Higher Education and Training

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Trainers Network National Conference

• Higher Education and Training
• Awards Council

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Higher Education and Training Awards Council

• The Higher Education and Training Awards Council
• was established on 11 June 2001, under the
  Qualifications
• (Education and Training) Act 1999.
• The Council is the national qualifications
  awarding
• body for higher education and training outside
  the
• university sector in Ireland, other than the
  Dublin
• Institute of Technology.

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Council Awards - Existing

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Master Degree
• Graduate Diploma
• Bachelor Degree
• Diploma for Art and Design Teachers
• National Diploma
• National Certificate
• One - Year Certificate

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National Framework of Qualifications Initial
Major Award-Types
Level Award-Type 10 Doctoral Degree
9 Masters Degree Postgraduate Diploma
8 Honours Bachelor Degree Higher Diploma
7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree 6 Advanced
Certificate Higher Certificate 5 Level 5
Certificate 4/5 Leaving Certificate 4 Level
4 Certificate 3 Level 3 Certificate Junior
Certificate 2 Level 2 Certificate 1 Level 1
Certificate
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HETAC s main functions include

• Make and recognise awards
• Setting standards for higher education and
  training awards.
• Validation of higher education and training
  programmes.
• Monitoring and evaluation of institutional
  quality assurance procedures.
• Delegation of awarding powers to recognised
  institutions.
• Ensuring that student assessment procedures are
  fair and consistent.
• Ensuring that providers implement policies and
  processes for access, transfer and progression.
• Ensuring that arrangements are in place in
  commercial education and training institutions to
  protect learners where programmes validated by
  HETAC cease to be provided.

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Schedule for Policy Development/ Implementation
2004

• Awards policy
• Determination of Standards
• Fair and consistent assessment
• Validation (Taught and Research)
• Quality Assurance

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Quality Assurance Scope

• The scope of quality assurance covers a number of
  dimensions
• International
• National
• Institutional/Provider

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Quality Assurance National/International
Dimension

• Bologna Process
• Qualifications(Education and Training )Act 1999

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Quality Assurance International Dimension

• Bologna Process 1999 Declaration of the
  European Ministers of Education
• Creation of a European HE area by 2010
• Easily readable and comparable degrees Diploma
  Supplement
• System of two main cycles
• Promotion of mobility
• Co-operation in quality assurance

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Quality Assurance National Dimension

• Qualifications (Education Training )ACT 1999.
• a provider of a programme of education and
  training, whose programme has been validated by
  the Council.shall establish procedures for
  quality assurance ..and agree those procedures
  with the Council
• the Council shallreview the effectiveness of
  the procedures,

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Quality Assurance National Dimension

• Purpose of further improving and maintaining the
  quality of education and training
• Operated by the provider
• Must be agreed with HETAC
• Includes evaluation by learners
• Includes evaluation of services

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Quality Assurance National Dimension

• Qualifications (Education Training )ACT 1999.
• NQAI establishes procedures for the conduct of
• HETAC functions and reviews those procedures
• from time to time.

13
Quality Assurance Provider Dimension

• Council current providers
• Recognised institutions
• with delegated authority
• without delegated authority
• Other providers
• national institutions
• other colleges and institutions

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Quality Assurance Provider Dimension

• Recognised institutions (13)
• Institutes of Technology
• Other providers(25)
• Institute of Public Administration, Garda
  and Military Colleges, American College, IMI,
  Griffith and Portobello Colleges, HSI, Milltown
  Institute of Theology and Philosophy

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Quality Assurance Provider Dimension

• QA agreement process
• Providers prepare submissions against the
  Councils Guidelines and Criteria for QA
• Submissions are evaluated by an independent
  expert panel which recommends agreement if
  appropriate
• Council formally agrees the procedures
• Council reviews of the effectiveness of
  procedures

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Quality Assurance Provider Dimension

• Provider requirements
• Quality Policy/Manual
• QA system should
• _ clear indication of QA management
  system
• reflects the providers mission
• relate to all relevant asppects of providers
• functions
• provide for adequate resources
• involve evaluation of effectiveness

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Quality Assurance Provider Dimension

• Essential QA procedures required
• Design, approval and review of programmes
• Access, transfer and progression
• Fair and consistent assessment
• On-going monitoring
• Evaluation at regular intervals
• Selection, appointment, appraisal, development of
  staff
• Evaluation of premises and facilities
• Evaluation of effectiveness of QA procedures

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Quality Assurance Summary

• HETAC Quality assurance policy reflects
• International commitments and developments in
  higher educaton training.
• National statutory obligations.
• Provider focus which balances best practice,
• flexibilty, repsonsibility and
  accountability.