Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019

Amendment of section 60 of Principal Act (Code of Practice for provision of programme to international learners)

25. Section 60 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by the substitution of the following subsections for subsection (1):

“(1) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable after the commencement of section 25 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019, establish and publish a code of practice to be complied with by providers (other than associated providers) of programmes of education and training to—

(a) international learners in the State enrolled on—

(i) programmes leading to awards that are awards included within the Framework made by:

(I) the Authority;

(II) a provider to whom the authority to make an award has been delegated under section 53;

(III) a designated awarding body; or

(IV) a listed awarding body,

or

(ii) English language programmes,

or

(b) learners outside the State enrolled on programmes leading to awards that are awards included within the Framework made by the Authority or a body or provider referred to in paragraph (a)(i)(II) or (III),

for the purposes, in either case, of obtaining authorisation from the Authority to use the international education mark under section 61.

(1A) The Authority may establish and publish under subsection (1) —

(a) different codes of practice for different relevant or linked providers, or groups of relevant or linked providers,

(b) different codes of practice for different classes of programmes or different types of provision.”,

(b) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):

“(2) Before establishing a code of practice under subsection (1), the Authority shall consult with An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas and such providers and other bodies as the Authority considers appropriate.”,

(c) in subsection (6) —

(i) in paragraph (b), by the deletion of “and”,

(ii) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “provider, and” for “provider.”, and

(iii) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (c):

“(d) the establishment of policies and procedures in writing by a provider for the purposes of the management of human resources, including policies and procedures for the recruitment, training, continuing professional development, employment and cessation of employment of education and teaching staff.”,

and

(d) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (7):

“(7) In specifying, under subsection (6), requirements relating to the matters referred to in paragraph (d) of that subsection, the Authority shall consult, in such manner as it thinks fit, with such person or persons, who represent education and training staff of providers, as it considers appropriate.”.