S.I. No. 429/2024 - Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 (International Education Mark Annual Charge) Regulations 2024

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 3rd September, 2024.

I, PATRICK O’DONOVAN, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 62 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 (No. 28 of 2012) (as adapted by the Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 451 of 2020 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 (International Education Mark Annual Charge) Regulations 2024.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 1 September 2024.

2. In these Regulations:

“Act” means the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 (No. 28 of 2012);

“Authority” means the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland established under the Act;

“English Language Provider” means a provider that has satisfied the Authority that it is in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Provision of Programmes of English Language Education to International Learners established by the Authority under section 60 of the Act;

“Higher Education Provider” means a provider that has satisfied the Authority it is in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Provision of Programmes of Higher Education to International Learners established by the Authority under section 60 of the Act;

“learner week number” in respect of an English Language Provider for any week, means the total number of international learners to whom English language education and training is provided for a minimum of 15, 60-minute, scheduled programme hours in that week;

“annual total learner weeks” in respect of an English Language Provider for a year is calculated by adding together the learner week number for each week that ends in that year;

3. The annual charge in respect of authorisation to use the international education mark payable by a Higher Education Provider shall be calculated in accordance with the total number of international learners enrolled on programmes of education and training leading to awards that are included within the National Framework of Qualifications provided by the provider in that year as follows:

(1) Where the number is less than 200, the annual charge shall be €2,000;

(2) Where the number is more than 199 but less than 1,000, the annual charge shall be €6,000;

(3) Where the number is more than 999 but less than 4,000, the annual charge shall be €12,000;

(4) Where the number is more than 3,999, the annual charge shall be €20,000.

4. The annual charge in respect of authorisation to use the international education mark payable by an English Language Provider shall be calculated in accordance with the annual total number of learner weeks, as follows:

(1) Where the annual total number of learner weeks is less than 5,000, the annual charge shall be €2,000;

(2) Where the annual total number of learner weeks is more than 4,999 but less than 15,000, the annual charge shall be €6,000;

(3) Where the annual total number of learner weeks is more than 14,999 but less than 25,000, the annual charge shall be €12,000;

(4) Where the annual total number of learner weeks is more than 24,999, the annual charge shall be €20,000.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

28 August, 2024.

PATRICK O’DONOVAN,

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations prescribe the annual charge to be paid to the Authority, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, by each provider who is authorised to use the international education mark, in relation to that authorisation to use the mark.