Future-proofing the NFQ
A priority of the QQI Statement of Strategy 2025-2027 is to future-proof the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) as the authoritative information source for quality assured tertiary qualifications. Actions identified to deliver this priority include the further development of QQI’s platforms to promote the NFQ as the authoritative source of information on quality-assured qualifications including micro-credentials and the review and modification of the current system of award types in the NFQ to better serve learners in a more integrated tertiary education system, including general education qualifications delivered via the school system.
Programme for review of the NFQ
This programme aims to deliver on this priority by conducting a policy review of the NFQ. This will include the review of existing policy and the development of new policy to formally articulate the mechanism for maintaining and implementing the NFQ, as well as promotions and communications.
A history of the NFQ
The NFQ was introduced in 2003. While it may have begun its life primarily as an information source, it has since been transformed into a filter tool for a range of functions including government funding, student grant aid and employee recruitment. It has worked its way into the national lexicon in a way that many of its counterparts elsewhere have not.
Explore the documents below to discover more about the history of the NFQ and follow its development from pre-establishment to a mature qualifications framework respected internationally.
The National Framework of Qualifications
At a Glance Policy Impact Assessment of the Irish NFQ (0.8 MB) 20 years of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Timeline 2003-2023 (0.6 MB) 20 Years of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications – A Story of Collaboration and Co-operation 2003-2023 (1.5 MB)2026 Restatement of NFQ
QQI has published a new draft 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.
