The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., today published the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill, 2011, which provides for the amalgamation of bodies dealing with qualifications and quality assurance in education and training.
In approving the Bill, Government decided not to proceed with the implementation of the decision of the previous Government to dissolve the National University of Ireland.
The Bill provides for the amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC). The amalgamation is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and an important part of the Minister’s reform agenda in the education sector. The new body will have the official title of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI) but may have a different operational title.
The new organisation will also take responsibility for the external quality assurance review of the universities, a function which is currently performed by the Irish Universities Quality Board. This means that QQAAI’s quality assurance role spans all areas of further and higher education and training.
Publishing the Bill, the Minister said "this Bill is an important step in ensuring an overall coherent approach to qualifications and quality assurance in education and training and in enhancing Ireland’s reputation in this field."
The Bill sets out the overall structure of the amalgamated organisation and provides for its functions in the areas of:
· the maintenance and implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications,
1 the setting of procedures for how learners gain access to programmes of education and training and transfer and progress between programmes,
2 the recognition of Irish awards internationally and the recognition of international awards in Ireland,
3 the review of the effectiveness of the quality assurance systems of educational providers,
4 the validation of programmes of education and training and the making of awards, and
5 the regulation of providers of education services to international students.
The Minister stated that "The amalgamating agencies have performed well over the last decade and have been an important force for change in their respective sectors. It is now time to bring their related functions together to deliver a better and more cost effective service."
The Bill provides for a Code of Practice for the provision of educational services to international students. Education and training providers will be able to apply for an international education mark based on their compliance with the Code of Practice.
Minister Quinn concluded "Through the provisions of this Bill, we will prioritise the needs of learners, including those who have chosen to come to Ireland to study. I want to ensure that lifelong learning opportunities are opened up for all and that the possibilities for learners contained in the National Framework of Qualifications are fully realised."