Recognition of International Qualifications
In recent years, an increased emphasis has been placed on the importance of qualifications being portable and recognisable, in both a European and an international context. In this respect, the NFQ is a national initiative that is linked in with similar developments that are taking place in other countries and at an overall International level.
The introduction of the NFQ has aided the recognition of qualifications, not only for holders of NFQ awards traveling abroad, but also for those traveling to this country with qualifications gained outside the State.
Qualifications Recognition - Ireland
The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is the Irish centre for the recognition of international awards which is known as Qualifications Recognition. It represents Ireland in a European network of centres that promote the recognition of international qualifications throughout Europe.
Qualifications Recognition uses the NFQ as a tool in recognition of a qualification gained outside of the State by assessing the qualification and comparing it to a level on the Framework. Recognition provides holders of foreign awards with opportunities for employment or access to education, as this comparison with the Framework makes the award understandable to employers and providers in an Irish context.
For more information regarding the recognition of international qualifications, see the Qualifications Recognition website at www.qualrec.ie.
Irish and UK Qualifications
The Irish awarding bodies and qualifications authorities and the UK awarding and qualifications regulatory bodies have undertaken an exercise to align/cross reference the qualifications frameworks in the UK and Ireland. The exercise was completed in June 2005, reviewed in 2009, and the document, Qualifications can cross boundaries - a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland 
was published. The leaflet is a ready reckoner for employers, learners and other interested parties, designed to enable broad comparisons to be drawn between qualifications and their levels In Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
International Agreements
On 23 February 2006 the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D., formally signed an international agreement between the Irish and Chinese governments for the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications. The agreement was signed between the Minister and her Chinese counterpart, Mr Zhou Ji in Beijing. It follows an initial commitment made by the two Ministers last year during the Government trade mission to China, led by the Taoiseach. The agreement provides for the recognition of higher education awards from sub-degree (higher certificate) to doctorate levels. It will ensure that students and graduates travelling between both countries for the pursuit of further study or employment will have their existing qualifications recognised. China already has similar agreements with Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.
Further information on this agreement is available on the Qualifications Recognition website.
