Exploring the Latest Developments in Standards: Publications, Consultations, Webinars, and More

The Standards Team marked the new year by publishing the new Enforcement Guarding (4S22385) awards, which will be shortly followed by the eagerly awaited Broad Award Standards suite NFQ Levels 1-4. These are intended to bring a fresh and flexible approach to programme development for FET providers in Ireland. 

Meanwhile, we are finalising award standards for Commercial Scuba Diving and Surface Supplied Diving (Inshore). So, as you can see, we are delving into a range of diverse disciplines!

Consultations on draft Integrated Broad Award Standards for Business NFQ Levels 5-9 and the draft CAS award NFQ Level 5 Physical Intervention Skills will be published on QQI.ie in the coming weeks. We invite all stakeholders to engage, this is your chance to enrich the standards with your feedback. 

We have two webinars planned for Q1 2024. The first of the year is a webinar titled "QQI Healthcare Qualifications” Tuesday, 6th  February 2024, from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm. Where a panel of experts from the HSE and the Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet will provide an opportunity for providers to engage with key sector stakeholders. 

A second webinar on Special Needs Assisting awards, will be held on Tuesday, 27th  February 2024, from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm. Senior officials from the Department of Education will discuss Minister Madigan’s recently announced plans for the first Special Needs Assistant Workforce. 

Currently in the drafting phase are Community Development NFQ Levels 5-6 and Youth Work NFQ Level 5 Broad Award Standards.

QQI has established a Standards Working Group (SDG) with the co-operation of All-Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work Education and Training (AIEB) and the North South Education and Training Standards Committee for Youth Work (NSETS) co-leading the work on this project.

QQI Awards Standards Team would like to thank all stakeholders for their engagement in the above activities.