43. (1) Notwithstanding the role and responsibility of designated institutions of higher education to engage with the students of their respective institutions, An tÚdarás shall, in collaboration with the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland and representatives of students—

(a) promote formal engagement between students (including students in priority groups and students who are competent to speak the Irish language) of designated institutions of higher education and those institutions, and

(b) encourage designated institutions of higher education in the development of formalised engagement processes with students (including students in priority groups and students who are competent to speak the Irish language) of those institutions,

to identify and address issues of concern in relation to the student experience of such students raised by them.

(2) The formalised engagement processes referred to in subsection (1) may include—

(a) the provision of training for students participating as members of the governing body of a designated institution of higher education in competencies related to how the business of the governing body is conducted, and

(b) a mechanism for the students referred to in paragraph (a) to request such training.

(3) Each designated institution of higher education shall report annually, whether in its annual report or otherwise, to An tÚdarás to provide information on—

(a) the engagement processes referred to in subsection (1) developed by it,

(b) the training referred to in subsection (2) provided by it, and

(c) a summary of issues of concern identified by students and representatives of students and how those issues have been or will be addressed by the designated institution of higher education, including as part of the processes referred to in subsection (1) developed by it.