The Irish Experience Dr Norma Ryan Director Quality

The Irish Experience Dr. Norma Ryan Director, Quality Promotion Unit University College Cork- National University of Ireland Cork Sarajevo 5 th December 2011 1

Content of presentation • • • • Brief biography Norma Ryan Irish Higher Education System Legislation Universities/Institutes of Technology IUQB Institutional review ( accreditation/evaluation) Review of study programmes National Framework of Qualifications Alignment of Irish NFQ to other Frameworks Irish Universities Association Irish Higher Education Quality Network Changes to legislation 2012 References 2

Dr. Norma Ryan • • Biochemist Director, Quality Promotion Unit, UCC Irish National Bologna Expert Past-Chair of Irish Higher Education Quality Network • Member of University Management Team • Member of Governing Authority • Member of Senate of National University of Ireland 3

UCC • A University located in the South of Ireland, with 19, 000+ students, and one of the highest annual research income of all the Irish Universities • Has a particular focus on delivering Fourth Level Ireland (graduate studies) and lifelong learning 4

Mission To create, preserve, and communicate knowledge and to enhance cultural, social and economic life locally, regionally and globally. VISION To be a research-led university of international standing with impact in Munster, Ireland, Europe and the world 5

Ireland • Has a binary system for higher education • Publicly funded: – 7 universities – 14 Institutes of Technology • Private providers: – Colleges – No private universities allowed by law 6

Universities Act 1997 • • Legislation covering all Irish Universities Autonomy Quality Assurance Strategic Planning 7 7

University Accreditation • • All Irish universities accredited by act of parliament Do not undergo regular re-accreditation Do undergo regular institutional evaluations Individual Programmes not accredited outside the institution except for professional degrees e. g. engineering, medicine 8

National Agenda • In 2003 Irish Universities Association published: • A Framework for Quality in Irish Universities • In 2007 second edition published • Principles outlined in Framework • compatible with the ESG for Quality Assurance in Higher Education 9

Institutes of Technology • Overseen by statutory body: HETAC Higher Education Training Awards council • Accredited every 5 years • Cannot award degrees without specific ‘Delegation of Authority’ to do so from HETAC • Reviewed at institutional level by HETAC • Limited in autonomy 10

Private Colleges • Can apply for accreditation of programmes by HETAC • Can apply for an institutional review 11

IUQB • Irish Universities Quality Board • Established in 2003 by Irish Universities • Independent body charged with review of effectiveness of QA procedures • Conducts and organises institutional reviews • Affirms alignment with ESG (European Standards & Guidelines) 12

Institutional Review • • Every 5 - 6 years Panel appointed by IUQB Secretary a full member of board, trained by IUQB - not personnel of IUQB 13

Report • All members of review panel contribute to writing of report • All members agree report before it is finalised • Final draft of report is sent to institution for comment, especially on factual content, before finalisation of report and submission to IUQB • HEI pays all costs; costs decided by IUQB 14

Accreditation of study programmes • • • Criteria established by UCC Very specific and published on web site Market research evidence Module details External peer review of programme Details of accreditation published on web site 15

Accreditation of third cycle (Ph. D) • • As for first and second cycle Criteria established by UCC Very specific and published on web site Market research evidence Programme details External peer review of programme Details of accreditation / approval process published on web site 16

Third Cycle • Ph. D • Professional Doctorate • Practitioner Doctorate 17

Irish NFQ • National Qualification Framework • All programmes in all public institutions aligned with a level on the Framework • First National Framework to be developed 18

Why Qualifications Frameworks? • A tool for fostering transparency, flexibility and mobility of learners • On the national level: need for systematic articulation and navigation between qualifications • Overarching (European) qualifications frameworks: serve as translation device 19

• Keep in mind: - Individual qualifications do not directly relate to overarching qualifications frameworks (only via national qualifications frameworks or systems) – Qualifications Frameworks have to be generic and multi-purpose 20

Qualification Framework for the EHEA QF for EHEA Doctorate (? ) Master Normally 90 – 120 (Minimum 60) Bachelor 180 - 240 Cycles Learning Outcomes Min. 3 years ECTS Credits 21

EQF - LLL • European Qualification Framework for Lifelong Learning • Eight levels covering different forms of learning including basic learning, Vocational Education & Training, Higher Education, informal learning, etc. • Learning outcomes/Descriptors: – Knowledge – Skills – Competences 22

EQF • No measure of workload • (not a credit system) • Level 6 – 8: Descriptors “correspond” to Dublin Descriptors in QF for EHEA • Recommendation from the European Commission to the European Council & Parliament 23

Country A Country B EQF Level 8 Qualification EQF Level 7 Qualification EQF Level 6 Qualification EQF Level 5 Qualification EQF Level 4 EQF Level 3 Qualification EQF Level 2 EQF Level 1 Qualification 24

The Eight EQF Levels Knowledge Skills Wider personal and professional competences Each EQF Reference Level 25

Focus on Learning Outcomes EQF ing arn Le al ing Inf o arn rm Le al orm n-F No Learning Outcomes Formal Learning 26

QF for the EHEA vs. EQF for Lifelong Learning QF for EHEA EQF for Lifelong Learning Geographical scope 45 Bologna countries 25 (EU) countries Educational scope Higher education Lifelong learning Levels/ Cycles 3 Bologna cycles Eight levels Elements Learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors), ECTS Learning outcomes Status Adopted by 45 ministers in Bergen, 2005 Not yet adopted 27

NFQ – award-types and awarding bodies 28

Irish NFQ • First NFQ to be aligned with the EHEA Framework (Bologna Framework) • First NFQ to be aligned with European Qualification Framework 29

IUA • Irish Universities Association • All 7 Universities members • Meets 4 times per year – different groupings – – Presidents Directors of Quality IUA Quality Committee Work together for good of sector 30

IHEQN: Irish Higher Education Quality Network • • Universities Institutes of Technology Government Department of Education & Skills Private Colleges Union of Students of Ireland Higher Education Authority IUQB HETAC 31

IHEQN • provides a forum for the discussion of quality assurance / quality improvement issues amongst the principal national stakeholders involved in the quality assurance of higher education and training in Ireland • Produces guidelines and principles for the ‘Quality Agenda’ in HE in Ireland agreed by all 32

Universities and Employers • Universities aim to have close links with employers – Advisory Boards – Views sought in quality reviews – Market research prior to establishment of new programmes of study – Work placement as part of study programmes 33

National HE Strategy • ‘Hunt’ report • Commissioned by Government • Sets out principles and actions for HE sector in Ireland for next 10 years. 34

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 • Draft Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Bill, 2011. • The proposed legislation provides for a new single national agency, Qualifications and Quality Assurance Ireland (QQAI), replacing FETAC, HETAC, NQAI and IUQB. It is anticipated that QQAI will be established in mid-2012 • Will cover all HE institutions in Ireland for Quality assurance and accreditation 35

Web sites • • www. ucc. ie/quality www. iuqb. ie www. iheqn. ie www. eua. be www. nqai. ie www. enqa. eu ec. europa. eu/education/highereducation/doc 1290_en. htm • www. hea. ie/files/ 36

Thank you Email: n. ryan@ucc. ie 37