New Agency Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Marie Gould Provider Relations Manager Designate, Quality and Qualifications Ireland Head of New Awards and Standards, Further Education and Training Awards Council Presentation to POBAL Local and Community Development Programme Manager’s Seminar 4th October 2012

Government Announcement October 2008 (as part of budget) “Amalgamation of NQAI, HETAC and FETAC. The new organisation will also take responsibility for the external quality assurance of the universities, a function currently performed by IUQB and the HEA.”

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) Responsible for the 10 level National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) – established 2003 Responsible for external quality assurance of DIT and RCSI Responsible for accreditation of English Language Schools (ACELS) NFQ covers General (school) education – levels 3-5 Further (vocational) education – levels 1-6 Higher and professional education – levels 6-10

Further Education and Training Awards Council Responsible for Further Education and Training Agrees QA procedures with and periodically reviews providers (>1000) Vocational public post-secondary Community and voluntary sector Public and private training providers Develops standards Validates programmes (through its common awards system - CAS) Makes awards at Levels 1-6 in NFQ (certification)

Higher Education and Training Awards Council Responsible for Higher (non-university) Education and Training Agrees QA procedures with and periodically reviews providers (>50) 13 Public Institutes of Technology Private HE providers Private training entities Develops standards Delegates authority to providers to make awards Makes awards at levels 6-10 in NFQ (certification)

Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) Funded by HEA (funding body) and 7 public universities Responsible for periodic audits of universities Mix of mission-based and standards (ESG) based evaluations IRIU review cycle 2009-2012 (5 of 7 universities evaluated) Universities offer Programmes at levels 7-10 in NFQ

Legislation The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act (2012) (“the Act”) was signed by the President on 22nd July (2012) New agency, Quality and Qualifications Ireland QQI is expected to be formally established in October FETAC, HETAC, NQAI will cease to exist QQI will take over functions of the legacy agencies QQI will also be responsible for external quality assurance of the Irish University Sector, previously performed by IUQB

New Agency Functions Quality assurance and Qualifications responsibilities Custodian of the National Framework of Qualifications QQI will develop a code of practice and an International Education Mark (IEM) For the first time; a statutory body is charged with external quality assurance of the universities and their associated colleges New agency provider base spreads across all areas of post-secondary education Staff compliment of 20% smaller than legacy bodies in 2009 No longer a monopoly awarding body for Further Education and Training

Parallel changes in further education landscape Abolition of State training agency (FAS) Establishment of further education and training funding body (SOLAS) Amalgamation of 33 regional Vocational Education Committees into 16 Education and Training Boards

Parallel changes in higher education landscape Implementation of recommendations in 2011 National Strategy for Higher Education Publication of HEA “landscape document” Development of regional clusters of HEIs/FEIs Mergers of Institutes of Technology Closure/merger of small HE institutions Establishment of Technological Universities ‘Strategic Dialogue’ with HEA on ‘system’ priorities

Amalgamation consequences It is neither possible nor desirable that QQI acts as a monopoly awarding/certifying body for FET in the manner that FETAC was QQI has a responsibility to recognise the awards of other awarding bodies (such as universities) within the National Framework of Qualifications in addition to making its own awards Public sector reform agenda – cost recovery, requirement to charge fees

QQI Functions Registration of Providers and Programmes Agreeing QA and ATP procedures Quality Review and monitoring of QA and ATP Validation of programmes Making awards Quality Enhancement

Organisational Structure of QQI Two Main Business Areas Qualifications Services (NFQ development, guidelines, standards, recognition, programme registration) Quality Assurance Services (registration, monitoring, review, validation, certification) New Provider Relations Service - a network of Relationship Managers to collaborate with the business areas

QQAI Organisational Structure

Provider Relations Function to support providers in transition to new agency to consult and with providers on policy development communicate and provide information to providers establish and maintain sub-board governance structures for provider services complaints and concerns don’t intent to interfere in operational/day to day running issues but engage with providers as appropriate

QQAI legislation what will it mean for FE providers? Legislation largely merges current legislative responsibility of 4 existing bodies New Functions – International Education Mark (to) providers Legislative abolition of separation between further and higher education Register of programmes placed or aligned on NFQ

What might QQI look like for FET providers? Phase out of FETAC Brand Award of International Education Mark (to providers) Code of Practice for International (non-EEA) Learners Review of the provider registration criteria for HETAC and FETAC to look at an integrated model Possibility of delegated authority for new Education and Training Boards (ETBs)

What might QQI look like for FE providers? Review of the fee system for registration, validation, certification and review based on integration of the current HETAC and FETAC models (while recognising the nature of public (where mandatory) and private engagement with QQAI)

Next Steps New quality and qualifications body will come into operation once a Board has been appointed and establishment day confirmed FETAC, HETAC, and NQAI will be legally dissolved and the relevant section of Universities Act will be repealed New organisation name and brand will be announced soon after establishment All providers with an existing relationship with the four amalgamating bodies will transition to the new body Review of functions and development of policies and procedures in consultation with providers and other stakeholders

Next Steps Further information and communication with providers will be undertaken as process evolves Series of e-zines will be produced by Provider Relations – monthly basis updates Assignment of individual provider relations managers to provider groups/sectors

QQI details interim website: http://www.qualificationsandquality.ie (legislation page provides a link to the Act) October 2012 – Expectation that QQI will be established December 2012 – QQI Headquarters [Denzille Lane (HETAC) annexed by Lower Mount St. (IUQB)] expected to be occupied