COVID – 19 Contingency Plan for participants undertaking QQI Courses

At this time of unprecedented threat to public health, we have drawn up our proposed contingency plans to best meet the needs of our learners, staff and other stakeholders. At all times, our actions will be guided by the advice given by our public health officials, the HSE and the government.

The current threat from COVID – 19 will impact at on all stakeholders and ourselves in ways that we may not yet realise and we commit to being adaptable and flexible to enable our learners to continue with their learning and to complete any course undertaken with us.

There will also be a financial impact for the company in the short to mid-term, and our contingency planning also takes account of this.

A key part of any planning and decision making is to have  clear and effective communications with learners, staff and other stakeholders to reassure and provide up to date information to each as appropriate.

Contingency planning – course participants

HMI and our partners The Learning Rooms run both open and in-company training. As our QQI course are blended learning courses, we know that our learners will not encounter difficulty in accessing and using online resources and lectures. Full guidance and supports will be provided.

Open courses due to commence

Those courses due to start within the next 6 – 8 weeks are now cancelled. Registered learners have been offered a choice to participate either on a course scheduled for later in the year or a refund if partially or fully paid.

Current open courses

Where courses are ongoing, learners have been offered a choice to complete their final date on a different course scheduled later in the year. We are currently working on an online alternative and this will be offered to learners also.

In-company courses due to commence

We have been in contact with organisations to postpone dates and to set plans to run courses later in the year.

In-company courses which are ongoing

There are two options available to organisations.

  • Rescheduling of final date
  • Online option

Online option

Our online option will contain a number of elements to ensure continuity adherence to standards and to quality assurance. This will be put in place shortly and will be communicated to all stakeholders and made available to those wish to finalise courses already started.