Quality Assurance | Furthering your Farming Education

Quality Assurance

Farm Ed Ltd is a registered provider of further education and training for the Irish agricultural sector. We deliver QQI-validated programmes leading to the Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture and the Level 6 Certificate in Farming, through a blend of online learning, classroom sessions and hands-on training on the farm.

Quality is at the heart of everything we do. This statement gives learners, employers and the wider public a clear overview of how we assure the quality of our training. It reflects the full quality assurance system that governs our work, which is maintained in line with the requirements of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012.

Our Quality Commitment

We are committed to providing education and training that is current, relevant, accessible and quality assured. Quality is treated as part of our everyday work rather than a one-off exercise. We do this by:

• Designing and delivering programmes that meet national award standards and the real needs of the farming sector.
• Engaging qualified, experienced tutors who know the industry and keep their skills up to date.
• Putting the learner at the centre of the learning experience and providing the supports needed to succeed.
• Assessing learners fairly, consistently and transparently.
• Seeking feedback from learners and stakeholders, and using it to keep improving.
• Reviewing and evaluating our programmes and our quality system on a regular cycle.

How We Are Governed

Our education and training decisions are managed through a clear governance structure that keeps quality and academic standards separate from commercial considerations. Dedicated committees oversee programme approval and review, quality assurance and assessment, and the ongoing management of each programme as it runs.

To strengthen independence and challenge, we invite suitably experienced external experts to contribute to our governance committees. Clear roles and responsibilities are defined across our team so that everyone understands their part in maintaining quality.

Our Programmes

Programmes are developed using a structured, well-defined process that involves staff, sector partners and subject-matter experts, and they are submitted to QQI for validation before they are offered. Once running, each programme is monitored throughout, reviewed at the mid-point and comprehensively reviewed on completion, so that it remains relevant, effective and properly resourced. All programmes are vocationally focused and provide clear opportunities for further study or progression. Full details of each programme — including award, level, content, entry requirements, fees, assessment and progression routes — are published and available to anyone considering a course with us.

Admissions, Access and Recognition of Prior Learning

We apply clear, transparent and fair procedures for admission to our programmes. Applicants complete an application and an interview to confirm that entry requirements are met and that the commitment involved is understood. Information on how to apply, transfer and progress is openly published. We are committed to equality of access and opportunity. Applicants are invited to disclose a disability or specific learning difficulty so that appropriate, confidential support can be arranged where needed, without ever compromising the standard of the award. Where applicants hold relevant prior certified learning, our recognition of prior learning procedure allows this to be considered for entry.

Teaching, Learning and Learner Support

We aim to provide a learning environment that is engaging, inclusive and fit for purpose. Tutors are encouraged to use a range of methods — discussion, practical demonstration, group work and multimedia — that keep the learner active and connected to real on-farm experience. Each programme has a Programme Leader who acts as the first point of contact for learners. A range of supports is available, including tutorials, guidance on progression, pastoral support and reasonable accommodations, and learners are made aware of these from the outset. We treat all learners and staff equally and operate a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying and harassment.

Health, Safety and Working on Farms

Because practical training and assessment take place in farm settings, health, safety and bio-security are taken extremely seriously. Venues are checked in advance against clear criteria, risk assessments are carried out, and learners are briefed on their responsibilities before any farm visit. Our procedures are designed to keep everyone safe and to minimise bio-security risk.

Assessment of Learners

Assessment on our QQI-validated programmes is fair, consistent, transparent and measured against the published learning outcomes for each award. Learners are given clear information on what is required, when work is due, and how to seek feedback, repeats or reasonable accommodations. We maintain robust arrangements to protect the security and integrity of assessment, including secure handling of assessment materials, identity verification, authorship declarations and independent invigilation of examinations. Learners receive timely, constructive feedback to help them progress.

Confirming Results

Before any results are submitted for certification, they pass through a structured quality assurance process. This includes internal verification of assessment, independent external authentication against national standards, and formal approval of results by a dedicated panel. This process gives confidence that results are fair, accurate and consistent. Learners have the right to appeal their final result or the assessment process within the published timeframe, and our appeals procedure sets out clearly how this works.

Academic Integrity and Responsible Use of AI

We foster a culture of honesty, fairness and ethical conduct across all learning and assessment, aligned with the values of academic integrity recognised by QQI. Learners are informed of their responsibilities, asked to confirm the authorship of their own work, and supported with guidance on proper practice. We recognise the growing role of artificial intelligence in education and are committed to its ethical and transparent use, without compromising the integrity of our programmes. Where academic misconduct is identified, it is addressed fairly and proportionately, with the right of appeal.

Blended Learning

Our programmes combine live online classes with in-person classroom and on-farm days, giving learners flexibility while keeping the practical, hands-on learning that farming education requires. Our approach is learner-centred and subject-led: technology is used to serve the learner's needs, not the other way around. Learners are supported throughout their blended learning journey, from a one-to-one walk-through of our online environment at induction to ongoing technical and tutorial support. Online classes, materials and assessment are delivered through a secure, well-supported digital platform.

Information, Data and Privacy

We treat the personal data of learners and staff with care and hold it securely. All data is managed in line with data protection law, kept only for as long as it is needed, and accessed strictly on a need-to-know basis. Learners are informed at induction about how their data is used and stored.

Public Information and Communication

We are committed to providing accurate, up-to-date and easily accessible information about our programmes and our commitment to quality. This includes programme details, learner protection arrangements and our quality assurance commitments, published through our website and available on request.

Protection of Enrolled Learners

Appropriate Protection of Enrolled Learners arrangements are in place, including learner protection insurance, to safeguard learners' interests in the unlikely event that a programme cannot be completed.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Our quality system is not static. We monitor our programmes and procedures continuously, review them after each intake, and formally self-evaluate on a regular cycle with the involvement of learners, stakeholders and an independent external evaluator. Findings and improvement plans inform how we develop our programmes and services over time.