Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
697. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the international education mark will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17391/24]
View answer698. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional resources that will be allocated to ensure that education providers are compliant with the international education mark. [17392/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 698 together.
The International Education Mark (IEM) is a new quality education mark and part of a suite of legislative measures which are designed to protect international learners in Ireland. The IEM is a key pillar of the Government’s policy for international education, as set out in Global Citizens 2030: Ireland’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy to 2030.
The Mark is intended to promote confidence, both nationally and internationally, in the quality of the Irish education system. It will ensure that international learners enrolled with higher education and English language education providers are protected and receive a quality, consistent learning experience. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), an agency under the remit of my Department, has statutory responsibility for administering the IEM.
English language education providers applying to QQI for authorisation to use the IEM will be required to undergo i) a Due Diligence assessment which will entail a review of corporate governance, financial resources and other legal obligations and ii) an assessment of compliance with the statutory IEM Code of Practice for Provision of Programmes of English Language Education to International Learners. For higher education providers with an existing relationship with QQI the IEM application process will comprise an assessment of compliance with the IEM Code of Practice for Provision of Programmes of Higher Education to International Learners.
To facilitate the rollout of the IEM, QQI has appointed a number of additional staff including a new Head of International Education. QQI is in the process of appointing external contractors with the requisite skills and experience to undertake all Due Diligence assessments and for the assessment of compliance with the IEM’s English Language Education Code of Practice. Assessments of compliance with the IEM’s Higher Education Code of Practice will be completed using existing QQI resources.
My Department is currently working with QQI to implement the key precursor measures that are necessary to facilitate the introduction of IEM. It is planned that the application process for the IEM will open to education providers before the Summer.
