I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 506, inclusive, together.
QQI re-opened access to ACELS recognition for a temporary period from 17 October 2013 to 31 January 2014. The purpose of this period was to enable those English Language Training Organisations (ELTOs) which were ready to apply, and which had expressed a strong interest in gaining recognition for 2014, to do so through a revised and strengthened process.
Providers were required to attend a briefing before making an application, and three such briefings took place during that period. I am informed by QQI that the briefings were held on 30 October 2013, 28 November 2013 and 9 January 2014 and that a total of 53 providers were represented.
By 31 January, QQI/ACELS had received a total of 35 applications for recognition. As of 25 September, 5 of those applications had been successful, 1 application had been refused and 10 applications ceased due to closure, suspension or a change of circumstances post-application. The remaining 19 applications are still in process, with 14 of those applications being close to completion.
With regard to the International Education Mark, QQI published its White Paper on the International Education Mark in May and published a draft Code of Practice, developed in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, last week. The final Policy on the International Education Mark and the Code of Practice will be published by QQI before the end of the year. QQI will begin to accept applications for authorisation to use the International Education Mark from English Language Training Organisations at the beginning of 2015 and higher education providers will then be able to apply in the second half of the year. Details of the application process will be made available when it is opened to providers.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012, sets out the legislative framework for the International Education Mark. The Act provides that the Mark will be authorised at provider level, rather than at programme level, and requires that providers will have to –
(1) agree quality assurance and access, transfer and progression procedures with QQI before applying for authorisation,
(2) ensure that their programmes lead to awards which are recognised through the National Framework of Qualifications (where they are capable of being so recognised), and
(3) demonstrate their overall compliance with the Code of Practice for the provision of education to international learners.
Therefore, if the awards referred to by the Deputy are recognised through the Framework they would not prevent the provider concerned from gaining authorisation to use the International Education Mark.
It should be noted, however, that authorisation to use the International Education Mark will not, on its own, allow providers to recruit non-EEA students from 1 January 2015. The regulatory reform of the international education, which I recently announced with the Minister for Justice and Equality, requires that the programmes concerned lead to awards made by Irish awarding bodies, such as the universities or QQI. Therefore providers will not be permitted to recruit non-EEA students to programmes leading to the awards referred to by the Deputy.
From 1 January, eligible programmes will be listed on an Interim List of Eligible Programmes for Student Immigration Permission, and the detailed criteria for inclusion of programmes on that list can be found on www.intregister.ie.
