Quality and Qualifications Ireland unveils TrustEd Ireland: a new benchmark for international education
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD has launched TrustEd Ireland, a groundbreaking international education mark designed to guarantee the quality of education received by international learners in higher education (HE) and English language education (ELE) institutions in Ireland. TrustEd Ireland aims to reinforce and protect Ireland's reputation as a premier global education destination.
Benefits for both international learners and education providers
For international learners enrolled on higher education and English language education programmes in Ireland, TrustEd Ireland ensures that they will receive high-quality education and qualifications that are respected and recognised worldwide. The TrustEd Ireland mark will be a clear indicator of reputable and reliable education providers, helping learners make informed decisions by identifying providers that meet rigorous quality standards. Through a new statutory Learner Protection Fund, QQI will also safeguard learners against unexpected provider closures.
For Ireland’s more than 50 higher education and 140 ELE providers, TrustEd Ireland offers a distinctive mark of quality and a competitive edge in the global education market. The mark will signify adherence to robust standards and a commitment to delivering excellence in education and learner welfare, fostering trust among prospective international learners.
Rigorous accreditation processes
Education providers who wish to gain the TrustEd Ireland mark will be assessed against a comprehensive code of practice for either higher education or English language education, which will examine areas such as ethical marketing and recruitment, supports for international learners, transparency of fees and charges, and overall organisational and operational integrity.
Private/independent higher education and English language education providers will undergo thorough due diligence, including stringent assessments of their governance, finances and compliance with the law to assure QQI that they have the capacity and capability to deliver robust, high-quality programmes.
These measures will ensure that only providers meeting the highest standards of quality and integrity will be authorised to use the TrustEd Ireland mark.
Protection for Enrolled Learners
In addition to setting high educational standards, TrustEd Ireland is underpinned by a Learner Protection Fund. This provides security for all national and international learners, ensuring they are protected in the unlikely event of their programme being discontinued. The fund provides both academic and financial bonding ie ensuring that arrangements will be made to allow learners to complete their studies with another provider or, where this is not possible, receive a full refund of their tuition fees. All private/independent higher education and English language providers that engage with QQI will be required to contribute to the Protection of Enrolled Learners fund.
Dr Padraig Walsh, CEO of Quality and Qualifications Ireland, said,
"With TrustEd Ireland, we're setting a new international standard in educational quality and learner protection. It reflects QQI’s rigorous quality control mechanisms and commitment to safeguarding learner interests, both academically and financially, through the PEL fund. TrustEd Ireland reflects our dedication to upholding and enhancing the integrity of Irish education, ensuring that this important sector remains competitive and prestigious on the world stage.”
The first TrustEd Ireland application window will open on Monday 14 October 2024. The first cohort of successful applicants are expected to receive authorisation by November 2025.
For more information about TrustEd Ireland and the application process for education providers, please visit What is TrustEd Ireland? | Quality and Qualifications Ireland (qqi.ie).
