The Higher Education and Training Awards Council

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) is the qualifications awarding body for 3rd level educational and training institutions outside the university sector up to PhD level. It makes awards for learning in a range of higher education and training institutions, including the Institutes of Technology.

Like FETAC, it was set up in 2001 by the Minister of Education and Science under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999 to ensure that all awards are in accordance with national standards set out in the NFQ and to provide opportunities for all learners in higher education and training to have their achievements recognised.

The course providers leading to a HETAC award are called “recognised institutions” and some of these institutions have the delegated authority to make HETAC awards in their own name, namely the Institutes of Technology.

There are 14 Institutes of Technology in Ireland which are listed below:

-Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – this is in fact the largest 3rd level institute in Ireland and until 1997 was the only designated institute of Technology in Ireland. Like the Universities, it has the statutory authority to award its own degrees at all levels.
-Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT)
-Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT)
-Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB)
-Institute of Technology, Carlow (ITCarlow)
-Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)
-Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
-Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT)
-Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)
-Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT)
-Institute of Technology, Sligo (ITSligo)
-Institute of Technology, Tallaght (IT Tallaght)
-Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT Tralee)
-Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)

The Institutes of Technology offer a diverse range of programmes at levels 6-10 in the NFQ. Programmes in all institutions except DIT are validated by HETAC. DIT, however, has the authority to validate its own.

Other providers of awards under HETAC are listed below:

Academy of Medical Laboratory Science
Carlow College
Clanwilliam Institute
Development Studies Centre, Kimmage
Dorset College
Dublin Business School
Fidelity Investments, Ireland
Frobel College of Education
Garda College
Griffith College
Hibernia College
HIS Limerick Business School
ICD Business College
Institute of Business and Technology, Swords
Institute of Public Administration
Irish Academy of Public Relations
Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC)
Irish Management Institute
Leinster Academy, Leinster Rugby IRFU
Military College
Milltown Institute
Munster Academy, Munster Rugby IRFU
National College of Ireland
National Counselling Institute of Ireland
National Tourism Development Authority Fáilte Ireland
Newpark Music Centre
Portobello College
Setanta College
SIPTU College
St. Nicholas Montessori College, Ireland
St. Patrick’s College
The American College, Dublin
The Open Training College
Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd
Tipperary Institute

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