Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

Lobbying Organisation Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

Date published 17 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Higher Education Colleges Association Protection of the Enrolled Learner

Intended results 1. Provide information in relation to the Higher Education Colleges Association Protection of the Enrolled Learner Scheme (HPS). 2. Discussion on the potential for the continuation of the HPS and exclusion of the HPS from the national PEL Scheme under the Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill QQI Act. (Note- three HECA members are not part of the HPS -Hibernia College, Dublin Business School and Open Training College) (Note- HECA member, The National College of Ireland, is excluded from this lobbying activity). 3. Potential for future consultation with HECA on the PEL National Scheme.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Patricia O Sullivan, HECA Executive Director.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Patricia O Sullivan, Executive Director and the HECA Chair, Professor Denis Ryan, HECA PEL Scheme Board Chair, David Niland and Past HECA Chair, Professor Diarmuid Hegarty met with William Beausang Assistant Secretary, Department of Education and Skills regarding the HECA Protection of Enrolled Learners Scheme and the QQI Act

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

William Beausang Assistant Secretary (Department of Education and Skills)