Verification of compatibility with EHEA framework

1. Verification of alignment of national framework with overarching frameworkBryan MaguireHigher Education and Training Awards Council, IrelandLewis PurserIrish Universities AssociationNational Stakeholder Workshop, 3 October 2006

2. Verification of compatibility with EHEA framework • two pilot cases of self-certification: Ireland and Scotland • steering committee – Qualifications Authority, awarding bodies (Higher Education and Training Awards Council, universities, Dublin Institute of Technology), plus two international experts, established February 2006 • draft report for consultation published, June 2006 • information sheet on European framework developments, Sept 2006 • stakeholder workshop, 3 October 2006 • completion target, November 2006

3. Steering Group members • Seán Ó Foghlú (Qualifications Authority), Chair • Jim Murray (Qualifications Authority) • Lewis Purser (Irish Universities Association) • Frank McMahon (Dublin Institute of Technology) • Bryan Maguire (HETAC) • Sjur Bergan (Council of Europe) • Robert Wagenaar (Univ Groningen, NL)

4. Draft verification report • Verification of criteria (7) • Verification of procedures (6) • Appendix 1: Comparison of the Dublin descriptors with the award-type descriptors in the Irish National Framework of Qualifications • Appendix 2: Analysis of non-outcomes issues which are relevant to verifying the compatibility of the Irish Framework with the Bologna Framework

5. Criterion 1: Responsibility for framework • “The national framework for higher education qualifications and the body or bodies responsible for its development are designated by the national ministry with responsibility for higher education” • National Qualifications Authority of Ireland established in 2001 with legal remit to develop a National Framework of Qualifications

6. Criterion 2: Link with cycle descriptors • “There is a clear and demonstrable link between the qualifications in the national framework and the cycle qualification descriptors of the European framework” • detailed background work on comparing national with Dublin descriptors prepared in Spring 2005

7. Award-types and the Bologna cycles

8. Issues from award-types and cycles • higher education short cycle qualification included (Higher Certificate) • ordinary bachelors degree and honours bachelor degree – both first cycle qualifications but at different levels in the national framework, giving different access to second cycle programmes in Ireland • two kinds of masters programmes at the same level in the nationalframework (research and taught)

9. Types of first cycle degree • Other countries also have a variety of first cycle degrees • Scotland (Scottish bachelors and Scottish bachelors with honours) • Netherlands (academic and professional profile) • Australia (variety including bachelor and bachelor honours) • Differentiation by outcomes and progression

10. Criterion 3: Learning outcomes and ECTS links • “The national framework and its qualifications are demonstrably based on learning outcomes and the qualifications are linked to ECTS or ECTS compatible credits” • learning outcomes required by the Qualifications Act • national descriptors expressed in terms of learning outcomes • all Irish HE awarding bodies operate credit system in line with ECTS

11. Criterion 4: Procedures for inclusion in national framework • “The procedures for inclusion in the national framework are transparent” • policies and criteria established and published by the Qualifications Authority • all Irish HE bodies now using framework descriptors as descriptors of the awards they make

12. Criterion 5: QA systems and the framework • “The national quality assurance systems for higher education refer to the national framework of qualifications and are consistent with the Berlin Communiqué and any subsequent communiqué agreed by ministers in the Bologna Process” • three separate but linked QA systems in Irish HE • Universities – Irish Universities Quality Board • DIT – Qualifications Authority • other HE providers – HETAC • Irish Higher Education Quality Network • HETAC and DIT award standards linked to the framework by statute and monitored by their QA arrangements such as programme accreditation and review • Universities revising their Framework for Quality in Irish Universities to incorporate the qualifications framework

13. Criterion 6: Referenced in Diploma Supplements • “The national framework, and any alignment with the European framework, is referenced in all Diploma Supplements” • Irish framework already referenced in Diploma Supplements • wording will be revised following completion of verification

14. Criterion 7: Responsibility of parties clear • “The responsibilities of the domestic parties to the national framework are clearly determined and published” • responsibilities laid out in legislation and worked through in the development of the national framework • responsibilities well understood nationally • the Irish framework is subject to review and any major changes resulting from such a review would trigger a review of the alignment

15. Verification of procedures • Each of the six procedures is addressed: • The competent national body/bodies shall certify the compatibility of the national framework with the European framework. • The self-certification process shall include the stated agreement of the quality assurance bodies in the country in question recognised through the Bologna Process • The self-certification process shall involve international experts • The self-certification and the evidence supporting it shall be published and shall address separately each of the criteria set out • The ENIC and NARIC networks shall maintain a public listing of States that have confirmed that they have completed the self-certification process • The completion of the self-certification process shall be noted on Diploma Supplements issued subsequently by showing the link between the national framework and the European framework

16. Preliminary conclusion from the verification process • Irish Higher Certificate is an intermediary qualification within the Bologna First Cycle • Irish Ordinary Bachelor Degree is compatible with Bologna First Cycle. However, limited progression from ordinary bachelors to existing second cycle programmes • Irish Honour Bachelor Degree generally compatible with Bologna First Cycle • The fact that the relationships between these two types of first cycle degrees are (generally) understood domestically does not suffice – international transparency requires detailed explanation. This aspect to be reviewed when other countries with binary systems have aligned their own national frameworks

17. Preliminary conclusion from the verification process (cont.) • Irish Higher Diploma is at same level as completion of Bologna First Cycle, and typically in a different field of learning to an initial First Cycle award • Irish Masters Degree generally compatible with completion of Bologna Second Cycle • Irish Postgraduate Diploma an intermediate qualification within the Bologna Second Cycle • Irish Doctoral Degree is generally compatible with the completion of the Bologna Third Cycle

18. Lessons from the verification process • technical analysis of qualifications can be quite complex • international dimension to verification adds analytic value as well as credibility/transparency • parallel verification with peer (e.g. Ireland and Scotland) adds to international dimension • data on international progression to/from Bologna-style qualifications are sparse • legacy questions need to be considered in national frameworks

19. Scottish verification process • Broadly based steering group established, Spring 2006 • Including representatives from Hungary and Estonia • National consultative workshop, August 2006 • Report expected, September 2006

20. Further Information • Framework website: www.nfq.ie • National Qualifications Authority of Ireland: www.nqai.ie • Higher Education and Training Awards Council: www.hetac.ie • Irish Universities Association: www.iua.ie • Dublin Institute of Technology: www.dit.ie