ACADEMIC QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010
Section A: Committee Membership and Attendance
1. Membership and attendance 2009-10
(a) Name (attendance in brackets)
Dr Frank McMahon, Director of Academic Affairs (5)
Dr Neil Andrews, School of Hospitality Management & Tourism (2)
Dr Paula Bourke, Head of Learning Development, Faculty of Tourism & Food (3)
Mr Paul Bourke, Head of Learning Development, Faculty of Science (5)
Dr Brian Bowe, Head of Learning Development, Faculty of Engineering (4)
Ms Jan Cairns, Quality Assurance Officer (5)
Dr Phillip Cohen, Head of Library Services (5)
Ms Martina Crehan, Learning and Teaching Technology Centre (4)
Ms Ann Curran, School of Art, Design & Printing (0)
Ms Deirdre Duffy, DITSU representative (1)
Ms Tracey Flinter, DITSU representative (2)
Mr Bill Grimson, Academic Affairs (4)
Mr Damien Gallanagh, Faculty Administrator, Faculty of the Built Environment (1)
Ms Marie Jose Gonzalez (1)
Mr Chris Hills, School of Mathematical Sciences (5)
Mr Garrett Keenaghan, School of Construction (1)
Ms Jen Jordan, DITSU representative (2)
Mr Mark McGrath, School of Manufacturing and Design Engineering (4)
Dr Mary McNamara, Research & Enterprise (2)
Dr Michael Mulvey, Director & Dean, Faculty of Tourism & Food (0)
Ms Roisin Murphy, School of Real Estate and Construction Economics (0)
Ms. Nicole O’Neill, Qualilty Assurance Officer (5)
Dr Mary Prendergast, School of Management (5)
Ms Catherine Barry Ryan, School of Food Science and Environmental Health (4)
Ms Lejla Rovcanin, School of Electronic and Communications Engineering (4)
Ms Mary Scally, Director of Student & Academic Affairs (5)
Ms Kate Uí Ghallachóir, School of Marketing (5)
Dr Kate Younger, School of Biological Sciences (5)
2. Schedule of Meetings 2009/2010
The Academic Quality Assurance Committee met on 5 occasions during the year:
· 21 September 2009
· 23 November 2009
· 18 January 2010
· 1 March 2010
· 31 May 2010
SECTION B: BUSINESS TRANSACTED
The following Validation/Review Panels were appointed:
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
xii
xiii
xiv
xv
xvi
xvii
xviii
xix
xx
xxi / BEngTech Automotive Technology and Diagnostics
Higher Certificate in Computing & Postgraduate Certificate in Software Development
PgDip in Advertising and Digital Communication
BEngTech in Electrical Services Engineering
PgCert/PgDip/MA in Third Level Learning & Teaching
BA (Hons) in International Tourism and Languages
BA (Hons) in International Business & Languages
PgDip/MSc in International Business Development
BA in Visual & Critical Studies
BA in Social Care (Older People)
BSc in Architecture/Master of Architecture/Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture
BEngTech in Fire Engineering
MSc in Sustainability, Technology and Innovation
BSc in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
PgDip in Management & Marketing
BSc in Human Resource Management
BSc in Global Business and Management
BTech in Construction Site Management
MSc in Computing (Data Analytics)
MSc in Construction Informatics
2. / Reports from Validation/Review Panels
The following Validation/Review Panels’ reports were adopted by the Committee:
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
xii
xiii
xiv
xv
xvi
xvii
xviii
xix
xx
xxi
xxii
xxiii
xxiv / Higher Certificate in Computing (RPL option)/Postgraduate Certificate in Software Development
Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Process Technology
BEng Tech in Automotive Management and Technology (including Appendix in relation to reconvened Review Event)
Structured PhD framework & Response of the Programme Development Team
BEng Tech in Automotive Technology and Diagnostics
BA (Hons) in Print and Digital Media Technology Management
BA (Hons) in Creative and Cultural Industries
PgDip in Third Level Learning & Teaching
BEngTech in Military Aviation Technology
BEngTech in Aviation Technology
PgDip in Advertising and Digital Communication
MSc in International Business Development
BA (Hons) in Languages and International Tourism
BSc in Property and Facilities Management
MSc in Sustainability, Technology and Innovation
BEngTech (f/t & P/t)/HCert ((p/t) in Electrical Services Engineering
BSc (Hons) in Architecture/Master of Architecture/Professional Diploma in Architectural Practice
BA (Hons) in International Business and Languages
BA (Hons) in Visual and Critical Studies
PgDip in Management and Marketing
BA in Social Care Practice (Older People)
BSc (Hons) in Bio-molecular Science
BSc (Hons) in Human Resource Management
BEngTech in Fire Engineering
3. / Appointment of School Review Panels
The following School Review Panels were appointed:
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x / School of Media
Civil and Building Services Engineering
Construction
Electrical Engineering Systems
Real Estate and Construction Economics
Accounting & Finance
Graduate Business School
Art, Design & Printing
Physics
Management
4. / School Review Reports
The following School Review reports were adopted by the Committee:
i
ii
iii
iv / School of Social Sciences and Law
School of Food Science and Environmental Health
School of Media
School of Art, Design and Printing
5. / School Review Responses
The following responses to School Review reports were adopted by the Committee:
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi / School of Hospitality Management & Tourism (Progress Report)
Social Sciences and Law
School of Languages
School of Electronics and Communications Engineering
School of Manufacturing & Design Engineering
School of Mathematics
School of Spatial Planning (Progress Report)
School of Food Science and Environmental Health
School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
Conservatory of Music & Drama (Progress Report)
Dublin School of Architecture (Progress Report)
6. / Request for a deferral of a School Review
The Committee noted and approved a request from the School of Physics to defer their School Review until the 2010/2011 academic year.
The Committee approved the requests to defer the School Reviews in the School of Civil and Building Services Engineering and the School of Construction which were scheduled to take place in the 2009/10 academic year. It was agreed that the approval is conditional on documentation for both School Reviews being received in the Office of the Academic Registrar by 18 June with a view to holding the events in September 2010.
7. / Faculty of Tourism & Food – Update on Faculty Response to Report of Faculty Review Panel
The Committee noted the Update on the Faculty Response to Report of Faculty Review Panel in the Faculty of Tourism & Food.
8. / Department/Unit Reviews
(a) / Appointment of Departments/Units Review Panels
Library Services
(b) / Report of Departments/Units Review Panels
Library Services
9. / Partnership Agreements
(a) / Appointment of Accreditation/Validation Panels
The Committee, in addressing requests in relation to initiating Institute procedures in respect of proposed partnership arrangements between the Institute and the following external organizations, appointed the following Accreditation Panels:
National Ambulance Service College - Health Services Executive
Pharos University, Alexandria (PUA), Egypt
Irish Property and Facility Management Association (IPFMA)
Bord Gáis Networks
Engineers Ireland
Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI)
Brighton & Bristol Institute of Modern Music (BIMM)
(b) / Reports of Accreditation/Validation Panels
Pharos University, Alexandria (PUA), Egypt
The Committee adopted the Panel’s interim report in respect of the Accreditation of Pharos University, Alexandria (PUA), Egypt, as a suitable partner with which the Institute may collaborate and the validation of the BSc (Hons) in Business & Management to be offered at Pharos University.
10. / School Review – Resolution of Common issues
The Committee noted the document outlining the recommendations which have arisen from the School Review process and the common issues which have arisen in more than one School review, such as: space/facilities, equipment/laboratories, library resources, staffing/human resources, support to develop research, administrative support, information services/IT support and CPD provision.
It was noted that the common issues listed are outside of the School’s remit to address.
The request that the Committee propose a process which will best facilitate the Schools and Institute to have these recommendations further considered and actions taken were feasible was noted.
It was agreed that the document should be summarised before forwarding it to Directorate, which has a review and monitoring role in terms of follow-through. It was reported that in some cases resource issues which have been reported to the Directorate have not been resolved and that there may be a blockage in the system which should be addressed.
11. / Policy in relation to the nomination of External Assessors
Following discussion it was agreed that the Institute would operate the following approach to the nomination of external assessors:
i / Faculties/Colleges would be requested to provide nominations to a listing of external assessors that may be used to review their School/programmes and the Committee would select individuals for each review from the list.
ii / Where the above list is insufficient units under review may nominate external reviewers for a specific review but should nominate at least twice the number of assessors required and the Committee will select the assessors to be used.
iii / The Institute will continue discussions with the NQAI on the possibilities of developing a national database of assessors.
12. / Procedures where it is necessary to modify programmes due to resource issues – as approved at Academic Council on 24 June 2009
The Committee noted the document Procedures where it is necessary to modify programmes due to resource issues which was adopted in principle for a period of three months at Academic Council on 24 June 2009.
It was noted that the procedures address the modification of approved programmes as a result of a moratorium in staff appointments in the context of the current national economic situation.
It was also noted that whilst a flexible approach to the modification of programmes is necessary it was agreed that such flexibility should not compromise the integrity of the Institute’s programmes or its quality assurance procedures.
The Chairman reported that since the meeting of Academic Council in June negotiations have taken place involving the Department of Finance and the HEA resulting in a reduction in potential staffing losses from 13% to 3% and that the above procedures have not been implemented to date.
13. / Student Feedback
There was some discussion regarding the lack of progress in relation to the development of a transparent Institute-wide system of student feedback and the unresolved impasse with the staff representative body with regard to the development of electronic forms. It was noted that this issue is not unique to DIT and is also unresolved at national level.
It was noted that at its meeting on 4 November 2009 Academic Council agreed that the Q6C ‘Programme Survey Questionnaire’ should be used to capture the student feedback on a programme basis. This is in addition to the Q6A forms distributed by lecturers which are necessary to complete the Annual Monitoring (Q5) process.
It was further agreed by Council that the Q6C form should be made available for electronic submission by students using ‘Webcourses’ software to be implemented in the current academic year.
14. / Placing of CPD awards on the NFQ framework
The Committee noted the document in relation to the list of non-major awards in the Institute and their corresponding NFQ level, which was requested by the NQAI.
It was noted that programmes/courses attracting at least 5 ECTS credits will be included in the list initially but that this may be revised upwards on receipt of clarification from the NQAI regarding the minimum level of ECTS credits of programmes/courses to be placed on the framework.
There was some discussion in relation to the difficulty regarding the placing of modules which are delivered as part of a number of programmes which sit at different levels on the framework. It was agreed that the level assigned to such modules should refer to the CPD award only and not to modules within a particular programme.
15. / Request to include representation from the Directorate of Research and Enterprise on the Committee
The Committee noted and approved the request in relation to the inclusion of a Directorate of Research and Enterprise representative on the Academic Quality Assurance Committee. In this context it was agreed that Dr Mary McNamara, Head of Graduate Research Programmes, should be co-opted as a member of the Committee.
16. / New short course proposals
The Committee noted the approval of the Colleges in respect of the following short course proposals:
Directorate of Academic Affairs
Formative Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education (10 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
College of Arts & Tourism
Advocacy Practice Training for Information Providers (10 ECTS credits at level 7)
Financial Control (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 7)
Prepress for non-Prepress staff (10 ECTS credits at NFQ level 7)
Drug Use in Society: Problems, Policies and Approaches (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 8)
An Introduction to Marketing for the Print and Packaging Industry (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 7)
Children’s Rights and Journalism (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
Children’s Rights and Journalism - Professional Journalism Practice (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
Children’s Rights and Journalism Practice (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
Gender, Sexuality and the Law: Contemporary Legal Issues (10 ECTS credits at NFQ level 8)
College of Engineering and the Built Environment
eBusiness in Construction (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
Land Surveying 1 (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
Land Surveying 2 (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
Project Design – Health & Safety (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 9)
Operate in a Controlled Clean Room Environment (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
Operate Cleaning and Sterilisation Systems (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
College of Business
National Procurement (20 ECTS credits at NFQ level 7)
College of Sciences and Health
(All 5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 7)
Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technologies
Commissioning & Qualifications of Equipment and Systems
Chemistry for APIs
Mathematics & Statistics for Medicinal Products
Pharmaceutical Facility Design
Information Systems, Control and Automation
Planning a Validation Strategy
Physical Chemistry for Industry Process
Process Development and Technology Transfer
From URS to PQ – A Practical Validation Strategy
Validation of Analytical Techniques
Design & Operation of Clean Rooms
Design & Operation of Water, Steam and Cleaning Systems
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Unit Operations
Physiology and Pharmacology
Quality Management System
Pharmaceutical Microbiology (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
Operate in a Controlled Clean Room Environment (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
Operate Cleaning and Sterilisation Systems (5 ECTS credits at NFQ level 6)
17. / Discontinuation of BSc (Hons) in Printing Management
The Committee noted the correspondence advising that the BSc (Hons) in Printing Management is discontinued.
The Chairperson informed the meeting that the HEA Report uses information contained in Banner and that programmes that are no longer running need to be deleted from Banner. It was noted that a formal mechanism is required to ensure that programmes which are discontinued are deleted from Banner. It was also noted that a proposal to re-instate the Q8 Proposal to discontinue a Programme form was recently approved by Directorate.
18. / Minor amendments
Minor amendments in respect of the Colleges were approved.
19. / Change of programme title
From:
To: / MSc in Environmental Health and Safety Management
MSc in Environmental Health and Safety
20. / Annual report to the NQAI 2008/09 & NQAI Response
(a) / Annual report to the NQAI in relation to the Institute’s quality assurance/enhancement procedures 2008/09
The Committee noted the Annual Report to the NQAI in relation to the Institute’s quality assurance /enhancement procedures 2008/09.
(b) / NQAI Response to Institute’s Annual Report 2008/09
The Committee noted the NQAI response to the Institute’s Annual Report, 2008/09.
It was noted that although the NQAI response was generally favourable, a number of recommendations were made towards enhancing the Institute’s quality assurance processes.
The NQAI indicated that it was satisfied with the operation of the Institute’s quality assurance procedures and in particular the number of School reviews completed and the quality of reports and School responses was commended.
It was noted that a document detailing how the various actions arising from the recommendations included in the NQAI response will be discharged will be brought forward to future meetings of Academic Council and Directorate.
There was some discussion in relation to student feedback and the importance of progress in this matter particularly in light of the Institute Review which is likely to be held in the next academic year. The Chairman stated that some progress has been made and that that emphasis is being placed this year on completion of a web based version of the Q6C Progamme Surveys.
21. / Action Plan arising from the recommendations included in the NQAI response to the Institute’s Annual Report to the NQAI 2008/09
The Committee noted the contents of the document Action Plan arising from the recommendations included in the NQAI response to the Institute’s Annual Report to the NQAI 2008/09 which was considered at the recent meeting of Academic Council and by Directorate.
22. / Draft Revised Handbook for Academic Quality Enhancement
It was noted that the draft revised Handbook for Academic Quality Enhancement (Edition III)
will be brought forward for adoption by Academic Council at its meeting on 25 June to enable full implementation of the Handbook from the commencement of the 2010/11 academic year.
It was noted that the three separate priorities for the revised document were identified as student feedback, annual programme monitoring, and follow-through on recommendations of Review Panels.
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