The Common Awards System: what’s working?

The process of reviewing and renewing the Common Awards System (CAS) gets underway in the coming months, and we would like to hear your thoughts.

The CAS supports over 1700 award standards in further education and training (FET). It covers major and non-major award types in all fields of learning across NFQ levels 1-6. CAS award standards set out the expected learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, skill and competence, to be achieved before a relevant QQI award is made to a learner. The CAS also specifies the various combinations of smaller awards that can be accumulated towards larger awards. 

CAS award standards have supported the development and recognition of further education and training awards for almost two decades. Our providers and other users of QQI qualifications expect standards to be maintained over time and across different sites of learning. They also expect that QQI qualifications are agile and responsive to learners, personal, social, and economic needs.

With this in mind, we want to learn more about the extent to which CAS award standards are fit for purpose. We want to know what works well and what we may need to change so that CAS award standards support providers in meeting the diverse needs of their learners. Over the coming months we will be gathering a wide range of views and perspectives about the renewal and maintenance of CAS award standards.

Click here to access the CAS standards survey and have your say.