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Irish National Framework Of Qualifications

The Irish National Framework of Qualifications

The National Framework of Qualifications introduced in October 2003, established a single, coherent, easily-understood award system for use throughout education and training in Ireland. The Framework is a structure of ten levels, accommodating awards gained in schools, the workplace, the community, training centres, colleges and universities, from the most basic to the most advanced levels of learning. This new arrangement simplifies and clarifies the previous situation.

New awards in the Framework

The National Framework of Qualifications sets out the arrangements for the future of Irish qualifications. These new awards are made on the basis of ‘learning outcomes’ defined in terms of standards of knowledge, skill and competence. This introduces a new approach to the meaning of an award in that it recognises learning outcomes – what a person with an award knows, can do and understands. The range of organisations that are empowered to make awards has been significantly reduced. The following awarding bodies, collectively, have agreed to the use of a set of 16 major award-types defined in terms of ‘learning outcomes’.

The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for all further education and training in Ireland. FETAC is a statutory body established in June 2001 under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999.. (www.fetac.ie )

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) the qualifications awarding body for third-level educational and training institutions outside the university sector. (www.hetac.ie )

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) (www.examinations.ie )

The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) whose role is to establish the overall awarding standards of the DIT. (www.dit.ie )

The Universities (NUI) (www.nui.ie )

As of autumn 2005, ten of the 16 Framework award-types are in use. Six awards are made by FETAC.

The diagram (on the right - .click to download large version) illustrates the awards in the

The 10-level structure is shown as segments in a ‘fan’. The Framework contains a set of 16 award-types for which descriptors have been published. The award-types are listed in the dark blue rings of the diagram. The diagram also illustrates the various awarding bodies that make awards in the Framework. These are shown as coloured bands extending across the levels of the Framework as appropriate.
The existing and former awards( see details below) placed in the Framework are listed in the outer tabs extending from the segments in the ‘fan’.

What has happened to existing and former awards?

As the Framework is implemented, many existing awards will cease to be made. Many learners hold Irish awards that were part of former systems and have ceased to be made. It is necessary to map these ‘existing and former’ awards onto the Framework, so that holders of such awards are not disadvantaged. The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has agreed with the four awarding bodies to the placement of a range of existing and former awards.
It is important to note that placement of an existing or former award is at a level and not as equivalent to an award-type and does not imply that a holder of such an award has achieved all of the outcomes associated with a new, framework-based, award-type at the same level.

For more information on The National Framework of Qualifications visit www.nqai.ie

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