Bologna Process - Establish a European Higher Education Network by 2010

• Quality Assurance
• The two-cycle system
• Recognition of degrees and periods of studies
• The third cycle

Quality assurance

The Irish Higher Education Quality Network was established in October 2003 as a formal network. The network comprises the main organisations with a role or significant interest in quality assurance in higher and education and training in Ireland. Membership includes the Universities, the Institutes of Technology, the Higher Education Colleges Association, the HEA, HETAC, IUQB, DIT, NQAI and USI. The network is working towards the development of a common national position on key quality assurance issues, in order to inform the debate on those same issues at the European level. The network provides a forum for discussion of quality assurance issues amongst the principal national stakeholders involved in the quality assurance of higher education and training in Ireland and allow for the dissemination of best practice in quality assurance amongst practitioners and policy makers involved in the Irish higher education and training sector.

The Universities Act, 1997, which came into force in June 1997, specifically requires each university "to establish procedures for quality assurance aimed at improving the quality of education and related services provided by the university". This model, which recognises institutional autonomy, is one of self-assessment. It must include the evaluation, at least once in every 10 years of each department and, where appropriate, school of the university and any service provided by the university, by employees of the university in the first instance and by persons, other than employees, who are competent to make national and international comparisons on the quality of teaching and research and the provision of other services at university level. Furthermore, the procedures must include assessment by those, including students, availing of the teaching, research and other services provided by the university, and the procedures must provide for the publication in such form and manner as the governing authority thinks fit. A governing authority must implement any findings arising out of an evaluation carried out in accordance with procedures established under this section unless, having regard to the resources available to the university or for any other reason, it would, in the opinion of the governing authority, be impractical or unreasonable to do so. In addition, each governing authority must, at least every 15 years, having regard to the resources available to the university and having consulted with the Higher Education Authority, arrange for a review of the effectiveness of the procedures provided for by this section and the implementation of the findings arising out of the application of those procedures and publish the outcome of such a review. In 2002, the governing authorities of the seven Irish universities established the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) and devolved to IUQB the statutory responsibility for conducting the reviews of the effectiveness of quality assurance.

On a wider level, the Higher Education Authority has a statutory role under the Act to assist the universities in the achievement of their objectives generally. Furthermore, it may review the quality assurance procedures established and may publish a report on the outcome of any such review – a process which is conducted in consultation with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. The first such review of quality assurance procedures was undertaken by the Higher Education Authority in conjunction with the IUQB and the outcome of the review was published in early 2005.

The Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 contains quality assurance procedures for any provider with programmes validated by HETAC and FETAC or with the delegated authority from an awarding council to make awards itself.
The Act provides that the quality assurance procedures must be agreed between the appropriate Council and the provider. The procedures must include regular evaluation by national and international experts and evaluation by learners. The provider must implement any of the findings arising from the application of the procedures that the awarding council determines. The effectiveness of the procedures must be reviewed on a regular basis by the council. In addition, the Act also requires the Dublin Institute of Technology to agree quality assurance procedures with the NQAI, which will include the regular evaluation of its programmes of education and training and ancillary services by national and international experts and learners. The NQAI will consider the findings arising out of such evaluations and may make recommendations to the Dublin Institute of Technology, which it will implement. The NQAI also reviews the effectiveness of these procedures.

Under the HETAC system of certification for quality assurance procedures, providers submit quality assurance (QA) procedures (in accordance with national criteria and guidelines) to the Council. The QA procedures are sent to an external expert review panel (membership includes international expertise). Each panel member reviews the QA procedures and submits a report to HETAC, where a single report is compiled. The expert panel meet to consider the converged views and make a recommendation to HETAC. The recommendation will indicate agreement (or otherwise) of the QA procedures. The review of the effectiveness of the quality assurance procedures may be described as the accreditation of quality assurance procedures following the agreement process. The review of QA procedures will involve a self-evaluation by the provider, an external expert panel with international expertise and a site visit to the provider.

The two-cycle system

The Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 has been enacted, with one of its key tasks being the establishment of the National Framework of Qualifications. The first milestone was reached in July 2004 with the announcement of the implementation arrangements for the framework in higher education. Awards at levels 6 to 10 will be made by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Dublin Institute of Technology, while universities make the awards from level 7 to 10.

The framework, however, does not impose any requirements in relation to the duration of programmes, rather, the emphasis is on the development of learning outcomes.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has established a steering group with nominees of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Irish Universities Association and the Dublin Institute of Technology, as well as two international experts, to oversee a process to verify the compatibility of the National Framework of Qualifications with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area by autumn 2006.

Recognition of degrees and periods of studies

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is the Irish centre for the recognition of international awards, and represents Ireland in a European Network of centres known as ENIC/NARIC (European National Information Centre/National Academic Recognition Information Centre) and NRP (National Reference Point) which promote the recognition of international awards throughout Europe.
A Recognition Implementation Group has also been formed comprising representatives of the NQAI, the Department of Education and Science, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the universities. This group is responsible for assisting in the management of the implementation of the national policy approach to the recognition of international awards.

With regard to the Diploma Supplement, the Department of Education and Science chaired a Working Group, charged with responsibility of developing a National Template for this document. This was formally launched by the Minister for Education and Science in February 2004. It is envisaged that most higher education institutions will issue the DS to graduates in 2005.

The National Qualifications Authority in Ireland has been designated the National Europass Centre (NEC) in Ireland. The NEC is currently developing a national Europass internet site.

The third cycle

Third cycle study in Ireland is not limited to university provision. All higher education institutions may provide postgraduate research degrees programmes, in accordance with the principles of the National Framework of Qualifications. Level 10 refers to third cycle studies. Progression from one award to the next is set out, for example, in the policies and procedures that describe the operation of the National Framework. Progression from the Honours Bachelor Degree (level 8) cycle 1 to the research award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) cycle 3, is possible as is progression to PhD is from the Masters Degree award at level 9, cycle 2.

Typically doctoral awards (PhD) are obtained by a process of supervised research resulting in the production of a thesis. There are a small number of programmes (professional areas) where there is a substantial taught part in addition to the thesis.

The IUQB has recently completed a review of the organisation of PhD programmes in the university sector. Arising from this it is intended that good practice guidelines will be recommended for the sector.