Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
712. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that he will take to ensure that those with Ukrainian qualifications will have those qualifications recognised in this State by employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) hosts NARIC Ireland which provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The QQI NARIC database currently lists 14 Ukrainian qualifications, comparable to levels 3-10 on the NFQ, including general professional and higher education.
NARIC Ireland is working with the NARIC network across Europe to continue building the list of Ukrainian qualifications. The NARIC Guide has recently been translated into Ukrainian and the Guide is also available in Polish, English and Russian, which many Ukrainian citizens also speak.
The NARIC service also helps to inform employers to determine if an applicant holds the academic qualifications necessary for a particular job or employment opportunity.
SOLAS operates a system whereby individuals coming to Ireland with foreign further education and training qualifications can apply to have these qualifications assessed for equivalency.
On 18 March I signed a statement on behalf of Ireland condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The key aim of this statement is to signal support for higher education students and staff in Ukraine and to suspend Russia’s rights of representation on all structures and activities of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Whilst the purpose of the statement is to ensure that those affected by the war can access higher education, there is also a collective agreement that Ukrainian students should be treated as EU citizens and offered the same access and supports to pursue higher education in Ireland as those from Member States.
