The sitting of examinations by existing members of the Garda on courses held under the auspices of the Garda College is conducted through in-house training structures. Examinations are conducted by way of continuous assessment and final examinations where prescribed standards of competency or expertise require certification. The assessment and examination methods used are selected on the basis of their utility in determining or establishing the level of competence/skill/expertise required by members undergoing the examinations.
Examinations form part of the training programme and are set by the course directors against the prescribed learning outcomes and training objectives. Members who are required to undergo examinations as part of their training programmes are fully informed of the examination arrangements, procedures and qualifying standards.
For members of officer rank completing the bachelor of arts degree in police management, the sitting of examinations is arranged by management and supervisory training at the Garda College. The examinations, which include elements of continuous assessment and written examinations on the completion of each semester, are included in the course structures and are conducted in-house according to Garda College regulations. They are set by lecturing staff, including lecturers who are external to the Garda Síochána, against the prescribed learning outcomes for the particular subject/study area. The examination regulations provide for the review, re-check and re-sitting of examinations and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council approves the outcome of the examination process.
The supervision and correction of examinations by existing members of the Garda on courses held under the auspices of the Garda College is conducted in-house. Where continuous assessment exercises form part of the examinations they are supervised by training personnel. Examinations conducted on the completion of training are supervised and invigilated by in-house training staff. The correction of examinations is carried out against set answer criteria prepared by training staff from within the respective area of training.
The correction of examinations which lead to the award of the bachelor of arts degree in police management is carried out against set answer criteria prepared by course lecturers and the process is approved by examiners external to the Garda Síochána.