QQI Publishes Draft NFQ Restatement Policy Document
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has published a new draft National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) restatement policy document providing an overview of recent and ongoing developments relating to the Framework.
The Policies and Criteria for the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) (2026) restates the original NFQ policies published in 2003 and updates them to reflect legislative, policy and international developments since the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 and the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019.
The restatement document positions the NFQ for its next phase of development by recognising the growth of operational national qualifications frameworks since the introduction of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA), and by supporting a framework that remains trusted, agile and responsive to future learning, skills and recognition needs.
Building on consultations conducted during 2024 and 2025, QQI's proposed restatement of NFQ policies and criteria will consolidate existing policy into a single authoritative framework, providing a stable foundation for future development. The restatement is intended to support a more strategic and evidence-informed approach to NFQ policy while strengthening shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities of QQI, awarding bodies and providers.
To support the ongoing evolution of the NFQ, QQI will establish an NFQ Consultative Group. The group will help identify and prioritise future policy developments, support stakeholder engagement, and strengthen long-term planning and horizon scanning across the qualifications system. A longer-term objective is to establish a periodic review process to assess how the NFQ is being implemented and how effectively it continues to serve learners, providers, awarding bodies, employers and wider society.
Commenting on the NFQ Restatement policy document Orla Barry, Head of Qualifications Information and Learning Opportunities said “The National Framework of Qualifications must continue to evolve in step with the changing needs of learners, education providers, employers and society. This new approach will support more proactive stewardship of the Framework, helping to identify emerging issues earlier and strengthen the connection between policy and practice.”
She also added: “We look forward to working closely with stakeholders, including learners and social partners, as we enter the next phase of NFQ development. By working together, we can ensure the Framework continues to support progression and innovation across education and training.”
QQI is currently engaging in focused engagement with key representative bodies on the Policies and Criteria for the NFQ policy document. A finalised version of the policy will be published in Spring 2027.
Updates on previous QQI consultations:
The White Paper on Qualifications at NFQ Levels 5 and 6 was published for consultation between September 2025 and March 2026, following extensive stakeholder engagement on the earlier Green Paper. Sixteen responses were received, highlighting implementation challenges and important considerations for the future development of qualifications at these levels. The next stage of this project will be considered by the new NFQ consultative group, when established, ensuring decisions are informed by stakeholder evidence, system-readiness and QQI's broader strategic priorities for the NFQ.
The Green Paper on Micro-credentials and the Short Programmes that Lead to Them, published in August 2025, has also completed consultation. A wide range of responses were received, reflecting the importance of clear, trusted and future-ready approaches to short, flexible and credit-bearing learning. The next stage of this project will be considered by the new NFQ consultative group as a priority, when established, given its relevance to lifelong learning, skills development, progression pathways and the continuing evolution of the NFQ.
The Green Paper on a Revised QQI Access, Transfer and Progression Policy was published in November 2024, with consultation closing in March 2025. This work has progress to a draft policy for consultation which is live now and open for consultation until 30th October 2026. More information on this consultation can be found here.
