English Language Education Information Day May 2017

1. English Language Education Information Day May 2017

2. Overview • Update on the International Education Mark (IEM) • Current QQI ELE activities • Programme validation • Project re NFQ & CEFRL and ELE awards • ACELS – 2016 review 2017 ongoing • ELE Enhancement Conference 2017 • Questions

4. Role of QQI • The maintenance and development of the National Framework of Qualifications • The validation of programmes of education & training • The making of awards • The monitoring and review of providers • The external quality review of the universities; a function performed in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) • The development and maintenance of a register of programmes leading to awards in the NFQ • Managing a ACELS until the introduction of the IEM - a Code of Practice for the provision of education to international learners

6. Principles of Quality Assurance • Primary responsibility lies with providers. • QA requires planning, resources and commitment. • Continuous improvement is the goal of a quality assurance process. • Quality systems should ensure and enhance transparency. • Quality systems are context-dependent. • Ownership and understanding of a provider quality system by its management and staff are crucial.

7. QA Guidelines – Core & Sector Specific (Private/ Independent) • Governance and Management of Quality • Documented Approach to QA • Programmes of Education & Training • Development and approval • Learner admission, progression and recognition • Programme monitoring and review • Staff Recruitment, Management and Development • Teaching and Learning • Assessment of Learners • Supports for Learners • Information and Data Management • Public Information and Communication • Other Parties involved in Education and Training • Self-Evaluation, Monitoring and Review

8. Components of a Provider’s Quality Assurance System • Mission • Policy statements showing understanding of responsibilities • Procedures designed to implement the policies • Internal Monitoring System • Self-Evaluation System • Improvement focus

9. Access to Initial Validation of programmes leading to QQI awards Two stage process: Stage 1 Approval of QA Procedures • Demonstration of an effective quality assurance system supported by comprehensive procedures. QQI Policy on QA Guidelines http://www.qqi.ie/Downloads/Policy%20on%20Quality%20Assurance%20Guidelines.pdf QQI Core QA Guidelines http://www.qqi.ie/Downloads/Core%20Statutory%20Quality%20Assurance%20Guidelines.pdf QQI QA Guidelines – Sector Specific for Private & Independent Providers http://www.qqi.ie/Downloads/Sector%20Specific%20Quality%20Assurance%20Guidelines%20V2.pdf Code of Practice for Provision of Education and Training to International Learners http://www.qqi.ie/Downloads/Code%20of%20Practice.pdf Policy on Access, Transfer and Progression - http://www.qqi.ie/Publications/Publications/Access%20Transfer%20and%20Progression%20-%20QQI%20Policy%20Restatement%202015.pdf

10. Stage 2 Validation of Programmes • Demonstrate compliance with the policies and criteria as set out in: QQI Policies and Criteria for the Validation of Programmes of Education and Training http://www.qqi.ie/Publications/Publications/Initial_Validation_policy_7_10_13.pdf

13. Scope of provision • NFQlevels and award types, fields of learning, target learners, numbers of learners, location. Capacity of the provider • Be an established legal entity, with education and training as a principal function. • Have sufficient resources as well as corporate, structural and internal quality assurance systems in place to sustainably provide education and training programmes that can be submitted for QQI validation. • Demonstrate their ability to design, develop, provide and review programmes.

14. ELE Awards Standards: For Teaching English as a Foreign Language at NFQ Levels 6-9 http://www.qqi.ie/Publications/Publications/English%20Language%20Teaching%20%20-%20Award%20Standards%202014.pdf QQI Awards Standards for Pre-Higher Education Foundation Awards for International Students http://www.qqi.ie/Publications/Publications/IFY%20Standards%20%20201115-LR3.pdf

15. Fees Submission of QA Procedures: HET€10,000 FET / ELE €5,000 Standard Validation: HET programmes leading to major awards €10,000 HETprogrammes leading to non-major awards €5,000 FET / ELE programmes leading to major awards €2,000 FET / ELEprogrammes leading to non-major awards €1,000

16. ELE Development Project Title: Establishing a relationship between the NFQ and the CEFRL for the development of language awards standards, and a route for ELE programme validation Project team: External experts: Professor Barry O’Sullivan; Joe Sheils; Dr Fiona Farr; Mary Kenny; Justin Quinn, Peter Loftus, Ian Brangan QQI: Peter Cullen, Sue Hackett, Roisin Sweeney, John O’Connor, Barbara Kelly

17. Intended Deliverables • Proposals on the incorporation of the CEFRL within the NFQ as a dimension for description of language competences • Identification of further ELE specific documentation needed • An approach to the development of ELE award standards

18. QA Policy • ‘…. each provider …. shall establish procedures in writing for quality assurance for the purposes of establishing, ascertaining, maintaining and improving the quality of education, training and related services the provider provides.’ (QQAI, Education and Training Bill, 2011)

19. Documented Curriculum • The documented curriculum is the keystone of the evaluative process – external and internal. Focus on all provision – ‘whole school’ evaluation • General management • Academic management • Teaching and Learning • Client / student services • The learning environment

20. ACELS monitoring inspections Stage 1: • Documentation check incl DCF Stage 2: Site visit: 2 inspectors From 2017, organisations with more than 11 classes going on, have a 2-day inspection Stage 3: Report moderation Recognition Committee decision

21. ACELS ELE QA Scheme: • Review of 2016 • 2017 going forward

22. ELE Enhancement Conference 2017 Update ….

23. Questions?