Quality and Qualifications Ireland
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the Irish state agency that validates programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications, and authorises the TrustEd Ireland quality mark for further and higher education providers, serving universities, ETBs, private providers, English language schools and learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Quality and Qualifications Ireland does
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is an Irish state agency established in 2012 under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, operating as the successor to HETAC, FETAC, NCEA and NCVA. It is the statutory external quality assurance and awarding body for Ireland's further and higher education sector, accountable to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. QQI validates programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ Levels 1–10), authorises the TrustEd Ireland quality mark for providers recruiting non-EU/EEA international students, and operates NARIC Ireland for recognition of foreign qualifications. Its provider-facing products include the National Academic Integrity Network, Qualifax (the National Learners' Database), the My Own Work campaign against contract cheating, and the Irish Register of Qualifications.
QQI runs two core digital platforms that anchor its operational model. QBS (QQI Business System, cert.qqi.ie) is a secure certification submission platform used by education and training providers to lodge learner results, with features for class group lookup, direct links to validated programmes and learner history tracking; certificates issued carry invisible security features to prevent copying or alteration. QHub (qhub.qqi.ie) is the provider engagement portal supporting TrustEd Ireland applications, programme validation and revalidation, programme extension, re-engagement and annual quality reporting, with an integrated mailbox for QQI communications. Supporting infrastructure includes QHelp for learner queries, interactive Certification Dashboards built on the ALDa database (covering all QQI award holders from 2012), and data-sharing integrations with CAO, SOLAS, CSO and the Department of Education.
QQI's revenue model is a hybrid of exchequer grant-in-aid from its parent department and a published Schedule of Fees approved by the relevant Ministers. Provider-facing fees apply for programme validation, review of quality assurance procedures, making awards, delegation of authority, programme extension, access/transfer/progression approvals and TrustEd Ireland authorisation. Learner-facing fees include €20 for WES or record-of-award verification and €100 for replacement certificates issued after 2016, with appeal fees refunded if upheld. Pricing is published and set at cost-recovery level rather than commercially, consistent with QQI's statutory public-sector mandate.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland
- Legal name
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland
- Website
- https://qqi.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the Irish state agency that validates programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications, and authorises the TrustEd Ireland quality mark for further and higher education providers, serving universities, ETBs, private providers, English language schools and learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Quality and Qualifications Ireland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Quality Assurance
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Qualifications Framework Authorities (NQF/Skills Framework) (EDADAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Qualifications & Credit Framework Authorities (EDADAEAD), Assessment Policy, Benchmarking & International Comparability Authorities (EDADAFAJ), Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities (EDADAFAK), Online/Distance Education Quality & Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAK), Online & Distance Education Quality Assurance Reviews (EDADAGAM), Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)
Keywords
Where Quality and Qualifications Ireland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Quality and Qualifications Ireland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: QQI receives funding from its parent department (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science) to operate as Ireland's quality assurance and awarding body for further and higher education.
- Provider Service Fees: QQI charges fees to education and training providers for services including programme validation, review of quality assurance procedures, making awards, delegation of authority to make awards, programme extension, access/transfer/progression approvals, and International Education Mark authorisation.
- Learner Service Fees: Fees charged to learners for verification services (€20 for WES verification, €20 for record of awards) and replacement certificates (€100 for NFQ Level 1-10 certificates awarded after 2016).
- Appeal Fees: Fees payable for appeals against QQI decisions, with full refund if appeal is upheld.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Verification of qualifications for WES or other evaluation services |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Replacement certificates for awards achieved after 2016 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Appeal fees for challenging QQI decisions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is Ireland's independent state agency that validates education and training programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ Levels 1-10), and operates external quality assurance for further and higher education. It provides certification platforms (QBS, QHub), qualification verification and replacement services for learners, a statutory TrustEd Ireland quality mark for international education providers, and maintains the Irish Register of Qualifications and Qualifax information portal.
Product overview
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) operates as Ireland's state agency for quality assurance and awarding in further and higher education. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services including: QQI Awards (core awarding and certification function), TrustEd Ireland (quality mark for international education providers), QBS and QHub (provider-facing platforms for certification and programme management), Qualifax (careers and education information portal), NARIC Ireland (foreign qualification recognition), and the Irish Register of Qualifications. QQI also supports academic integrity through the National Academic Integrity Network and the My Own Work campaign, while providing data insights via certification dashboards. The organization validates programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ levels 1-10), and facilitates European transparency through Europass.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TrustEd Ireland: A statutory quality mark for higher education and English language education providers ensuring quality experience for international learners.
- Qualifax
- QHub
- QBS Certification
- QHelp
- Irish Register of Qualifications
Products and services
- QQI Awards
- TrustEd Ireland
- Qualifax
Quantifiable outcome
- Awards placed on NFQ ensuring national and international recognition
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Quality and Qualifications Ireland
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- European CommissioncoreCo-organiser of Ireland EU Presidency 2026 conference on Skills Portability Initiative focusing on Third Country Qualifications Framework Comparison and micro-credentials. European Commission supports the event and provides policy guidance on European Degree Label implementation.
- European Training FoundationcorePartner in EU Presidency 2026 conference, collaborating with QQI on study visit for third country representatives regarding Irish NFQ design and implementation. ETF assists in participant agreement for study visits.
- CedefopcoreCo-operation partner for Ireland EU Presidency 2026 conference on skills portability, supporting European transparency tools development.
- Department of Justice IrelandcoreTrustEd Ireland providers must comply with Department of Justice monitoring requirements for student compliance with immigration law. Department oversees immigration aspects of international student recruitment.
- National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN)corePeer collaborative network established by QQI in November 2019 to foster academic integrity culture across further and higher education. Includes working groups, steering committee, and member institutions.
- Union of Students in Ireland (USI)minorPartner in the My Own Work campaign against contract cheating, supporting academic integrity initiatives for students.
- Central Applications Office (CAO)coreData sharing agreement for secure transfer of QQI award data including PPSN, awards achieved, and scored results. QQI transfers certification data to CAO for higher education admissions.
- Central Statistics Office (CSO)coreShares certification data including PPSN, gender, age, certification year, award details pursuant to Statistics Act 1993. Memorandum of understanding established for data sharing.
- SOLAScoreData sharing agreement for certification data including masked PPSN, gender, age, award details for Further Education and Training statistics.
- Department of Education IrelandcoreAnnual sharing of anonymised certification data for Education Indicators for Ireland report required under EU legislation on education statistics.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ofqual: England's statutory qualifications regulator, with an almost identical mandate to QQI: maintaining qualifications frameworks, regulating awarding organisations, and ensuring quality. Ofqual is the closest direct comparator given its equivalent statutory footing and NFQ-equivalent functions.
- Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): UK's independent quality assurance body for higher education, performing external quality review, programme validation, and institutional review functions that directly mirror QQI's quality assurance role for Irish further and higher education.
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Scotland's national awarding and qualifications body, comparable to QQI in maintaining a national qualifications framework (SCQF), accrediting qualifications, and certifying learners across further and higher education.
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA): Australia's national quality and standards regulator for higher education and vocational education, performing provider registration, course accreditation, and quality assessment functions that directly parallel QQI's statutory responsibilities.
- NARIC UK (UK ENIC): The UK's national centre for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications, operating as the UK equivalent of NARIC Ireland — a service operated by QQI for foreign qualification recognition.
- New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA): New Zealand's government body responsible for qualifications quality assurance across the NZQF, including evaluating foreign qualifications and accrediting programmes — directly comparable to QQI's NFQ and NARIC Ireland functions.
Broad incumbents
- European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR): The European-level register of quality assurance agencies that QQI-related providers may interact with. While not a direct competitor, EQAR sets the standards and listings that frame QQI's quality assurance function at the supranational level.
- Cedefop: European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, which QQI partners with on EU Presidency 2026 events and which supports European transparency tools (Europass) that integrate with QQI's qualifications framework.
Regional players
- SOLAS: Ireland's Further Education and Training Authority, which shares certification data with QQI and co-governs the FET sector that QQI certifies. A natural domestic peer within the Irish education ecosystem with overlapping further education responsibilities.
- Higher Education Authority (HEA): Ireland's statutory body for higher education policy, funding, and system development. A domestic peer operating alongside QQI within the Irish higher education regulatory landscape with complementary (but not overlapping) responsibilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Quality and Qualifications Ireland social profiles
Digital presenceQuality and Qualifications Ireland compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Quality and Qualifications Ireland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Quality and Qualifications Ireland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Quality and Qualifications Ireland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Quality and Qualifications Ireland
What does Quality and Qualifications Ireland do?
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is Ireland's independent state agency that validates education and training programmes, makes awards across the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ Levels 1-10), and operates external quality assurance for further and higher education. It provides certification platforms (QBS, QHub), qualification verification and replacement services for learners, a statutory TrustEd Ireland quality mark for international education providers, and maintains the Irish Register of Qualifications and Qualifax information portal.
Is Quality and Qualifications Ireland a public or private company?
Quality and Qualifications Ireland is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Quality and Qualifications Ireland founded?
Quality and Qualifications Ireland was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Quality and Qualifications Ireland based?
Quality and Qualifications Ireland is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Quality and Qualifications Ireland make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are provider Service Fees, learner Service Fees and appeal Fees.
Who are Quality and Qualifications Ireland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ofqual, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), NARIC UK (UK ENIC) and New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Broad incumbents are European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and Cedefop. Regional players are SOLAS and Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Does Quality and Qualifications Ireland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Quality and Qualifications Ireland.
What industry is Quality and Qualifications Ireland in?
Quality and Qualifications Ireland's product category is Education Quality Assurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAFAB, Qualifications Framework Authorities (NQF/Skills Framework), with a secondary code of EDADAEAD, Qualifications & Credit Framework Authorities. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.