Quality Assuring the Assessment Process

Quality Assurance (QA)
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Overview

LMETB is committed to the fair and consistent assessment of learners. Robust assessment procedures are in place in all FET centres. Protocols are in place to ensure the integrity of the assessment process in line with award standards; the preparation and distribution of assessment instruments, the provision of assessment related information to learners, the conduct of assessment, the consistency of assessment, assessment appeals and record keeping.

 

Internal Verification

Internal Verifiers are appointed to confirm the completeness and accuracy of the assessment process in line with existing QQI Guidelines. Appointees may be from within the centre/college or external to the centre, but independent of the target programme. Internal Verification (IV) checks that a number of procedures have been carried out in accordance with QA guidelines, such as the correct use of assessment instruments, learner results entered into QQI’s certification system correctly and marks totalled correctly for a sample of learners.

adult writing with a pen and paper

External Authentication

External Authenticators (EA) are appointed to provide independent authoritative confirmation of fair and consistent assessment of learners and to ensure assessment processes have been valid and reliable. EAs are appointed from the National ETBI panel. The role of the EA includes reviewing the IV report to ensure assessment has been carried out in a quality assured manner and to ensure that grades are given in line with national standards for that level.

In order to ensure consistency of approach, LMETB selects EAs from the ETBI directory of EAs, who provide external authentication services to LMETB for a defined period.

 

Results Approval Panel

LMETB Results Approval Panel (RAP) meetings confirm the fairness and consistency of the assessment process and ensure the validity of assessment results. RAP meetings confirm that the assessment of learner evidence and authentication of assessment results have been carried out in line with the LMETB’s commitment to quality assured processes.

RAP meetings are convened prior to each request to QQI for certification and will represent clusters of programmes. Attendance at the RAP meeting must include a minimum of four of the following.

  • Adult Education Officer
  • Internal Verifier
  • Assistant Training Services Manager
  • PLC Principal or Deputy Principal
  • FET Centre Manager/Coordinator
  • Chief Executive
  • Programme Manager
  • PLC Department Head
  • Training Services Manager
  • Senior Training Advisor
  • Director of FET
  • QA Officer
  • TSO & Assistant TSO
  • Subject matter expert
  • Designated observer

The RAP considers the Internal Verification (IV) and External Authentication (EA) reports. The RAP has a responsibility to recommend provisional results for approval, request certification from QQI and propose an agenda for development and improvement, as the need arises. Corrective and preventative measures that emerge are actioned by the centre manager to mitigate risk in the future in line with the centre’s commitment to continuous development and improvement.

A consolidated RAP report is submitted to the Quality Assurance sub-committee for consideration after each QQI submission period. This report outlines the agreed areas of good practice, non-compliance and concern identified at the RAP meetings for that submission period in order to inform and progress the LMETB’s quality improvement agenda.

LMETB is committed to develop a single integrated set of assessment-related policies and procedures. LMETB has approved assessment-related procedures, an integrated RAP Policy and revised IV and EA guidelines.

 

Academic Appeals

Learners have the right to appeal their results for QQI awards, should they not agree with the assessment judgement that has been made. The Learner Appeals process in LMETB is managed at centre/college level. Appeals are reviewed by external subject area expert appeal examiners and in the event that an appeal is upheld, LMETB informs QQI of the amended grade.

Click here to view LMETB’s Assessment Appeals Policy.

 

Non-QQI Assessment Processes

QQI certifies the largest proportion of FET programmes in LMETB. A small number of programmes are certified by City and Guilds, ITEC, ICDL, etc. and LMETB has quality assurance arrangements and agreements in place with these awarding bodies. Based on the new QQI Quality Assurance guidelines, LMETB will incorporate these arrangements, as well as unaccredited provision, in the development of new quality assurance policies and procedures. Oversight of all assessment processes, regardless of the awarding body, is managed at ETB-level.

 

Assessment Regulations

In June 2019, LMETB adapted the following assessment procedures from the work carried out by the ETBI National Assessment Working Group. In September 2021, these procedures were reviewed, changes were made, and these revisions approved by the QAGMC.

These common assessment policies and regulations will form part of our Learner Assessment Handbook when it has also been developed. Click on the links below to access the new policies and regulations :

    For more information

    FET Quality Assurance Office

    FET Centre, Chapel St, Dundalk,
    Co. Louth, A91 C7D8

    Email: qualityassurance@lmetb.ie