Fagdommer

Fagdommer is a term used in Danish-language contexts to denote a judge with specialized expertise within a particular field who evaluates participants' performance in competitions, exams, or accreditation processes. The core role is to apply predefined criteria to judge quality and compliance, ensuring fairness and consistency in scoring.

Fagdommere are typically members of a judging panel or work individually depending on the format. They must have recognized qualifications or significant professional experience in the subject area, and they often undergo formal training in assessment methods, rubric use, and calibration to align scoring across judges. They are required to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves when appropriate.

In practice, fagdommere assess based on objective criteria such as technical accuracy, creativity, process, safety, or adherence to standards, depending on the field. Feedback to participants is common and may be confidential or released publicly after the competition or examination.

Ethics and governance: judges are expected to maintain impartiality, confidentiality, and respect for participants. Many organizations publish codes of conduct and provide recourse in case of disputes or perceived bias. The role is distinct from that of general referees in sports, as it relies more on subject-specific expertise than on game rules alone.

Challenges include maintaining up-to-date knowledge in fast-changing fields, avoiding bias, and handling high-stakes outcomes. Some formats employ blind or anonymized submissions, double scoring, or external moderation to enhance reliability.

See also: jury, dommer, assessment criteria, scoring rubric.