Tuesday, 29.04.2008
Certification
It is imperative that you reassure yourself of the good quality of an award before enrolling in a course. Certification is vital in education these days and the following section outlines how every course and institution in the Guide is internationally recognised and of the highest educational standards...
International recognition of his/her chosen course is naturally of great importance to any foreign student who is considering an education in Ireland. For that reason, all courses and institutions that are listed in The 2008/2009 Guide to Education in Ireland (available to buy here) are recognised by the relevant Irish authorities. All qualifications that are listed in the Guide form part of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), and are therefore recognised globally for their high standards and quality.
The following four bodies have provided input that assisted with the compiling and publication of this year’s Guide. While these bodies cannot accept responsibility for the final content of the Guide, the accuracy of the information in the Guide can be checked against information on their official websites below:
International Education Board Ireland (IEBI)
Set up in 1993 by the Irish government, Education Ireland is committed to the promotion and development of Ireland as an international centre of excellence for education.
Board members represent stakeholders from the entire spectrum of the Irish education system - Universities, Institutes of Technology, Independent Colleges and Language Schools, as well as other government departments and agencies.
Ireland enjoys a global reputation as a historical centre of learning, and recent years have witnessed a marked increase in the number of international students enrolling in our vibrant education system.
Education Ireland seeks to maintain and improve this situation in the following ways:
• To promote Ireland as a quality destination for students and trainees.
• To promote and support the international activities of Irish education institutions.
• To act as a national point of contact and referral to and from Irish suppliers of education services and the international market place.
• To promote Irish education expertise as a valuable resource for international institutions, development agencies and governments.
• To liaise with education interests and government to identify and remove barriers to the development of the international education sector.
The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS)
ACELS was formed in 1969 for the purpose of maintaining the highest standards in Ireland’s English language schools. All English language schools listed in the Guide are recognised by ACELS, as well as the Department of Education and Science. It is also within ACELS remit to recognise TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training courses, and to develop materials and examinations for non-national students.
ACELS ensures that Ireland remains the destination of choice for over 100,000 international students a year who choose to study English in a foreign country.
Fáilte Ireland
Fáilte Ireland is the national tourism development authority. Its mission it is to develop and market Ireland’s largest indigenous sector of the economy. Apart from helping to develop and sustain Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourist destination, Fáilte Ireland also runs FETAC and HETAC (please see below) certified educational courses in various tourism related subjects.
Award Bodies
The following is an introduction to the various awarding bodies in Irish higher education:
FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards Council)
The national award body for a wide range of vocational and technical training programmes in public and private colleges. FETAC courses offer level one to six certification, with the completion of levels five or six providing the opportunity to pursue higher education in 37 institutes of technology, universities and private colleges across Ireland.
HETAC (Higher Education and Training Awards Council)
The qualifications awarding body for third-level educational and training institutions that are outside the university sector. Qualifications from level 6 (Higher Certificate) to level 10 (Doctoral Degree) in the NFQ are awarded by the Institutes of Technology and a number of independent colleges.
Institutes of Technology
Fourteen institutes, located nationwide, produce graduates for Ireland’s booming technological sector (the second largest exporter of software in the world). Qualifications from level 6 (Higher Certificate) to level 10 (Doctoral Degree) in the NFQ are awarded by either HETAC, or the institutes of technology themselves.
Universities
The large amounts of graduates who progress to employment in the numerous multinationals that operate in Ireland are testament to the quality of Ireland’s seven universities. University degrees are conferred from level seven (Ordinary Bachelor Degree) to level 10 (Doctoral Degree) in the NFQ.
Awards
The following is a brief description of the awards, that are granted upon the successful completion of the courses listed in this guide, based on the ‘one’ to ‘ten’ levels of certification that are outlined in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ):
Certificate (level 5) – Awarded by FETAC
The certificate gives the student a solid grounding in a specific occupation; he/she learns to use the instruments and techniques that come with the job. This award enables the graduate to take a job where he/she works independently, but not in a management or supervisory role.
Higher Certificate (level 6) – Awarded by HETAC and Institutes of technology Advanced Certificate (level 6) - Awarded by FETAC
The Higher or Advanced Certificate equips the graduate with supervisory/management and administrative skills in a specific occupation. There is a particular focus on the ability to learn new skills within a job. Occupations at this level would include supervisor, junior technician, and upper end of craft industry (e.g. textiles, furniture).
Ordinary Bachelor Degree (level 7) – Awarded by HETAC, Institutes of Technology and Universities
The student learns the laws and principles within a field of study, and how they are critically applied in a job scenario. This award is suitable for the upper end of technical occupations (e.g. electronic engineering), limited roles within the professions (e.g. accountancy) and junior management.
Honours Bachelor Degree & Higher Diploma (level 8) - Awarded by HETAC, Institutes of Technology and Universities
This qualification incorporates a full knowledge of the field of study, with a focus on adaptability, innovation and problem solving. In terms of work, the graduate is suitably prepared for a role as an independent knowledge-based professional (e.g. teacher, solicitor) and positions in management.
Masters Degree & Postgraduate Diploma (level 9) - Awarded by HETAC, Institutes of Technology and Universities
These courses require students to demonstrate their expertise on the subject by researching an area that is related to their course material. Suitable for the senior professions (e.g. actuary) and management with responsibility for worker performance.
Doctoral Degree (level 10) - Awarded by HETAC, Institutes of Technology and Universities
Through intensive research, the graduate will have uncovered and interpreted new findings relating to his/her field of knowledge. The Doctoral Degree is related to occupations requiring specialist skills (e.g. psychologist) and high-level research work.
