Many thousands of immigrant degree and diploma-holders have applied to have their foreign qualifications recognised in the State over the past 10 years, it has emerged.A spokesperson for the Qualifications Recognition Service (QRS) said the agency has been in operation since 2003 “and in that time we have processed approximately 14,000 applications for recognition of a foreign qualification”.
In addition, the spokesperson confirmed to Metro Éireann that the QRS has responded to “thousands of queries each year on international recognition and the Irish education and training system from individuals, employers and institutions.”
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Nigeria, Poland, the UK and Romania top the list of countries whose nationals have enquired of the service. The vast majority of enquiries were for higher qualifications, including graduate and Master’s degrees.
Meanwhile, some of the enquiries that the QRS has refused over the year include “incomplete qualifications, professional awards, licences/ permits or other qualifications that do not form part of a recognised education system.” No numbers or other data are available for these applications, the spokesperson said.
While its goal is to complete the processing of all applications within three months of receipt, the current processing time for most applications stands at “three to four weeks”.
The QRS offers recognition of foreign academic qualifications by comparing them to awards or levels on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
