Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 March 2022
98. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he anticipates the work on the Learner Protection Fund and the International Education Mark to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16889/22]
View answerThe Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019 contains legislative provisions to provide for the establishment of a new national Learner Protection Fund and the International Education Mark (IEM).
The new Learner Protection Fund will be established and administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further, higher and adult education sectors. The Fund will be used to ‘teach out’ a programme in the event that a provider fails to provide a programme. Should this not be possible, the Fund will be used to reimburse students for the most recent fees that have been paid.
The International Education Mark (IEM) is a key component of the Government’s policy for the English language education sector and is intended to provide a quality framework for the provision of education to international learners. To obtain the IEM providers will have to demonstrate compliance with requirements on corporate fitness, quality assurance and the protection of enrolled learners, alongside key criteria and practices surrounding the recruitment and admission of international students, information provision, student welfare, cultural awareness and academic support provisions. In addition, providers will also be required to satisfy conditions relating to the recruitment, training and the cessation of employment of staff.
While the legislation to establish the Fund and the IEM is now in place, a considerable amount of preparatory work is required to facilitate their full implementation. My Department and QQI are currently prioritising the work to develop and implement the necessary key precursor measures including the development of specific Ministerial Regulations for corporate fitness assessments.
It is my Department’s intention that substantial progress will be made on advancing this work in 2022.
