Dr. Attracta Halpin:

On behalf of the National University of Ireland, I thank the Chairman and members of the joint committee for the invitation to appear and speak at this meeting to the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018. The NUI is at the centre of a federation of four constituent universities, two recognised colleges and a number of other associated institutions.

We have followed the progress of the Bill with keen interest. We welcome the proposed legislation. We believe that it will contribute to the maintenance of high standards in the Irish higher education sector, particularly with regard to Ireland's international reputation.

NUI is pleased to note that the Institute of Public Administration, a recognised college of NUI, is now included in the list of bodies exempted from payment into the proposed learner protection fund. Its absence from the list in the initial Bill was a cause of concern for us and we made representations on it but a Government amendment on Report Stage in the Seanad rectified the omission.

NUI wholeheartedly supports the provision in the amended Bill for a pathway for higher education institutions to use the title of university. The title is significant and we appreciate why a careful approval process is necessary. Although section 37 is couched in general language, we understand that the immediate beneficiary will be the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. RCSI has been a recognised college of NUI for over four decades and is a world leader in medical education and research, fully deserving of the description of university, which it can use internationally. We look forward to a continued close working relationship with the RCSI when it proceeds through the steps set out in the amended Bill. We hope that the swift passage of the legislation will allow this process to begin soon.

NUI would welcome clarification on how the international education mark will apply to NUI linked provider institutions, which are also under NUI's statute recognised colleges of the university. In compliance with relevant legislation, NUI approves and monitors the quality assurance systems of recognised colleges that are linked providers. We would like clarification on the following. Will these linked providers have to apply directly to Quality and Qualifications Ireland for the international education mark or will an application have to be made through NUI as the designated awarding body?

Finally, NUI shares the concerns expressed a moment ago by Mr. Lewis Purser from the Irish Universities Association on the amendments to section 23 of the amended Bill where it is proposed that designated awarding bodies, including NUI, its constituent universities and the RCSI will be required to obtain written agreement from QQI for an award to be placed on the National Framework of Qualifications. Given its federal structure, NUI appreciates the importance of maintaining the standard of awards through rigorous approval processes. However, we are fully confident that the arrangements and processes in place for the maintenance of academic standards and governance in its member institutions are very rigorous. We believe that the proposals will introduce unnecessary administrative burden, new layers of regulatory duplication and new costs that will be most unwelcome. We are grateful for the opportunity to express our view on these issues and wish the committee well in its deliberations.