HETAC Review
- Review
- Policies & Procedures
- Appeals
Under section 9 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland may from time to time review the performance by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council of its functions.
External Quality
Assurance Procedures 
(94
KB)
It was originally envisaged by the Authority that such a review would take place in 2006-7.However, in September 2005, the Council requested that the Authority would undertake the review both, in advance of the projected 2006-7 timeline, and in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area adopted in Bergen in May 2005 by the Ministers responsible for higher education in the Bologna signatory states.
The review evaluated
- how effectively the Higher Education and Training Awards Council has performed its principal statutory functions since its establishment and will have particular regard to the policies and procedures that the Council has developed for each function and how they are being implemented and operated
- the extent to which the Council in the performance of these functions complies with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area
The review comprised
- Self evaluation by the Council
- Evaulation by a panel of experts
- Consideration of the report of the panel by the Council and the development of a plan by the Council to implement the recommendations in the report
- Consideration of the review report and the Council's plans by the Authority
The Authority established terms of reference for the review and these are available here in word without appendices and in pdf with appendices
Terms
of Reference (with appendicies) (72
KB)
Terms
of Reference (without appendicies) 
(3.1
MB)
Overview of National and International practice
In preparation for the review, the Authority executive undertook an overview of national and international practice concerning the external review of agencies with a substantial role in quality assurance in higher education and review practices concerning public sector agencies in Ireland. The review will be implemented with reference to this practice.
Evaluation Reports
During the review process, HETAC published its self-evaluation report.
HETAC has published its response to the review panel’s report.
Conclusion of Review Process
In concluding the review process in July 2006, the Authority considered it helpful to note the purpose of the review established in the terms of reference – that it was to be developmental in intent, and aimed to assist the Council in achieving its own quality enhancement goals and to further develop its own internal quality culture.The Authority considers that it is clear from self-evaluation report, the review panel’s report and HETAC’s response that the review process has succeeded in meeting its primary purpose.
The Authority concurs with the findings and supporting rationale in the report of the review panel and supports the plans set out in the response of HETAC.
In fulfilment of its statutory review function, the Authority is satisfied that the Higher Education and Training Awards Council has performed effectively its principal statutory functions since its establishment and has developed policies and procedures for each function which are being implemented and are being operated as appropriate.
As the agency reviewing the Council for the purpose of testing the compliance of the Council with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, the Authority is satisfied that in the performance of its functions, the Council complies with these.
The Authority welcomes HETAC’s intention in June 2007 to publish a report on the implementation of the actions in its response to the review panel’s report.
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