What is the International Education Mark?

The International Education Mark (IEM) is a new quality mark and part of a suite of legislative measures designed to protect international learners. The new mark will be awarded to higher education and English language education providers who have demonstrated that they meet national standards to ensure a quality experience for international learners from enrolment through to the completion of their programme of education and training.

The mark is intended to promote confidence, both nationally and internationally, in the quality of the Irish education system. It will ensure that international learners enrolled with higher education (HE) and English language education (ELE) providers are protected and receive a quality, consistent learning experience. The IEM is a voluntary scheme; however, providers who wish to recruit non-EU/EEA learners on programmes that require study visas will be obliged to apply for authorisation to use the mark.

Two codes of practice have been developed, one for HE providers and one for ELE providers. The HE code builds on the code of practice from 2015 and establishes a set of principles and criteria requiring compliance from HE providers in the areas of:​

  • ethical marketing and recruitment
  • accurate information provision to international learners​
  • fair, transparent, and consistent admission policies that encompass an institution’s role in qualifications’ recognition​
  • English language policy, including requirements relating to international foundation year programmes​
  • fees, refunds, and subsistence​
  • supports and services for international learners​
  • international learners enrolled on programmes leading to NFQ awards, including learners enrolled on transnational and online programmes.

 

The ELE code establishes a formal quality assurance process for the ELE sector in Ireland and ​establishes a set of principles and criteria requiring compliance from ELE providers in the areas of:​

  • requirements for premises​
  • operational, risk and human resources management ​
  • programme design​
  • supports and services for international learners​
  • accurate information provision to international learners​
  • ethical marketing and recruitment (including role of agents)​
  • enrolment, fees, refunds, and subsistence.​

Statutory quality assurance guidelines for English language education providers have also been developed.

HE and ELE providers who apply for authorisation to use the mark will submit a self-assessment to demonstrate their compliance with the associated code of practice, and, in the case of ELE providers, with the QA guidelines for ELE. As ELE providers are engaging on a formal level with QQI for the first time, a site visit will be included with the ELE application process.

 

Public consultation was held on the following draft documentation:

During the public consultation, providers were invited to express their interest in applying for authorisation to use the IEM. Following the consultation, QQI met with provider representative bodies and groups, individual providers and other stakeholders to discuss the documentation. The final documentation is now being prepared, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, and will be presented to the QQI Board for approval.

Please refer back to this page for updates on the IEM development.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the International Education Unit at international.education@qqi.ie

 

If you are an English language education provider, you must:

  • meet due diligence criteria in relation to corporate governance, financial resources and other legal obligations
  • meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for English Language Education and the Quality Assurance Guidelines for English Language Education Providers
  • participate in the statutory fund providing protection for international learners 

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the International Education Unit at international.education@qqi.ie.

If you are a private higher education provider, you must:

  • meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Higher Education
  • participate in the statutory fund providing protection for international learners

As with all private providers engaged with QQI, private higher education providers will also have to meet due diligence criteria in relation to corporate governance, financial resources and other legal obligations. Due diligence assessment will take place once a private HE provider participates in the statutory learner protection fund.

 

If you are a publicly-funded higher education provider, you must:

  • meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Higher Education.

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the International Education Unit at international.education@qqi.ie.