City & Guilds announced today (20 October 2008) that its qualifications, valued in Ireland for many years, have now been officially aligned to the Irish framework of qualifications by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI).

The approval of the NQAI should be of tremendous benefit to learners seeking to progress seamlessly onto the next level of their training and career progression as City & Guilds qualifications are recognised by employers and educational institutions both in Ireland and abroad.

There are over 400,000 persons in Ireland with City & Guilds qualifications.

Welcoming the news, Brid Healy, Country Manager, City & Guilds Ireland, commented: “This official recognition of our qualifications is a huge endorsement for City & Guilds courses and we are delighted that they are now aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications.

“Thousands of learners take our courses in centres around the country every year, and we have always been committed to ensuring that our qualifications benefit these learners, “she said.

“In the current economic climate, it is widely accepted that a skilled and flexible workforce is vital to ensure Ireland’s competitiveness. Recent reports show that investment in training and development in Irish companies stands below the EU average, so government and employers should work together in identifying the skills needs and encourage the upskilling of workers in order to help meet the needs of the business community. 

“Now that City & Guilds qualifications are aligned to the National Framework, we are ideally positioned to provide support to business and industry in this regard and make a positive contribution to future economic growth and development”, she said.   

“On behalf of City & Guilds I would like to thank the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland for their invaluable support and assistance in completing the process for alignment”, she added.

ENDS

Note to Editors

City & Guilds (http://www.cityandguilds.com/) is the expert and leading authority in vocational education and training in the UK and recognised as such in many countries. It offers over 500 qualifications in 30 occupational areas, including IT, Business Support, CAD, Sound Engineering, Design & Craft, Hair & Beauty, Retail, Security, Waste Management, Cleaning, Oil & Gas, Land Based Industries, and Health Care Support Services.

City & Guilds has been operating in Ireland for over 100 years and its qualifications  are provided in over 300 centres in Ireland, supported by a designated office in Dublin.

City & Guilds has awarded almost 100,000 certificates in Ireland in the last five years alone, covering vocational, technical and management qualifications which are recognised all over the world.   

City & Guilds is a non-profit making organisation that re-invests all of its surpluses into the development of its portfolio of qualifications.