Academic Policies and Procedures

NCI's academic policies and procedures are maintained in the Quality Assurance Handbook.

This Quality Assurance Handbook is a document to facilitate the implementation of policies and procedures that have been accepted by NCI to ensure a quality assured delivery of programmes and services to learners and other stakeholders, internal and external. Procedures outlined in the Handbook must be used in the operational management of all elements of College Life. As such, the Quality Handbook is a ‘living’ document and will be updated from time to time based on the following principles

• Amendments as approved by Academic Council
• Amendments as approved by Executive Board

NCI recognises its responsibility in relation to the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 and its accrediting bodies, HETAC and FETAC, to maintain, review and enhance these procedures in a cycle of continuous improvement.

This edition of the Handbook has been updated from the NCI Quality Manual 2004 as approved by HETAC in November 2004, to incorporate changes resulting from

• Operational review of procedures and policies and
• Legislative changes.
• Reviews of best practice

This review took place during 2006 culminating in the adoption of the policies outlined below by Academic Council on the 8th December 2006. Policies and processes are updated on an ongoing basis. Details of updates are highlighted in the document version history at the beginning of each section.

• Introduction
• Quality Assurance Standards
  This section outlines how the Committees of the College operate, their function and their membership. It also outlines the roles of key personnel within College
• Programme Development, Review and Evaluation
  This section outlines the procedures used to design, develop, monitor and evaluate programmes (courses) and the roles of key committees in that process
• Examinations and Awards
  This section outlines the rules by which all assessments are managed within College, from the organisation of the examination itself, the drafting of examination papers/assessments, correction of papers/assessments, learners with special requirements during assessment and the appeals and disciplinary processes.
• Research
  This section outlines the framework within which Research is carried out at NCI
• Learner Life
  This section outlines the range of services available to learners, admission requirements, supports both academic and personal , the complaints and disciplinary processes.
• For further information contact the Quality Assurance & Statistical Services Office at qass@ncirl.ie