Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland?
Q: Is the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland an awarding body?
Q: What is the Further Education and Training Awards Council?
Q: What is the Higher Education and Training Awards Council?
Q: Does the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland provide funding?
Q: Does the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland provide education or training programmes?
Q: What role has the Authority in relation to the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)?
Q: What role has the Authority in relation to Universities?
Q: Is the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland a new organisation or does it replace something?
A: The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is a new organisation. It was established by the Government in February 2001 as set out in the Qualifications(Education and Training) Act 1999.
Q: What is the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland?
A:
- The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is a body of 14 members appointed by the Minister of Education and Science. The members are nominated by Government Ministers and national stakeholders in education and training. The Authority has three principal objectives:
- the establishment and maintenance of a framework of qualifications for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skill or competence to be acquired by learners
- the establishment and promotion of the maintenance and improvement of the standards of awards of the further and higher education and training sector, other than in the existing universities
- the promotion and facilitation of access, transfer and progression throughout the span of education and training provision.
Q: Is the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland an awarding body?
A: No.
Q: What is the Further Education and Training Awards Council?
A: The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for all further education and training in Ireland. FETAC is a statutory body established in June 2001 under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999.
Q: What is the Higher Education and Training Awards Council?
A: HETAC (the Higher Education and Training Awards Council) was established by the Government on 11 June 2001, under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999. HETAC is the qualifications awarding body for third-level education and training institutions outside the university sector other than the Dublin Institute of Technology. It is the legal successor to the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA).
Q: What is the relationship between the Further Education and Training Awards Council, the Higher Education and Awards Council and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland?
A: They are each independent bodies with their own functions. There are separate but interdependent roles for the awards Councils and the Authority.The role of the Authority includes the establishment of standards of awards and the determination of the procedures to be followed by the Councils in the performance of the Councils functions. The Authority also reviews the performance by the Councils of their functions and has an appeals and funding role.
Q: Does the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland provide funding?
A:Only for the Awards Councils, it has no role in funding delivery of programmes.
Q: Does the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland provide education or training programmes?
A: No, existing state funded and private providers will continue to provide education and training programmes.
Q: What role has the Authority in relation to the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)?
A: The Authority's role is to establish the overall awarding standards of the DIT. The Authority also has a quality assurance role in relation to the DIT.
Q: What role has the Authority in relation to Universities?
A: All awards made within the state are to be included by the Authority in the national framework of qualifications, including university awards. Universities are to co-operate with and give all reasonable assistance to the Authority in carrying out its functions. They may also advise and provide information as required to assist the Authority in carrying out its functions. The implementation by the universities of the Authority's procedure for access, transfer and progression is to be reviewed by the Authority in consultation with the Higher Education Authority.
Glossary
The Authority has also produced a glossary of terms to be used in developing the framework. These are working understandings of the terms and do not form part of the determination of the Authority. They are subject to change as development work proceeds.
The Authority is to build on policies and criteria to determine:
- an outline framework of qualifications, and
- procedures to promote access, transfer and progression.
