Overarching Assessment and Examination Policy

1.   Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to demonstrate how NCI manages and maintains fairness, validity, consistency and integrity in its assessment and examinations policies and practices. It confirms how NCI ensures assessment results and learner performance demonstrate the achievement of validated module and programme learning outcomes. It also outlines how NCI’s quality assurance, quality enhancement, management and governance structures safeguard academic standards, support academic integrity and provide a framework for credible assessment practices. Together these support a high- quality learning, teaching and assessment experience across all validated programmes.

This overarching Assessment and Examination Policy is delivered through a series of sub-policies and procedures published following Academic Council approval in the Teaching Domain on the NCI Website. This policy and its sub-policies are benchmarked against QQI Assessment and Standards Guidelines, Revised 2022 and collectively form Chapter 4: Assessment, in NCIs Quality Assurance and Enhancement System (QAES).

2.   Scope and Definition

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, this Policy applies to all forms of summative and formative assessment used to assess module and programme learning outcomes in QQI validated programmes. The policy covers assessments all conducted under examination conditions, continuous assessments (referred to as CAs), projects, work placement assessments, dissertations and online assessments. Additional quality controls for the Remote Proctoring of Online Assessments are also approved and published.

3.   Principles

The following Principles are followed:

Fairness and Transparency: Assessment criteria, regulations and marking criteria are clear, accessible and applied consistently, ensuring all learners are treated equitably.

Validity and Reliability: Assessment tasks are designed to measure intended module and programme learning outcomes as stated in QQI validated programme documents and consistency of judgement is achieved through internal and external assessors/examiners.

Support for Learning: Assessment promotes and supports active and engaged student learning. Formative assessment and timely feedback are essential components of all assessment strategies. Assessment practices support fairness, including reasonable accommodations.

Academic Integrity: NCI is committed to upholding academic honesty and applies a zero-tolerance approach to plagiarism, cheating, collusion and impersonation. All students must complete a mandatory online Academic Integrity training course from Semester 2 2026 onwards. They must abide by the integrity and respect values outlined in the NCI Student Charter.

Continuous Improvement: Assessment strategies, weightings and methods are subject to annual and cyclical review (revalidation of programmes every 5 years) and renewed as required and in line with QQI rules and guidelines to maintain relevance, currency and effectiveness.

4.   Policy Statements

• The assessment of students is one of the most important elements of higher education.
• Assessment is always carried out professionally and takes into account the extensive knowledge which exists in NCI and across our external examiners.
• Assessments at NCI are designed and delivered using published criteria, regulations and procedures which are applied consistently.
• Programme and module assessment strategies contained in programme validation documentation provide the source of truth on assessments.
• Assessments are designed to reflect a balance of methods and are scheduled carefully to avoid overloading students and Faculty/Associate Faculty.
• Assessment schedules and key dates are published in advance in programme handbooks and Learning Management System, with changes communicated in a timely manner.
• Late submissions without valid extenuating circumstances incur penalties. A standard penalty structure applies across NCI
• Repeat assessments are designed to evaluate the same learning outcomes as the original task.
• Arrangements are made for learners with approved accommodations and those affected by extenuating circumstances.
• Security of assessment papers, scripts and results is a shared responsibility and subject to strict protocols.

5.   Procedures

Assessment Design & Approval

• Programme and module assessment strategies are included in all programme validation and revalidation documents
• Minor changes to validated programme and module strategies can be approved in Programme Committees in advance of formal approval at the Academic Programmes and Quality Committee (APQC) - guidance on what is permissible is given by QIE.
• Each programme and module must include clear assessment weightings and criteria.
• Over-assessment and deadline clustering must be avoided.

Communications

• A single source of truth will be maintained of all programme validation documents, approved by QQI, accessible to all faculty/AF and academic leaders.
• Programme handbooks will outline assessment criteria, methods and marking scales.
• Examination regulations will be communicated to students, faculty/Af and published centrally, maintained by the Assessment and Examinations Team.

Pre Assessment & Examinations

• A single source of truth will contain draft and finalised exam papers, continuous assessment and in class test materials
• Samples of assessment and exam papers will be sent to external examiners for comment reference external examiner policy and procedure.
• CA schedules and exam timetables published by Academic Operations and the Examinations office

Assessments & Examinations

• Assessments/tests/CAs and written exams will adhere to formal regulations
• Identity verification, permitted materials and venue/online academic integrity controls will be strictly enforced with disciplinary processes followed if breaches are identified.
• Invigilators will be trained to enforce standards and identify exam rule breaches.

Post Assessments & Exams

• Faculty/AF marking will follow published rubrics and criteria.
• 2nd marking will occur for a sample of key assessments and examinations per module.
• External examiners will sample marking and student work across modules to authenticate standards and participate in Boards of Examiners.

Feedback & Results

• Feedback should be timely, constructive and linked to learning outcomes.
• Results must be accurate, complete and ratified only at formal Exam Boards.
• Results will be published to students by the Assessment and Examinations Team.

Resits, Reviews Disciplinaries, Appeals and Deferrals

• Student have access to recheck, exam review and appeal processes.
• Deferrals require documented evidence and approval.

Awards, Certification and Graduation

• Award stage results submitted to QQI for certification
• Graduation held
• Award Certificates and Diploma Supplements issued
   

6.   Roles and Responsibilities

Version Control