At Dorset College, we pride ourselves on fostering strong partnerships that enhance our educational offerings and provide valuable opportunities for our students and faculty. Our partners play a crucial role in helping us deliver a diverse and enriching learning experience. To learn more about our esteemed partners and the collaborative initiatives we engage in, please read this dedicated page.
Established by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is an independent State agency responsible for external quality assurance of further and higher education and training services in Ireland.
QQI validates courses and issues awards for approved providers in the further and higher education and training sectors, including English language provision. QQI-validated courses lead to internationally-recognised qualifications listed in the NFQ..
QQI is also responsible for the maintenance, development and review of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), and advises the Government on national policy regarding quality assurance and enhancement in education and training.
Dorset College is pleased to announce its membership with the Business Graduates Association (BGA), a global network dedicated to supporting business schools and their students. As members of the BGA, we join an international community focused on fostering educational innovation and promoting ethical business practices. This membership provides Dorset College with access to resources, industry insights, and professional development opportunities that enrich the educational experience we offer.
Our affiliation with the BGA connects our faculty and students to a broad network of business educators and professionals, enhancing our learning environment through shared knowledge and best practices. While we are proud members of the BGA, this membership does not imply accreditation or validation of our programs by the BGA. However, it is our intention to pursue accreditation and validation in the future to further establish the high standards of our business education offerings. This proactive approach benefits not only our institution but also our students, who gain the opportunity to engage with a wider business community and access exclusive member benefits.
The Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) was established in 1969 by the Irish Department of Education & Science to control standards in English Language Teaching schools and organisations through an inspection and recognition scheme. Dorset College is regulated by ACELS and complies with the requirements of the inspection and recognition scheme.
Dorset College is proud to be a member of ELE Ireland, a distinguished association of English language schools dedicated to providing high-quality education. Each member school, including ours, meets rigorous standards set by QQI / ACELS and holds accreditation from at least one top-tier international English Language professional body. ELE Ireland represents schools that offer personalized attention in every aspect of English language and ELT training, for both adult and young learners, operating full-time courses throughout the year.
With a collective experience of over 160 years in the English language sector, ELE Ireland schools, like Dorset College, are committed to the ethos of 'all about the student'. This philosophy ensures a focus on student welfare and learning outcomes, supported by unique initiatives such as the ELE Ireland Student Protection Scheme (SPS) and secure payment methods through partnerships like TransferMate. As a proud member of this exclusively Irish-owned network, Dorset College guarantees that it only provides high-caliber, accredited courses within Ireland, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding and enhancing our students' educational journeys.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the body which sets professional standards for Human Resources and people development, as well as driving positive change in the world of work. CIPD has 6,000 Irish members and 160,000 members internationally—working in Human Resources, learning and development, people management, and consulting across private businesses as well as organisations in the public and voluntary sectors. CIPD qualifications provide professional recognition in the fields of Human Resources and people development.
Managed by Enterprise Ireland, under the authority of the Minister for Education and Skills, Education in Ireland is responsible for the promotion of Irish Higher Education Institutions overseas. Ireland's longstanding reputation for high-quality education is built on a solid foundation of commitment to excellence. Today, Ireland has one of the best education systems in the world and an internationally-renowned reputation for academic quality.
Dorset College is a long standing member of HECA. HECA's mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the independent colleges higher education sector, in order to influence policy on behalf of our members.
In achieving its Mission, HECA actively facilitates a community of best practice and promotion of high-quality education amongst its members. Our members are located across Ireland, and renowned for excellence in teaching and learning and a unique education experience. All HECA members are state accredited in Ireland, providing Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) validated programmes across a very diverse range of disciplines, between levels 6 and 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The student body within the HECA network of college providers is over 27,000.
We work with our members to shape and influence higher education policy directly through our engagement with policy makers and other stakeholders. Our relationships with government, private sector business and sectoral representative agencies are a key focus of our work in driving the agenda for higher education into the future.
Our work mainly falls into three main core functions:
1. Advocacy and Representation
2. Member Network
3. General Services
HECA is very proud of its consistent contribution to shaping national policy development within Irish higher education over the course of the last 3 decades.
"Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020."
Springboard+ is an initiative for higher education, offering free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree, and masters levels to Irish residents. The initiative places an emphasis on qualifications in those areas where employment opportunities and skills shortages have been identified.
Springboard+ is designed to support people re-entering employment and improve the skill sets of those already in employment, in order to build a supply of qualified graduates to meet current and future economic needs.
Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESG programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020, and is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
As part of our strategic vision, we strive to develop strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with the academic, business and wider communities. We see collaboration with a range of stakeholders as a key aspect of Dorset’s future development. Our collaborative partners bring knowledge, opportunities and industry links to the college and its students, further strengthening Dorset College as an industry-led, quality-driven higher education institution.
