There are many different types of awards and qualifications available in Ireland and Northern Ireland. When travelling between the two jurisdictions whether to live, work or study, it is useful to know how your qualifications translate in the other jurisdiction.
The Irish awarding bodies and qualifications authorities and Northern Ireland awarding and qualifications regulatory bodies undertook an exercise to align/cross reference the qualifications frameworks in the UK and Ireland.
National authorities
National Recognition Information Centre for the UK (NARIC) - www.naric.org.uk
The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC), is the National Agency providing the only official source of comparison information and advice on international education and training systems and overseas skills and qualifications.
As the National Agency, managed on behalf of the UK Government, UK NARIC provides information on international qualifications to organisations recruiting from overseas and to individuals wishing to work or study in the UK.
[Update November 2011] The Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning has recently announced a new Qualifications Comparison Servicethat uses the NARIC qualifications database. The service provides advice to non-national clients who wish to have their qualifications checked.
National Qualifications Authority of Ireland - www.nqai.ie
The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is an agency of the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and was set up in February 2001. It has responsibility for developing and maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications.
In July 2005, it published, 'Qualifications can cross boundaries – a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland'. The leaflet is a ready reckoner for employers, learners and other interested parties, designed to enable broad comparisons to be drawn between qualifications and their levels In Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The publications section of the website contains detailed information about Northern Ireland qualifications and their comparison to relevant Irish qualifications including:
- General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
- General Certificate of Education (GCE) A level / General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS Level
- Higher National Diploma (HND) / Higher National Certificate (HNC) / Foundation Degree
- Bilateral agrements between Ireland and the UK
www.qualificationsrecognition.ie
This website provides information regarding the international qualifications recognition services provided by National Qualifications Authority of Ireland:
- International Qualifications Database - contains information regarding the comparability of foreign qualifications in Ireland as well as information regarding education and training systems abroad. The information is organised in alphabetical order by country.
- Recognition of Foreign Qualifications in Ireland
- Recognition of Irish Qualifications abroad
- Information on the Irish education system
(Ireland) National Qualifications Framework - www.nfq.ie
In 2003, the National Framework of Qualifications was introduced. It provides a way to compare qualifications, and to ensure that they are quality assured and recognised at home and abroad.
The Framework is a 10 level structure accommodating qualifications gained in schools, the workplace, the community, training centres, colleges and universities, from the most basic to the most advanced levels of learning. The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Framework.
The website contains useful information for Learners, Employers, Providers and Advisors. It also contains an Interactive Framework Diagram
Europass
Europass is a new initiative which aims to help people make their skills and qualifications clearly and easily understood in Europe, thus facilitating the mobility of both learners and workers. The Europass documents have been designed in such a way as to help people chronicle their skills and competences in a coherent manner, whether they are planning to enroll in an education or training programme, looking for a job, or getting experience abroad.
The Irish National Europass Centre (NEC) is located within the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. It is the national agency for Europass in Ireland and represents Ireland in the European network for Europass - www.europass.ie
In Northern Ireland please contact the UK National Europass Centre (NEC) - http://europass.org.uk
Professional qualifications
Under the EU Directives for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications, provisions are made whereby professionals qualified in one (home) Member State can seek professional recognition of their qualifications in another (host) Member State for the purpose of practising their profession in that host Member State.
These Directives apply only where the profession is regulated in the host Member State i.e where the practice of the profession is confined by law, regulation or administrative procedure to persons who hold specific qualifications, or registration/recognition from a specific competent authority or professional body.
See also:
- Department of Employment and Learning Press Release - New qualifications comparison service
- European Commission - Qualifications for employment
About this information record ... |
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| Comments: | 0 Add Your Comment |
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| Permalink: | Qualifications in Ireland and Northern Ireland - comparisons |
| Themes: | Work, Study |
| Categories: | Employment, Education |
| Life Events: | Going back to education, Going to third level education (Studying), Working |
| Target Groups: | Job-seekers, Students, People in training, Workers, All, Frontier workers, Migrant workers |
| Last updated: | 20 March 2012 |
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