NCI Quality Assurance and Enhancement System

The Quality Assurance and Enhancement System (QAES) is the overarching framework that documents how National College of Ireland ensures academic quality, integrity, and continuous improvement.

It includes the full suite of academic policies, procedures, and standards that govern: Programme development, Teaching and learning, Student support, Research, Staff development, and Institutional governance.

QAES Ensures That:

  • Academic standards are upheld and aligned with QQI and ESG expectations
  • Decision-making is informed, transparent, and subject to robust governance
  • Students, staff, and stakeholders can access accurate, reliable information
  • Quality enhancement is embedded as an institutional practice.

Background and Rationale

NCI’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement System (QAES) was formally approved in the 2018/19 QQI Re-engagement Process as compliant with QQI requirements and the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015).

Following the 2024 CINNTE Institutional Review, NCI refreshed and restructured the QAES to enhance accessibility and transparency. The QAES refresh is delivered in bundled phases, each aligned with specific CINNTE recommendations and legacy QAES chapters QAES Refresh – Implementation Timeline.

QAES Structure: The Eight Domains

All QAES content is organised into eight domains, each representing a distinct area of institutional responsibility. Every policy and procedure is assigned to one domain, based on its primary function and governance owner. The majority of policies and procedures within the QAES are formally approved by Academic Council and reported to NCI’s Governing Body and to QQI annually through the Annual Quality Report (AQR). The governance of QAES is shared between Academic and Executive structures, as illustrated in the chart below. Academic governance is described in more detail within the Governance domain of the QAES.

Further Information
If you would like to learn more about the QAES Domains, please contact Eileen Long, Quality Assurance and Enhancement Specialist at NCI.
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