Previous consultations

These stakeholders include providers, professional recognition bodies, and staff and learner representatives, as well as other public bodies and state agencies.

You can find details of recently concluded consultations below.

QQI has developed a draft of statutory quality assurance guidelines for blended and online learning.  These guidelines build upon the current and widely used guidelines for blended learning and will incorporate QA of programmes which are designed for fully online delivery and assessment.  In recognition of the fact that digital technology is a standard feature of almost all programmes now, the title of the draft guidelines reflects this.

The National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL) in DCU has led the development of the guidelines.  The development phase included wide consultation with stakeholders in Ireland and drew on research into national and international best practice. 

This consultation closed on 30 June 2023.

Public consultation

QQI has published a series of white papers relating to the development and implementation of an International Education Mark (IEM). These white papers include:

This consultation closed on Friday, 16 December 2022.

​In December 2019, QQI conducted a consultation on the Review and Development of Level 5 Fgas Handling Awards.

After reviewing the consultation feedback and further consideration by the Fgas Standards Advisory group it is proposed to replace the four component awards of Special Purpose Level 5 Handling FGas Refrigerants (including four components) with four stand-alone Special Purpose awards to reflect the four categories of certification required by current European Union and National legislation.

Providers were asked to note that the following draft awards will be Non-CAS awards:

Level 5 Fgas Handling in Large RACHPT&T Systems Category I
Level 5 Fgas Handling in Small RACHPT&T Systems Category II
Level 5 Fgas Recovery from Small RACHPT&T Systems Category III
Level 5 Fgas Non-Intrusive Leak Detection in RACHPT&T Systems Category IV
Level 5 Handling Fgas Mobile Air Conditioning Systems in Certain Motor Vehicles
Level 5 Handling FGas Fire Extinguishants

Consultation closed on 6 March 2020.

QQI established a Standards Advisory Group to review the QQI Special Purpose FGas Handling awards standards at Level 5. The review process for FGas Handling award standards highlighted that the standards required change to reflect current practice and current European Union and National legislation and regulations.

Special Purpose Level 5 Handling FGas Refrigerants (including four components) 
Special Purpose Level 5 Handling Fgas Mobile Aircon Conditioning Systems in Certain Motor Vehicles (including one component)
Special Purpose Level 5 Handling FGas Fire Extinguishants (including one component)

Consultation closed on 31 December 2019.

​QQI launched a five-month consultation on new-format draft awards standards for Early Learning and Care (ELC), and as part of this published proposed new awards standards for Early Learning and Care. The new standards (at NFQ Levels 5 and 6) were intended replace the current Early Childhood Care & Education standards published in 2011.  

One of the major changes was that the new standards would be based on the NFQ Professional Award-type Descriptors. This will have a significant positive impact for a sector which saw nearly 25,000 major awards (including those at Levels 5 and 6) in the last 7 years. For example, it will help facilitate the development of efficient progression pathways between different tertiary ELC qualifications in the NFQ.  

A consultation event on was held 7 May 2019 with full attendance.

Background Introduction  
Proposed new awards standards for Early Learning and Care
ELC awards to be deactivated and implications for validation
Guideline for Respondents

This consultation closed on 30 September 2019.

QQI invited feedback from stakeholders on Modification to Sectoral Convention 3 on Repeating for Honours in QQI’s ‘Assessment and Standards’ 

Assessment and Standards 2013 was originally developed in 2009 by HETAC, one of QQI’s antecedents:

The Sectoral Conventions for Assessment comprise a set of regulations and benchmarks which, in the interest of fairness and consistency, are agreed at the sectoral level by QQI and all associated providers.

The ‘associated providers’ referenced are providers of higher education programmes that QQI had validated and providers to whom QQI had delegated award-making authority.  The classifications available for QQI awards are set down in Sectoral Convention 1 of Assessment and Standards Revised 2013. Sectoral Convention 3 sets down some constraints on how those classifications may be determined.

This White Paper proposes a modification to Sectoral Convention 3 on Repeating for Honours in QQI’s Assessment and Standards Revised 2013. 

 

This Consultation is now Closed.