Qualifications Recognition

Niamh LenehanWilliam O’Keeffe

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

16th October 2013

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Overview of Presentation

• The Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)

• Qualifications Recognition

• Contact Information

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Background to development of Irish NFQ

• Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999– established National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI)

charged with developing the National Framework of Qualifications

– established the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC)

– established Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) (for standards and awards outside of the university sector)

• 10 level framework incorporating:– General education (GE)– Further education and training (FET, VET)– Higher education and training (HET)

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The Irish Education System

• High completion rate for secondary education: 89% of boys and 92% of girls who entered secondary school in 2005 and 2006 sat the national school leaving examination (Leaving Certificate) in 2012– 94% completing the Leaving Certificate ‘established’– 6% completed the more vocationally-oriented Leaving

Certificate Applied

• In a 2009 (30 country) study of 15-34 years old graduates by educational orientation:– Ireland had the lowest participation rate in a VET-oriented

education with 22%– In Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria the rate is 84-85%

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Award-types• Major Awards are the main class of award made at a

level. For example, the Ordinary Bachelor Degree at level 7.

• Minor Awards provide recognition for learners who achieve a range of learning outcomes but not the specific combination of learning outcomes required for a major award.

• Special Purpose Awards are made for very specific purposes. An example of a Special Purpose award is Driving - Heavy Goods Rigid.

• Supplemental Awards are for learning which is additional to a previous award. They could, for example, relate to updating and refreshing knowledge or skills, or to continuing professional development

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Qualifications Recognitionwww.qualrec.ie

• Established in 2003, located within the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and now QQI

• Centre which facilitates the academic recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland and provides information regarding foreign education systems (compares foreign qualifications to Irish qualifications placed on the NFQ)

• Provides information on Irish education and training system, promotes recognition of Irish qualifications abroad

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Qualifications Recognition - Features• Free of charge

• Available to individuals, employers, public bodies, education institutions etc.

• Deal with applications on a case-by-case basis

• Volume: Approximately 1800 formal applications/yr

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Qualifications Recognition - Process

• Applicant completes an application form and submits necessary documentation

• Comparability of the award is established (up to 10-12 weeks)

• Applicants are issued with a comparability statement providing advice on how their award compares to an Irish award, e.g.

“… is comparable to an Ordinary Bachelor Degree which is placed at Level 7 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications”

• Applicant may seek reassessment of their application 9

Qualifications Recognition – Information Available (www.qualrec.ie)

• International Qualifications Database: comparabilities available for certain awards from a number of countries

• Qualifications can cross boundaries: comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland

• Comprehensive information on the Irish education and training system

• There are many UK awarding bodies such as City & Guilds that offer programmes in Ireland. Listings of these awards with an NFQ level are available on our www.nfq.ie website via the following link:

http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/awards_in_the_framework.html#UK

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Qualifications Recognition – Work in Progress

• Comparability advice online• Review of comparability statement

structure and information• Recognition Projects• Policy on recognition advice

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Establishment of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

• In November 2012, a new integrated qualifications and quality assurance authority (QQI) was established under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012

• The Act amalgamated FETAC, HETAC, NQAI and the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB)

• QQI is responsible for the NFQ and the quality assurance of all post-secondary education and training in Ireland

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Websites & Contact Details

• Quality and Qualifications Ireland website: www.qqi.ie

• Framework website: www.nfq.ie• Recognition website: www.qualrec.ie• Qualifax: National Learners’

Database: www.qualifax.ie • Niamh Lenehan – nlenehan@qqi.ie

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Thank you

Questions?

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