QQI Principles becoming mainstay values for PSRBs and HEIs

Between 2020 and 2021, QQI consulted with education providers and professional statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) to establish a set of principles aimed at supporting collaboration between all parties involved in professional accreditation.  These Principles have been endorsed already by over 38 PSRBs and HEIs.

Based on the Universities Australia and Professions Australia Joint Statement of Principles for Professional Accreditation, the Irish Principles for Professional Engagements with Education Providers set out values that inform activity in this area, including integrity, transparency and shared responsibility. The document clarifies the individual and joint roles and responsibilities of parties involved in professional accreditation and presents general principles for consideration when developing and implementing professional accreditation standards and processes.  

The principles aim to: 

• Highlight the importance and benefits of professional regulation and accreditation. 
• Explore the impact of professional accreditation on internal QA. 
• Consider where duplication might occur between academic and professional processes and encourage collaboration to eliminate any unnecessary administrative burden. 
• Stimulate conversations and partnership between providers and PSRBs to enhance the qualifications system. 

Any activity undertaken in the spirit of the principles is entirely voluntary and endorsement does not undermine in any way the organisational or institutional autonomy of endorsing bodies. 

To date, 38 organisations have endorsed the principles: 

* These institutions endorsed the principles before their dissolution. IT Carlow and Waterford IT have since formed South East Technological University, with Galway-Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo forming Atlantic Technological University. The principles are currently under consideration by both technological universities. 

The impact of the principles is beginning to be evident. Several PSRBs have also embedded the principles within their accreditation standards and criteria and providers and PSRBs have showcased examples of partnership during QQI’s Finding Common Ground events. Most recently, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and Atlantic Technological University spoke about their experience of piloting concurrent professional accreditation and programmatic review processes, and the learnings and benefits arising.  

The call for endorsement of the principles remains open and QQI welcomes contact from education providers and PSRBs interested in endorsing the document. Please contact mboland@qqi.ie for further information.