About QQI – Quality and Qualifications Ireland

QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is an independent State agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training services in Ireland. It was established in 2012 by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

QQI’s role is to:

Promote, maintain and develop the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a 10-level framework for the development, recognition and awarding of qualifications in Ireland;
Approve programmes offered at a variety of schools, colleges and further and higher education and training institutions. These programmes lead to qualifications (QQI awards) listed in the NFQ, which are recognised internationally;
Regulate and promote the quality of programmes offered by schools and colleges leading to qualifications in the NFQ for the benefit of learners, employers and other interested parties;
Ensure that providers* offering national qualifications provide a positive, high-quality experience to international learners coming to study in Ireland. We will do this by authorising the International Education Mark (IEM);
Provide academic advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland through a service called NARIC Ireland – the National Academic Recognition Information Centre. We also provide advice on the recognition of Irish qualifications abroad;
Inform the public about quality assured education and training programmes and qualifications through a database of programmes and a register of providers;
Manage a national scheme for the quality assurance of English language services (Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services – ACELS);
Advise the Minister for Education and Skills about national policy on quality assurance and improvement in education and training.