Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012

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PART 3

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance.

27.— (1) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable after the establishment day—

(a) issue guidelines (in this section referred to as “quality assurance guidelines”) for the establishment of procedures for quality assurance under section 28 , and

(b) establish procedures (in this section referred to as “effectiveness review procedures”) for review by the Authority of the effectiveness of—

(i) the procedures for quality assurance established by relevant providers, and

(ii) the implementation of those procedures by relevant providers,

(c) having consulted with the National University of Ireland, issue guidelines for the establishment of procedures by the National University of Ireland under section 32 (2), and

(d) having consulted with the National University of Ireland, establish procedures for review by the Authority of the effectiveness of—

(i) procedures for review established by the National University of Ireland under section 32 (2), and

(ii) the implementation of those procedures for review by the National University of Ireland.

(2) The Authority shall consult with relevant providers and linked providers before issuing quality assurance guidelines.

(3) The Authority shall consult with relevant providers before establishing effectiveness review procedures.

(4) Where—

(a) quality assurance guidelines and effectiveness review procedures apply to providers, and

(b) any or all of those providers are institutions of higher education,

the Authority shall consult with An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas before issuing those guidelines and establishing those review procedures.

(5) The Authority may consult with an awarding body before issuing quality assurance guidelines and establishing effectiveness review procedures where—

(a) the quality assurance guidelines and effectiveness review procedures apply to a provider of a programme of education and training, and

(b) successful completion of that programme of education and training of that provider leads to a joint award of the Authority and the awarding body under a joint awarding arrangement.

(6) The Authority may—

(a) issue different quality assurance guidelines for different relevant or linked providers or groups of relevant or linked providers, and

(b) establish different effectiveness review procedures for different relevant providers or groups of relevant providers.

(7) The Authority shall publish the quality assurance guidelines and effectiveness review procedures in such form and manner as it thinks appropriate (including on the internet).