Frequently Asked Questions

It is a process of quality control and assurance in higher education. This means that the IMI and its programs are recognised as meeting minimum acceptable standards as a result of inspection and assessment by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

It is the total range of written, oral and practical tests, as well as projects and portfolios, used to decide on your progress in the programme, unit or module.

It describes what you are expected to do in order to demonstrate that a learning outcome has been achieved.

You complete a range of written, oral or practical tests, as well as a project or portfolio. The type of assessment depends on the subject.

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the government awarding body for qualifications outside the university sector in Ireland.

FETAC issues awards at levels 1 through 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). HETAC issues awards at levels 6 through 10 on the NFQ.

No. The Universities and the DIT can also accredit programmes. And there are many international accrediting bodies such as EQUIS.

An award is conferred, granted or given by an awarding body, such as HETAC, and which records that you have acquired a standard of knowledge, skill or competence.

Level 1 is a very basic level in a particular field, and level 10 is doctorate or Ph. D. level. For example, Leaving Certificate is level 5, and an honours degree is level 8. From IMI’s point of view, we currently offer levels 6, such as Frontline Management, to level 9, post-graduate level.

It is the currency used to measure your workload in terms of the learning time or effort required to achieve the specified learning outcomes for a programme, unit or module. For example, if you do a three-day course in Negotiation Skills, you need to submit an assignment about four weeks later. The assignment must show that you have achieved the learning outcomes, in that you must show in the assignment how you used the knowledge and skills from the course back at work.

It is a self-contained, formally structured learning experience with a coherent and explicit set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria. A module contributes to a programme.

National Framework of Qualifications - the single, nationally and internationally accepted entity, through which all learning achievements may be measured and related to each other in a coherent way and which defines the relationship between all education and training awards. For example, if you do a course that is accredited on the NFQ in any institution, other institutions must recognise it, and it can be benchmarked internationally.

A programme of education and training means any process by which learners may acquire knowledge, skill or competence and includes courses of study or instruction, apprenticeships, training and employment and references to “programme” shall be construed accordingly’.

The Diploma in Management has been accredited as of 1st July 2008. To get credits for your previous studies, you need to apply for recognition of prior learning.

Recognition of all forms of learning: formal learning such as school, college and training courses, informal learning such as workplace learning, mentoring and coaching.

Yes, the Irish National Framework of Qualifications is aligned with the European Framework.

It depends on which course. The Business Development Programme has been accredited since 2005. The BA and Masters programmes have been accredited for several years. Most other programmes have been accredited in 2008.

You need to send an application form for recognition of prior learning (RPL).

Recognition of learning that has taken place, but not necessarily been assessed or measured, prior to entering a programme. Such prior learning may have been acquired through formal routes such as training programmes, or non-formal and informal routes, such as learning at work.

Recognition of non-formal and informal learning in the workplace. If you are applying for credits under recognition of prior experience, you must complete a portfolio of learning, showing details of what you learned over a period of time, with references from employers.

You need to apply for recognition of work-based learning. You must complete a portfolio of learning, showing details of what you learned over a period of time, with references from employers.

Not at the IMI at the moment. All of our Masters programmes are taught. In the Masters in Business Studies, there are three modules. The final module is a research dissertation.

Not as such. Some of our Masters programmes are delivered on Friday evenings and all day Saturday. However, all our short courses are aimed at the practical application of the knowledge and skills to the workplace, and so they are for those in employment.

Yes, if the course gained credits on the National Framework of Qualifications. In this case, it would be on the certificate that you got

Yes, if you complete a portfolio of learning showing that you have gained the knowledge, skills and competence as per the learning objectives on the course.

Yes, any course that is accredited on the National Framework of Qualifications will be recognised, once the other college is an approved provider.

If you can show proof that the studies are accredited at level 9 (recognised internationally as Masters level)

Yes.

Yes, the BA is a level 8 award on the NFQ, which gives access to level 9 in a related field. You could do the MoB, M. Sc. in Organisational Behaviour, or Masters in Management Practice.

Yes, as it is accredited on the National Framework of Qualifications, you can use it to a masters level degree in business or management.

At the moment, we don’t have a doctorate programme in place. However, the Masters programmes at the IMI are recognised on the NFQ, and so can be used to progress to a doctorate through another institution, or you can apply directly to HETAC.

Special purpose awards meet specific, relatively narrow learning requirements, such as individual fields of employment.

The title of the course is a marketing title. The title of the award is decided by HETAC. Under the NFQ, a diploma must achieve 60 credits, normally the equivalent of one year’s full-time study. Any course of study with less than 60 credits is awarded a certificate.

It normally takes 2 to 3 years. The M Sc in Organisational Behaviour, and the Masters in Management Practice both take two years. The MoB normally takes three years: one module per year, the third year being the research methodology and dissertation. However, you can take up to 5 years to complete the MoB.

Accreditation is a form of quality assurance of our programmes. It provides international recognition for study. If a course is funded by FAS, or by any other funding body, accreditation is required by them.

The Certificate in Frontline Management awards 10 credits at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. It does not at present lead to a Diploma. To achieve a diploma, you need 60 credits on the NFQ. We do not at present have a diploma at level 6.

NO. The MoB is a Master of Business. You need to have a either primary degree in a business discipline, or at least five years of experience in business in order to participate. To get an exemption from modules in the MoB, you need to have completed a programme accredited to level 9, on the NFQ, with 30 credits.