This policy is linked to the overall quality assurance of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. The policy relates to the quality assurance processes and procedures that are intended to ensure and improve the quality of the Qualifications Authority’s functions and processes, now and in the future. Please click here for further information.
External Quality Assurance Procedures
Under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is required to exercise a series of external quality assurance or quality-related functions. These statutory functions pertain primarily to the two awards Councils – the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) – and the Dublin Institute of Technology. This document sets outs the policy approach and/or procedures followed by the Authority in fulfilling these functions.
Under section 43(1) the Higher education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council will not
(a) validate a programme of education and training or
(b) make or recognise any award in respect of a programme
where the programme is of a duration of three months or more, which is offered by providers who intend to operate programmes on a commercial and profit-making basis unless the Councils are satisfied that the provider concerned has arrangements in place which make provision for learners where that provider ceases to provide the programme concerned.
In accordance with section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 the following are details of the registers of providers maintained by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council in respect of which there are arrangements in place for the protection of learners. Please click here for further information.
Procedures for the Awards Councils
Under section 8 (2c) of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, the Authority establishes procedures for the performance by Further Education and Training Awards Council and Higher Education and Training Awards Council of their functions. The Authority has established procedures in the following areas:
Quality Assurance Procedures for the Dublin Institute of Technology
Under section 39 (i) of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, the Dublin Institute of Technology has agreed its quality assurance procedures with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. These are available here:
Institutes of Technology - Approval of Transitional Awarding Arrangements
In April and June 2003, the Authority, under section 5 b (i) of the Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992, as amended by the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, approved of the following arrangements entered into by the institutes of technology with awarding bodies other than the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council, subject to the following:
The approval would be on an interim basis, clearly stated as recognising that the arrangements are in place at present on a transitional basis
Any additional arrangements would need to be approved by the Authority prior to their being implemented by an institute
The aim would be that any additional arrangements would only be arrangements that are additional to having an award from one of the Councils or an award jointly made by one of the Councils, or to those made under delegated authority
It is a matter for the institutes, in consultation with the Councils, to ensure that the requirements of the Act in relation to submitting all programmes for validation are met and the institutes are requested to advance with submitting all programmes for validation as soon as possible.
The transitional approval does not imply that any particular award is to be included in the national framework of qualifications or that any particular awarding body has been approved.
The Authority is to further develop a policy approach to the approval of such arrangements and there is no guarantee that any approval entered into at this stage will remain in place
The criteria and procedures which the Higher Education and Training Awards Council has agreed with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland can be found on the Council's website - along with other policies and procedures of the Council http://www.hetac.ie/docs/DA%20Criteria%20and%20Procedures%202004.pdf
Withdrawal of Delegation of Authority to Make Awards - Appeals Procedures
Under section 30 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, a recognised institution of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council may appeal to the Authority against a decision to withdraw the authority to make awards delegated under section 29.