education and Training Boards (ETBs), national organisations and other key stakeholders took part in the webinars. The sessions provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, raise concerns and contribute to shaping the new survey, which aims to improve the learning experience for people across the further education and training (FET) sector.

Background to survey:

The Creating Futures FET Strategy 2026–2030 sets out a clear goal to place learners at the heart of decision-making by strengthening the learner voice across the further education and training (FET) system.

In support of this objective, SOLAS and AONTAS are working in partnership to design and deliver the new annual National FET Learner Survey. The survey will provide a consistent, national approach to capturing learners’ views, experiences and outcomes, creating an important evidence base to inform policy and drive continuous improvement across the sector.

The overall aims of the survey are:

• Capture the diverse experiences and perspectives of FET learners across Ireland. 
• Provide a national measure of learner satisfaction and engagement. 
• Provide an understanding of learners’ experiences of their courses and the wider FET learning environment including accessibility etc. 
• Explore learner outcomes, including knowledge, wellbeing and civic participation. 
• Identify barriers, challenges and opportunities experienced by different learner groups. 
• Provide evidence to inform FET policy, programme design, delivery and evaluation. 
• Enable ETBs to identify and share good practice and strengthen learner representation and advocacy. 
• Increase accountability across the FET system. 

Release date:

The first National FET Learner Survey is scheduled to be released by the end of the year. AONTAS will keep members updated as further details become available.

If you have any queries regarding the survey please contact AONTAS Head of Research Thomas Murray, tmurray@aontas.com