Higher Education and Training Awards Council

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (Irish: Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Ardoideachais agus Oiliúna) (HETAC), the legal successor to the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), granted higher education awards in Ireland beyond the university system from 2001 to 2012. HETAC was created in 2001, subject to the policies of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, and, specifically, granted qualifications at many Institutes of Technology and other colleges. HETAC was dissolved and its functions were passed to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on 6 November 2012.[1]

HETAC
Active1972 as the National Council for Educational Awards 2001 as HETAC–2012
Location
Dublin
,
Ireland
Websitehttp://www.hetac.ie

History

Origins
The logo of the National Council for Educational Awards which sometimes appeared in different colour schemes.

The National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) was founded in April 1972, on an ad-hoc basis and granted the first National Certificates that year at five Regional Technical Colleges. The founding director of the National Council for Educational Awards was Padraig Mac Diarmada, whose educational vision and philosophy created the foundation stone for HETAC, and further education for all in Ireland. His vision enabled young students to attain educational qualifications which would never have been envisioned by them prior to 1972.

Early on it was decided that the NCEA would be the only extra-university conferring institution in the State at higher education rather than having a multitude of competing institutions, with authority to grant awards at all academic levels including degree level. During the 1970s this caused some trouble as Fine Gael-Labour (National Coalition) government attempted to limit the NCEA to sub-degree awards only, later Fianna Fáil government of 1977 restored the full powers and placed the NCEA on a statutory footing in 1980 by the National Council for Educational Awards Act, 1979.

Establishment

HETAC was created in 2001 under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 (Section 21).

Leadership

The first chief executive, former Holy Trinity NS, Donaghmede, national teacher and INTO President Séamus Puirséil (Seamus Purcell), was previously the executive officer of the NCEA. He was succeeded in 2008 by Gearóid Ó Conluain, formerly Deputy Chief Inspector of Department of Education and Science.

Succession

In October 2008 the Irish Government announced its intention to amalgamate HETAC with FETAC and NQAI, the two other bodies established under the Qualifications Act, while also incorporating the functions for the external review of Irish universities then carried out by the Irish Universities Quality Board.[2] The Minister appointed an interim board for the new agency. This board appointed Dr. Padraig Walsh as chief executive Designate in September 2010. In February 2011, Dr. Walsh became chief executive of HETAC, pending the establishment of the new statutory agency.

Awards

In 2004 HETAC completed the transition from awards derived from the NCEA standards to a new awards system based on the National Framework of Qualifications. A rough correspondence between the awards of the two systems is shown below.

Legacy Current
Certificate†
National Certificate† Higher Certificate‡
National Diploma† Ordinary bachelor's degree‡
Honours bachelor's degree Honours bachelor's degree
Graduate Diploma (conversion)† Higher Diploma‡
Graduate Diploma (professional)† Postgraduate Diploma‡
Master's degree Master's degree
Doctorate degree Doctorate degree
† Not granted after June 2006.
‡ Granted from July 2004.

Providers

The providers of courses which lead to HETAC awards are called "recognised institutions", and they are recognised under the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 (Section 24). Some of these institutions may have "delegation of authority" (often referred to as "delegated authority") which allows them to make HETAC awards in their own name, this is currently limited to the Institutes of Technology and is often limited to certain award levels at institutions.

Section 24 (1)(a)

Section 24 (1)(b)

Former Providers

Former institutions whose degrees were awarded by HETAC or its forerunner NCEA before 2002.

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See also

References
  1. "Minister Quinn merges educational agencies to establish QQI". Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  2. Consultation on amalgamation of qualifications and quality assurance bodies
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