Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The new International Education, Research and Innovation Strategy will be a high-level document setting ambitious yet achievable strategic goals and objectives to 2025 and will play a key role in the promotion of Ireland globally as a centre of excellence in education, research and innovation.

My Department launched a public consultation process earlier this year to canvas the views of stakeholders to inform the development of the new strategy. The consultation process closed on 6th April 2022 and 54 submissions were received. My officials are continuing to analyse these responses and will further engage with key stakeholders in an iterative process to inform the work on drafting the strategy. It is expected that the new strategy will be completed by the end of the year

The International Education Mark (IEM) will be a key component of the new strategy. The IEM will be a quality mark awarded to higher education and English language education providers who have demonstrated that they meet national standards to ensure a high-quality experience for international students, from enrolment to completion of their programme of education and training. The IEM will be administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further, higher and adult education sectors.

In March 2022 QQI hosted a webinar to share the roadmap to the launch of the IEM with the English language education sector. The presentations made at this webinar are available on QQI’s website at the following link: www.qqi.ie/events/roadmap-to-the-international-education-mark.

Codes of Practice for the Provision of Programmes of Education and Training to International Learners for both the English language and higher education sectors are currently being developed by QQI. In Quarter 4 2022 QQI will hold a formal public consultation process with all relevant stakeholders on the draft Codes of Practice and it is envisaged that the application process for the IEM will open in Quarter 1 2023.