1. 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

2. 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.”

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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 (5 of 7 universities evaluated)
Universities offer Programmes at levels 7-10 in NFQ

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. QQAI Organisational Structure

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

21. QQI details
interim website: (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