ELT Qualifications Recognition
QQI operates the national scheme for accreditation of English Language services (ACELS). Since a court ruling in January 2015, ACELS, as a non-statutory function of QQI, has only been able to continue its mandate on a restricted basis. It therefore continues to inspect and monitor the ACELS recognised providers, as at the time of the ruling, but is not permitted to open for new applications from other English language education providers (ELE). In 2016 ACELS carried out 30 monitoring inspections and the projection is that this figure will rise in 2017.
ACELS Regulations (2017)
The 2017 ACELS Regulations, as circulated to ACELS providers in Autumn 2016, are now available on the ACELS website. ACELS will issue Certificates of Recognition for 2017 to recognised providers in the coming weeks. Please note that the Certificate of Recognition is only valid for the year for which it is issued and as stated on the certificate.
For 2017, there are 96 ACELS recognised providers representing approximately 130 centres nationwide. Please see the ACELS website www.acels.ie for more details.
ELE Award Standards and Initial Validation
In 2016, we started to look at how we might develop standards for English language education (ELE) awards and published ELE awards standards for two sets of awards, namely EL Teacher Training awards and International Foundation Year awards.
Providers who wish to run programmes from either of these sets of awards standards must have those programmes validated by QQI (click here for more information on ELE programme validation). We recently held information briefings about the initial validation process. If you would like further information on future ELE initial access to programme validation briefings please email please register your interest through our QHelp system.
Inaugural ELE Quality Enhancement Conference
The aims of the inaugural QQI ELE Conference were to focus on fostering and supporting improvement and enhancement of quality ELE practice, explore the role of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), and to stimulate interaction and sharing of ideas and practices across this diverse and dynamic sector nationally. Presentations, photos and videos from the day can be found here.
ELE Quality Conference
QQI held its 2nd English Language Education conference on November 22nd on the theme of Effective Management in English Language Education. The conference was attended by approximately 150 delegates, all ELE practitioners nationwide, from both the public and private sectors. The day consisted of three plenaries given by Professor Barry O’Sullivan, Liam Brown and Professor Clare Furneaux, along with four breakout sessions, facilitated by both national and international experts in the field, and some short sessions on national education initiatives.
If you follow this link, you can find all the programme of the conference, and all the slides from the talks and sessions.
