iPET Network secures funding to offer bilingual qualifications in Welsh
iPET Network has been awarded grant funding to develop a series of new fully bilingual animal-related qualifications, in English and Welsh.
Aiming to offer accessible qualifications, iPET Network has received funding from Qualifications Wales’ Welsh Language Support Grant to create five new courses, including:
- iPET Network Level 1 Award in Preparing for Work in Dog Grooming
- iPET Network Level 2 Diploma Animal Care and Management
- iPET Network Level 3 Award in Canine First Aid
- iPET Network Level 3 Award in Equine Emergency First Aid
- iPET Network Level 2 Award in First Aid for Dogs
The qualifications, which will be available for delivery from April 2024, will enable learners for whom Welsh is their preferred language to have the opportunity to learn and complete them in Welsh.
With the support of the network’s approved training providers, funding will be designated to allow those who can teach and train in Welsh the option to register learners.
As well as being fully available in Welsh, these qualifications have been designed to meet the needs of the Welsh market and prepare learners for work in the animal care sector.
Colleges and private training providers who would like to know more about offering the qualifications are being asked to come forward to help support the rollout and designation of the qualifications.
Sarah Mackay and Fern Gresty, founders of iPET Network, said: “We are so thrilled to be offering these new qualifications in Wales, and hope that more colleges sign up to deliver them.
“The largest development in education offering for the sector will be the rollout of the iPET Network Level 2 Diploma Animal Care and Management.
“Development of this qualification started over two years ago taking feedback from colleges of how the current qualifications being delivered could be improved.”
They added: “In the Animal Care and Management qualification there are practical mandatory subjects such as Animal Health and Diseases and Health Safety and Hygiene, and optional units including Animal Nursing Skills and Customer Care, the focus is on getting learners ready to start work as soon as they qualify or progress on to a higher qualification, in sectors which have been identified as ‘in need’ by Welsh Government.”
