Devolved Responsibility Pilot with the ETB Sector

Over the course of 2025, QQI worked with the education and training board (ETB) sector to develop a pilot approach to devolved responsibility (DR), exploring how ETBs might take on responsibility for managing evaluations within the programme validation process. The aim of the pilot is to support efficiency of process and capacity building within the sector, as well as informing the development of a future sectoral approach to DR.

Following a period of targeted consultation and engagement with the sector, QQI identified seven ETBs as potentially well placed to participate directly in the pilot, based on their level of validation activity and experience. Draft QQI procedures for devolved responsibility were then developed and circulated for consultation. QQI welcomed the strong engagement from the ETB sector, and the feedback received provided valuable insights to support the finalisation of the DR procedures.

The revised procedures were approved in November 2025 and have since been made available to the sector. To support implementation and encourage shared learning, QQI will host an online briefing for all ETBs in January 2026, which follows an in-person event on 7 October 2025. These peer-learning sessions are intended to support ETBs participating directly in the pilot and provide an opportunity for wider sectoral engagement with, and learning from, the DR approach.

The application window for devolved responsibility will open in early 2026, with applications considered by QQI over the course of the year. QQI looks forward to working with the ETB sector to progress the pilot and, ultimately, to deliver an appropriate and sustainable model for DR in the ETBs. Furthermore, while this is an invite-only pilot, open only to the ETBs, we look forward to sharing the learnings from this process with the wider further education sector.