The Higher Education and Training Awards Council ( ga, Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Ardoideachais agus Oiliúna) (HETAC), the legal successor to the ''National Council for Educational Awards'' (NCEA), granted higher education awards in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

beyond the university system from 2001 to 2012. HETAC was created in 2001, subject to the policies of the

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or NQAI (''Údarás Náisiúnta Cáilíochtaí na hÉireann'' in Irish) was set up in 2001 under the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 to develop and promote the implementation of a Nat ...

, 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 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI; ga, Dearbhú Cáilíochta agus Cáilíochtaí Éireann) is the national agency responsible for qualifications in Ireland. It was established by the Oireachtas in 2012 following the amalgamation of the ...

(QQI) on 6 November 2012.

History

NCEA

In 1967 the Steering Committee on Technical Education recommended the creation of a body to control non-university higher qualifications, and in 1969 the

Higher Education Authority __NOTOC__ The Higher Education Authority (HEA), officially An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas, is the statutory body providing policy advice for higher education in Ireland. Description and functions The HEA was established under the Higher Educ ...

similarly recommended the establishment of a "Council for National Awards" to better organise the non-university higher education sector; the HEA recommendations were tentative, to be refined after application to the work of the newly-established National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick. Following these recommendations, the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) was founded in April 1972 on an ad-hoc basis. The Minister for Education, Padraig Faulkner, specified its terms of reference, including the promotion and coordination of industrial, professional, commercial and scientific education, and the conferring of certificates, diplomas and degrees. The NCEA granted the first

National Certificate The National Certificate is a higher education qualification in a technology discipline offered by higher institutions across the globe. Each country has its own specifications about the certificate. Ireland The National Certificate ( ga, Tea ...

s, 93 in number, in 1972; these were awarded at five Regional Technical Colleges. The NCEA granted its first bachelor degrees, to four students in Physical Education, in 1974. Early on it was decided that the NCEA would be the only extra-university award-conferring institution in the State for higher education, rather than having a multitude of competing institutions, with authority to grant awards at all academic levels including degree level. Hence it was the award-granting body for NIHE Limerick, for example. Despite this, the

Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil É ...

- Labour (

National Coalition The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces ( ar, الائتلاف الوطني لقوى الثورة والمعارضة السورية), commonly named the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) ( ar, الائتلاف الو ...

) government limited the NCEA to sub-degree awards only from early 1976, and the later

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christia ...

government of 1977 restored its full powers in November 1977, and placed the NCEA on a statutory footing in 1980 by commencing th
National Council for Educational Awards Act, 1979
In 1982 the first master's degree is awarded at NIHE Limerick in Arts, Business Studies and Engineering, and in 1985 the first doctorate degree was awarded at NIHE Dublin. The founding director of the National Council for Educational Awards was Padraig Mac Diarmada, whose educational vision and philosophy contributed to further development of higher and continuing education in Ireland and whose vision enabled students to attain educational qualifications which would never have been envisioned by them prior to 1972. The last director (CEO) of the council was former Holy Trinity NS (Donaghmede) national school teacher and former INTO President Séamus Puirséil (Seamus Purcell).

Establishment of HETAC

HETAC was created in 2001 under th
Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 (Section 21)
It inherited the work of the NCEA, validating and awarding qualifications up to degree level, for the institutes of technology and a wide range of third-level institutions. The first chief executive of HETAC was the former head of the NCEA, Seamus Puirseil. He was succeeded in 2008 by Gearóid Ó Conluain, formerly Deputy Chief Inspector of Department of Education and Science.

Merger into QQI

In October 2008 the Irish Government announced its intention to amalgamate HETAC with

FETAC The Further Education and Training Awards Council ( ga, Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna) or FETAC was a statutory qualification-awarding body for further education in Ireland. It was established on 11 June 2001 under ...

and

NQAI The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or NQAI (''Údarás Náisiúnta Cáilíochtaí na hÉireann'' in Irish) was set up in 2001 under the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 to develop and promote the implementation of a Nat ...

, 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 The Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) was established in 2002. The purpose of the board, which operated from 2002 to 2012, was to promote quality assurance at Irish universities including via institutional quality reviews, whilst the board ...

.Consultation on amalgamation of qualifications and quality assurance bodie

/ref> 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.

Recognised institutions

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

Section 24 (1)(a)

Regional Technical Colleges

Athlone Institute of Technology The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain) was an institute of technology, located in Athlone, Ireland. Established in 1970, the institute's campus was located on University Road. A conso ...

* Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown * Institute of Technology, Carlow *

Cork Institute of Technology Cork Institute of Technology (CIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Chorcaí) was an institute of technology, located in Cork, Ireland. Upon its dissolution, the institute had 17,000 students studying in art, business, engineering, music, dra ...

* Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology *

Dundalk Institute of Technology Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Dhún Dealgan) is an institute of technology, located in Dundalk, Ireland. Established as the Dundalk Regional Technical College, students were first enrolled in the coll ...

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT; ga, Institúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo) was an institute of technology, located in Galway, Ireland. In April 2022, it was formally dissolved, and its functions were transferred to ...

* Letterkenny Institute of Technology *

Limerick Institute of Technology The Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Luimnigh) was an institute of technology, located in Limerick, Ireland. The institute had five campuses that were located in Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, as well as a r ...

* Institute of Technology, Sligo *

Institute of Technology, Tallaght The Institute of Technology Tallaght (also known as ITT or IT Tallaght) ( Irish: ''Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Tamhlacht)'' was a third-level institution in Tallaght, the largest suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1992, IT Tallaght ...

Institute of Technology, Tralee The Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT Tralee; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Thrá Lí) was an institute of technology, located in Tralee, Ireland. It was established in 1977 as the Regional Technical College, Tralee. In January 2021, itse ...

Waterford Institute of Technology The Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge) was an institute of technology, located in Waterford, Ireland. The institute had six constituent schools and offered programmes in business, engineerin ...

Non-RTC bodies

National College of Ireland National College of Ireland (NCI) or ''Coláiste Náisiúnta na hÉireann'' (''CNÉ'') in Irish is a not-for-profit, state-aided third-level education institution in Dublin. It was founded in 1951 as a joint venture between Irish Jesuits and ...

Section 24 (1)(b)

(Other bodies, public and private sector) * The American College, Dublin * Development Studies Centre, Kimmage * Dorset College * Dublin Business School * FISC Ireland Ltd. * Galway Business School *

Garda Síochána College Garda Síochána College is the education and training college of the Garda Síochána (Irish police service). It is located at McCan Barracks, Templemore, County Tipperary in Ireland. The college has been in Templemore since 1964. History The ...

* Grafton College of Management Sciences *

Griffith College Griffith College ( ga, Coláiste Uí Ghríofa) is one of the two largest, and one of the longest-established private, third level (higher education) colleges in Ireland. Overview Established in 1974, with four campuses in Dublin, Cork and Li ...

Hibernia College Hibernia College is a third-level private college in Ireland. Its main entity, the Hibernia College School of Education, provides an initial teacher training programme, and other professional teaching courses. Education Hibernia College’s ...

* ICD Business School * Institute of Public Administration * Irish Academy of Public Relations * Leinster Academy, Leinster Rugby IRFU *

Military College A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...

Milltown Institute Milltown may refer to: * Mill town, a settlement that developed around one or more mills Places Canada *Milltown, New Brunswick * Milltown, Newfoundland and Labrador * Milltown, Ontario Ireland * Milltown, Ballymore, a townland in Ballymore civ ...

National Tourism Development Authority (formerly CERT) National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

Newpark Music Centre Newpark Comprehensive School () is a Mixed-sex education, mixed, Church of Ireland, State school, state Comprehensive school, comprehensive secondary school in Blackrock, Dublin, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. It was established in 1972. ...

* The Open Training College *

Portobello Institute Portobello Institute is a private third level college delivering further and higher education specialising in Early Years, Sport, Facilities Management, Travel and Tourism and Business of Fashion. It has a variety of programmes validated by a n ...

Setanta College Setanta College is a distance learning college, with a focus on sports courses. It offers internationally accredited qualifications, ranging from Higher Certificate to Master's degree level. The college is primarily web-based but also offers ca ...

* St. Nicholas Montessori College, Ireland * St. Patrick's, Carlow College * Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd * Tipperary Institute (Since 2011 part of

)

Former Providers

Institutions whose degrees were formerly awarded by HETAC, or its forerunner the NCEA before 2002; some no longer exist. *

All Hallows College All Hallows College was a college of higher education in Dublin. It was founded in 1842 and was run by the Vincentians from 1892 until 2016. On 23 May 2014, it was announced that it was closing down, due to decreasing student numbers. The sale ...

– degrees awarded by

Dublin City University Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) ( ga, Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a university based on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. Created as the '' National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin'' in 1975, it enrolled its ...

from 2008 to dissolution *

Burren College of Art Burren College of Art is an Irish non-profit independent art college specialising in undergraduate and graduate Fine Art education, located in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland. The Master of Fine Art programme is accredited by the University ...

awarded by NUIG from 2003 *

Clonliffe College Holy Cross College (also known as Clonliffe College), located in Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra was founded in 1854 as the Catholic diocesan seminary for Dublin by Cardinal Paul Cullen. History The College was founded in 1859 by the then Archbish ...

- humanities diplomas were validated by the NCEA *

Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological U ...

– until, in 1998, the DIT got degree-awarding status, its awards were made by TCD and the NCEA * Froebel College of Education – moved to NUI Maynooth who validate its diplomas since * HSI Limerick Business School – closed in 2011 *

Irish Management Institute The Irish Management Institute (IMI) is an educational institute in Dublin, Ireland that offers postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees, executive education programs and short courses in Business and Management. In its role as a membership or ...

– since 2012 UCC validates its degrees * Kimmage Mission Institute – moved to

in 2003 * LSB College – part of Dublin Business School since 2000 * Lee Business Institute, Cork *

Mid West Business Institute The Mid West Business Institute (MWBI), founded in 1988 and situated in Limerick, Ireland, was a third level business and technology college. It is now Griffith College Limerick. History Originally located in Bruce House, when the MWBI moved ...

- taken over by Griffith College *

National College of Art and Design The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland's oldest art institution, offering the largest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the country. Originating as a drawing school in 1746, many of th ...

– degrees awarded by NCEA from 1984 to June 2003, NUI since *

Newman College, Dublin Newman College Dublin was a for profit private college in Dublin, Ireland. It had premises in Merrion Square and in Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. The college ran a number of ''pre-university'' and repeat Irish Leaving Certificate ...

– closed in 1995 * Portobello College – now part of Dublin Business School *

St. John's College, Waterford St John's College (or St John's Seminary) was a Roman Catholic seminary founded in 1807 for the diocese of Waterford and Lismore. Foundation The College was founded by Bishop John Power DD. It was one of many seminaries founded in Ireland fo ...

- from 1977 NCEA validated diplomas in Theology and Philosophy * St. Patrick's College, Thurles - diplomas from 1977, and degrees from 1988; since 2011 courses validated by

University of Limerick The University of Limerick (UL) ( ga, Ollscoil Luimnigh) is a public research university institution in Limerick, Ireland. Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in 1989 in accordance w ...

) * St. Peter's College, Wexford - NCEA validated Theology and Philosophy diplomas until closure in 1999 * Shannon College of Hotel Management – affiliated to NUI since 2001, and NUIG since 2009 * Skerry's Cork Business School – bought by Griffith College in 2005

References

External links

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), official site of HETAC's successor agency
{{Authority control Education in the Republic of Ireland