Review Report
College of Engineering & Informatics
06/02/2012
Reviewers
Mr Frank Burke, Business Development Manager, ESB-Electric Ireland Energy Services (Chair)
Prof. Mike Hounslow, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sheffield
Prof. Charles McCorkell, Professor Emeritus, School of Engineering, DCU
Mr Conor Healy, Students’ Union Vice-president/Education Officer, NUI Galway
Dr Emer Mulligan, Head of School, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, NUI Galway
Dr Mark Lang, Head of School, School of Physics, NUI Galway (Coordinator)
Key Strengths
• The dynamism, enthusiasm and engagement of undergraduate, postgraduate and former students, all of
whom spoke with clarity on the value of education at NUIG.
• The commitment shown by staff – academic, administrative and technical - to the academic mission of
the College who in each case demonstrate their capacity to deliver and support high quality teaching and
research despite the often adverse circumstances that they report.
• The outstanding New Engineering Building, which not only provides first-rate accommodation but is
already demonstrating a capacity to bring the Engineering & Informatics community at NUIG together.
• The significant growth in research publication and PhD student numbers across the College.
• The high-volume of research conducted in DERI and NFB.
• The success of the undenominated programme including the role it plays in maintaining overall student
numbers in the face of fluctuating demand.
• The clear focus on strategic leadership by the Dean and Vice Deans.
Key Recommendations
1. As a matter of urgency the two vacant professorial posts should be filled.
2. The College brings forward a prioritized academic case for phased investment in capital equipment over
the next three to five years to bring the new laboratory facilities up to the standard of the building and so
that of the best international competitors.
3. The University reflect on whether there is sufficient authority and resources devolved to the College to
empower their members.
4. The University and College explain to staff how growth and success lead to increased resources for
re-investment in further growth and success.
5. The College develops a view of itself in an international context.
6. The University review and remedy the incapacity of its administrative processes and systems to support
the College.
7. A review of administrative support within the College be conducted, in the context of likely staff
numbers, to adapt it to the changed and pressing needs articulated by academic and administrative staff
particularly (1) provision of local expertise in administrative processes,
(2) research, (3) support for Academic Staff, Programme Directors, Heads of Discipline and the College
Executive, (4) professional marketing.
8. The absence of DERI and NFB from the academic life of the College be rectified.
9. The College pursues its plans for meeting Bologna requirements for professional accreditation and in so
doing increase postgraduate taught provision (particularly in connection with overseas students).
10. The College add to its operational plan actions to increase the number of female students, to nurture
and encourage female academic staff and to ensure gender representation at Executive level.
Other Recommendations
1. The Disciplines develop and articulate strategies for how they support research.
2. The College should document (1) the roles, (2) accountabilities, (3) tenure and (4) appointment process
for (a) Heads of Discipline and (b) Programme Directors. These are key roles and demand recognition.
3. All Disciplines in the College should ensure that taught postgraduate provision is fully integrated into
the core of Discipline business.
4. The College should pursue opportunities in CPD and Executive Education.
5. The College conducts a thorough benchmarking activity against an international competitor and at least
three national competitors.
6. The deployment of technicians be reviewed paying attention to synergies possible in the new building
and, following international practice, increasing their number by means of external research income.
7. Document and publicize the method by which feedback from students on modules and programmes is
collected, analysed and used to improve teaching.
8. The College incorporates postgraduate students and post-doctoral research staff into its structures at
Discipline level.
9. The College ensure that members not housed in the New Engineering Building (particularly in
Informatics) be properly incorporated into social and academic activities.
10. The College ensure that its use of bachelors-level modules in masters-level programmes is acceptable.
11. The College explores with the School of Mathematics Statistics & Applied Mathematics further
initiatives to deal with changed mathematical preparation of students entering the College.
Comments on Review Process
• The arrangements to support the Panel by both the Quality Office and the College of Engineering &
Informatics were exemplary.
National University of Ireland, Galway
Review Programme 2011/2012
Action Plan
College of Engineering and Informatics
Follow-up meeting held on Thursday, 3rd May at 9.30 in ENG-3052 Boardroom, Engineering Building
Present
Representing the College: Prof Gerard Lyons (Dean), Ms Nora Murphy, Dr Edward Jones, Mr Gerry Hynes,
Mr Aodh Dalton, Dr Brian Wall (DERI), Dr Laoise McNamara, Prof Sean Leen, Dr Piaras ó hEachteirn, Dr
Kathyrn Cormican, Dr Michael Madden.
From Review Group: Dr Emer Mulligan, Dr Mark Lang (Coordinator)
From NUI Galway: Dr David O’Sullivan (Chair), Prof Nollaig Mac Congáil (Registrar and Deputy President),
Prof Chris Curtin (VP Performance and Innovation), Ms Orla Baxter (Research Office), Dr Iain Mac
Labhrainn (Director, CELT), Ms Maureen Linnane (Quality Office)
Apology
Mr Michael Kavanagh (Academic Secretary)
Actions for the College
1. Develop a prioritized phased investment plan for capital equipment over the next three to five
years.
2. Pursue strategy and actions for enhancing internationalisation of the College.
3. Pursue plans for meeting Bologna requirements for professional accreditation and increase
postgraduate taught provision (particularly in connection with overseas students).
4. Formalise existing forum for Administrative staff by incorporating these meetings into the
schedule of subcommittee and other working group meetings held in advance of each College
Board meeting.
5. Encourage and facilitate greater integration of DERI and NFB within the College.
6. Encourage and facilitate integrated social and academic activities among staffs housed in various
locations on campus.
7. Promote measures to increase numbers of female students, and promote and encourage greater
participation by female staff in leadership positions, while recognising the inherent gender balance
in the Engineering & Informatics professions.
8. Document the roles, accountabilities, tenure and appointment process for Heads of Discipline and
Programme Directors. Disciplines will ensure that taught postgraduate provision is fully
integrated into the core of Discipline business.
9. Pursue opportunities in Continuous Professional Development and Executive Education, within the
context of the College’s overall teaching and learning mission.
10. Conduct a thorough benchmarking activity against an international and national competitors.
11. Review technician deployment with respect to synergies within the new building and, following
international practice, increasing their number by means of external research income.
12. In the context of University policy on student feedback on modules and programmes, ensure
mechanisms are in place for informing students about issues that arise from such feedback, and
corresponding actions taken.
13. Incorporate postgraduate students and post-doctoral research staff into College structures at
Discipline level.
14. Work with the School of Mathematics, Statistics & Applied Mathematics on initiatives to deal with
changed mathematical preparation of students entering the College.
15. Continue to develop and articulate strategies for how disciplines support research.
16. Seek opportunities to extend and enhance the College’s offerings in online education.
Actions for University
1.
2.
3.
4.
Two vacant professorial posts will be filled as a matter or urgency.
Devolve sufficient authority and resources to the College to empower College members.
Communicate to staff how growth and success leads to increased resources.
Work with the College to review and remedy the incapacity of University administrative processes
and systems to support the College.
Approved by:
Registrar and Deputy President, Professor Nollaig Mac Congáil
Dean of College, Professor Gerard Lyons
Director of Quality, Dr David O’Sullivan
Finalised:
June 2012