Changes in the qualifications system - First Milestone
2 July 2004
The launch of the National Framework of Qualifications, in October 2003, set in train some major changes in the qualifications system. The timescale for these changes is short, and the effects of the introduction of the Framework will be visible almost immediately, particularly in the area of higher education and training.
The arrangements that will begin to affect students in autumn 2004 will be announced on Tuesday 6th July 2004 (11.00 am), by Ms. Síle de Valera, T.D. Minister of State, the Department of Education and Science, at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.
In line with the Framework blueprint, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Dublin Institute of Technology have undertaken a rapid transformation of their awarding systems, and programmes leading to new higher education awards will be offered, beginning in Autumn 2004 - Higher Certificate, Ordinary Bachelors Degree and Honours Bachelors Degree. The new award titles will begin to come into use throughout higher education, in all universities as well as in the Institutes of Technology and other institutions using the HETAC system of awards.
The following table illustrates the changes in the system that will affect entrants to higher education. These changes will be reflected in the 2004 CAO arrangements for 2005 entry.
Changes in the system of awards
Framework Level |
Existing Awards (to 2004) |
New awards (from 2005) |
|---|---|---|
Level 6 |
National Certificate |
Higher Certificate |
Level 7 |
National Diploma |
Ordinary Bachelor Degree |
Level 8 |
Bachelor Degree (3 & 4 year honours) |
Honours Bachelor Degree |
The table illustrates the changes in the system taking place in 2004 that will impact on 2005 entrants to higher education.
As the new awards are introduced, awards previously in use, such as National Certificate and National Diploma, will no longer be available. These ‘existing’ awards (listed in the middle column in the table) will not be conferred after 2004, except in the case of repeat students. They will continue to be recognised as valid awards in their own right, placed on the Framework; however, it is not envisaged that existing awards will be exchanged for new awards now or in the future.
These changes are in line with developments internationally. In particular, the new higher education awards are consistent with the ‘Bologna Declaration’, and with the emerging concept of an overarching framework of qualifications in a European ‘higher education area’.
In the field of Further Education and Training, a new system of awards is under development by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), but it will take somewhat longer for these awards to come on stream. In the meantime, FETAC will continue to make awards as before.
Further information introducing the National Framework of Qualifications can be found on the website www.nfq.ie
