An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2008­2009 Report to Údarás na hOllscoile Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology Self­Assessment Review Group Visit Follow Up Meeting December 2008 2 – 3 February 2009 27 th April 2009 nd rd This Report was compiled for members of Údarás na hOllscoile, NUI Galway and its committees as a readily accessible but comprehensive source of information on the above review, its context and its outcomes. Quality Office, September 2009
Report to Údaras – Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology 2008­09 2 1. Overview of the Programme 1.1 Aims and Objectives Aims This programme aims to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and experience that are needed to pursue a successful career in biotechnology. Biotechnology focuses on the practical applications of science and refers to the adaptation and application of biological processes for commercial and industrial use. The investigative, preparative and analytical scientific techniques that are the foundations of biotechnology are primarily taught via lectures and tutorials. Training in related topics and complementary skills is also provided, e.g. presentation skills. Modules in management, accountancy and business introduce students to these concepts with regard to the implementation of scientific processes and applications in commercial and industrial settings. Practical experience is provided through a 4­month laboratory­based research project. This course would be suitable for graduates with a primary degree in the Biological Sciences who wish to extend their knowledge and skills for a career in the biotechnology sector. Learning Objectives By the end of the programme the students should be able to:
· discuss and analyse a range of biotechnological topics
· evaluate the significance of biotechnology to the general population and to the scientific and business sectors
· understand the relationship between basic research, fundamental scientific principles, biotechnological applications and business
· design, implement, manage and perform laboratory tasks
· · · critically analyse and report scientific data
communicate verbally, visually and in writing on scientific and biotechnological subjects
work in teams
· carry out independent study of biotechnology topics 1.2 Background The M.Sc. Biotechnology degree programme at the National University of Ireland, Galway was established in 1981 by Prof Frank Gannon (the University was then known as University College Galway) and was one of the first of its kind in Ireland. From 1990­1995, it was directed successively by Dr Richard Powell and Dr Tom Barry, and is now directed by Dr Aoife Boyd. To date, there have been more than 200 graduates of the MSc Biotechnology programme. It has consistently been a popular course with application numbers exceeding the number of available places. The programme involves staff from 3 colleges within the University ­ the College of Science, College of Business, Public Policy and Law; and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science ­ reflecting the multidisciplinarity of the programme.
Report to Údaras – Review of MSc Biotechnology 2008­09 3 1.3 Course Development over past 5 years In 2004 a committee was formed to assess the MSc Biotechnology programme and to make recommendations for its modification. The Committee comprised Dr Tom Barry (then Director of the programme), Prof Emer Colleran (then Chair of Microbiology) and Dr Aoife Boyd. The programme underwent renewal for the 2005­2006 academic year. The aim of the renewal was to make the course more applicable to today's biotechnology industry and thereby improve the preparation of students entering biotechnology careers. The modifications converted the programme from a two­year to a one­year 90 ECTS programme in line with other MSc programmes at NUI, Galway. It was hoped that offering a programme of shorter duration (and therefore also of less cost to the students) would increase the attractiveness of the course to potential applicants. This has been shown by the steady increase in the number of applicants since then. Formerly there had been an industrial placement component to the course which aided in the placement of students into jobs after completion of the programme. This placement was removed for 3 reasons: 1) it was felt to be now largely redundant due to increases in the availability of jobs in the biotechnology sector at that time; 2) difficulties associated with finding suitable placements for all students and 3) inability to include a placement within the 12 month time frame of the programme. Two new modules were introduced "Protein Technology" and "Introduction to Biotechnology" and new topics on industrial applications were added to the "Genetic Technology" module (see programme content in Table 1). Dr Aoife Boyd has been programme director since 2005. We have been in regular contact with the International Affairs Office to facilitate the recruitment of international students into this programme. Numbers of students originating from outside the Republic of Ireland have risen from 1 to 3 over the past 3 years with students from India, Romania, Ethiopia, USA and UK. The diversity of students adds significantly to the experiences of all the class. Programme information is increasingly provided in written format for the benefit of students from different educational systems, rather than relying on verbal communication. English Language Workshops are organised by the International Affairs Office to help perfect scientific and technical English usage. In September 2006 a part­time MSc Biotechnology programme was introduced. There is a shortage of available part­time MSc science programmes in Ireland. These are often of interest to people in employment who wish to add to their qualifications in order to improve their job prospects. This course was expected to be of interest especially to the technical staff in the university. Teaching/learning/assessment methodologies and technologies are assessed on an ongoing basis for suitability on the MSc Biotechnology programme with regard constructive alignment of learning objectives, assessment methods and teaching activities. For example enquiry­based learning tasks, student presentations and small group discussions are all included. The Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment has been introduced and is a familiar tool for all aspects of the course. Approximately one third of the programme credits (34 out of 90 ECTS) are assessed by written examination. Continuous assessment and project assignments constitute wholly or partially the evaluation for 3 of the modules and the research project is evaluated on the basis of laboratory performance and the thesis report.
1.4 Student Numbers The number of participants on MSc Biotechnology programme over past 5 years is indicated in Table 1. We have actively retained a maximum quota of ten participants registered on the part­ time and full­time programmes. This is to ensure that we can secure, ensure and provide sufficient numbers of relevant research projects for each student. Table 1. Numbers of students on MSc Biotechnology programme over past 5 years 2003­ 2005 4 2004­ 2006 3 2005­ 2006 2006­ 2007 ­c ­ ­ ­ 5 8 Part­time b ­ ­ ­ 1 (yr 1) Full time 2­year Fulltime 1­year a 2007­ 2008 ­ 2008­ 2009 ­ 9 9 1 (yr 1) 1(yr2) 1(yr2) a Introduced 2005­2006 b Introduced 2006­2007 c ­ designates not applicable 2. Review Group Visit and Report This report arises from a visit by a review team to the M.Sc. Biotechnology on 3 rd February, 2009. The review team consisted of: Dr. Birgit Helm, Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield (Chair); Dr. Sean Doyle, Department of Biology, NUI Maynooth; Professor Paul Murphy, School of Chemistry, NUI Galway; Dr. Ann Hunt, Senior Quality Manager, Medtronic Vascular Galway; and Dr. David O’Sullivan, of the Department of Industrial Engineering, NUI Galway acting as Rapporteur. 2.1 Summary The M.Sc. Biotechnology programme is very well structured, effectively managed and highly regarded among students and academic staff. As evidenced by the quality of the student reports reviewed, the programme attracts well qualified applicants and graduates from the programme were, until the recent economic downturn, successful in finding employment in industry. Key recommendations of the reviewers include the need to develop a greater industrial focus through a number of additional initiatives including invitation of guest lectures, involvement in industrial projects and potential placements in academia and industry in both Ireland and abroad. Other recommendations include the exploration of additional and complementary teaching pedagogies (i.e. distance learning) and collaboration with other Masters programmes to take advantage of synergies and shared resources.
Report to Údaras – Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology 2008­09 5 2.2 Recommendations
· Review how the current budget can be better utilised towards extending the period allocated to laboratory work and to negotiate with the School a mode of changes into the allocation of funds and an increase in work space.
· Continue investigations into how to introduce distance and open learning methods of teaching and engage in collaboration with other University establishments that specialise in distance learning such as the Open Learning Centre and the Atlantic University Alliance.
· Serious consideration should be given as to how industry partners can become actively involved in the design and longer term development of the programme.
· Longer periods for experimental project work should be envisaged. Some proposals from reviewers included (i) industrial placement being considered as a post­programme activity­ to extend the number of laboratory project offerings; (ii) three months of taught courses followed by 8 months project/placement – this could have an industrial element or placement overseas, providing legal and insurance requirements are met. The Erasmus scheme may provide opportunities here.
· Closer integration may be considered across the College to explore synergies ­across Masters Programmes leading to, for example, more shared modules/courses, thus increasing the choice or options of courses for students. Such options are likely to benefit from the introduction of distance and blended learning modes, which would avoid timetable clashes.
· Consideration must be given to discussions within the school to the recruitment of an optimum number of students taking into account various constraints including availability of supervisors/projects, laboratory space, class size and employment opportunities.
· Carry out a review of courses and pedagogies. Some comments from students included the appropriateness of ‘Pharmacology Module’ where Masters Students are taught in classes with younger undergraduates.
· Extension of ‘lecture series’ to include lecturers from members of industrial companies and other related professions which may address issues such as identification of IPR and so on. According to feedback received by the reviewers, visits to industrial plants to observe the “Biotechnology Industry in Operation” are likely to be popular with students.
· Laboratory ‘demonstrators’ should receive appropriate instruction when delivering demonstrations to students to motivate them to impart excitement and curiosity about the topic to students.
· Project reports would benefit from the inclusion of a final section outlining future research not only in terms of experimental design but should also include a business plan incorporating the cost elements of the project work and an ethical review.
· Look for opportunities to expand course content to embrace medical technology industries as appropriate specifically in the area of gene therapy.
Report to Údaras – Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology 2008­09 6 3. Action Plans National University of Ireland, Galway An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil Academic Review Programme 2008 – 2009 M.Sc. in Biotechnology Follow Up Meeting Monday, 27 th April 2009 Environmental Science Seminar Room, Arts Science Building Present: Professor James A Houghton (Chair), Professor James Ward (Registrar), Dr Iain MacLabhrainn (Director of CELT), Dr David O’Sullivan (Review Group Rapporteur), Professor Paul Murphy (Review Group Cognate), Dr Ciaran Morrisson (respresenting the Dean of Science), Professor Vincent O’Flaherty, Dr Aoife Boyd, Dr Conor O’Byrne, Dr Tom Barry, Dr Gerard Fleming, Dr Cyril Carroll, Professor John Patching, Ms Ann Smyth, Dr Majella Maher, Dr Philip Welsby, Mr Paul Mullins in attendance. Apologies: Dr Pat Morgan, Dean of Graduate Studies Action Plan for the Director and Programme Board: 1. The Programme Director will meet with the Head of the School of Natural Sciences to review how the current budget can be better utilised and to negotiate the allocation of funds and an increase in work space. The Dean of Science and The Registrar will be asked for their advice and support of the Programme, as appropriate. 2. Investigations into the introduction of distance and open learning methods of teaching within the context of a new distance learning MSc Biotechnology programme will continue, including investigating the possibility of collaboration with other University establishments such as the Open Learning Centre and the Atlantic University Alliance. The introduction of such a programme will be conditional on: a. appropriate staffing support from within the School of Natural Sciences b. the availability of finances to develop and support distance learning modules, c. the earliest start date for the intake of students will be 2011­12 3. In order to examine the feasibility of distance and open learning teaching, the Programme Director will explore ways of carrying out market research such as: a. requesting funding through FAS; b. requesting that students within the Discipline of Marketing (through the Head of Discipline) carry out this research as part of their project work; or c. requesting nominal funding from the Quality Office for a preliminary desk study. 4. Serious consideration will be given to examining how industry partners can become actively involved in the design and long­term development of the programme. ‘An Industry Advisory Group’ including a Stakeholder Panel representing a range of biotechnology industries will be established within the next 12 months.
Report to Údaras – Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology 2008­09 7 5. The Curriculum Review Committee (CRC) will meet during Summer 2009 to review the following: a. the possibility of industry­based and/or overseas projects with the identification and organisation of such project possibilities at the individual student's discretion. b. the introduction of a more independent aspect to practical sessions during Semester 2. 6. The next Curriculum Review Committee (CRC) meeting will carry out a review of courses and pedagogies, and this will include consideration of the appropriateness of the modules where Masters Students are taught in classes with undergraduates. 7. The ‘Industry Advisory Group’ will act to identify members of industrial companies and other related professions who would give talks to the students, for example on the topic of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and who could host, coordinated site visits to industrial plants – to observe the “Biotechnology Industry in Operation”. 8. The CRC meeting due to take place within the next 6 months will consider the inclusion in the project reports of a final section outlining future research plans. This may not only describe experimental design but could also include a business plan incorporating the cost elements of the project work and an ethical review. 9. Given adequate resources, at its next meeting, the CRC will look at the appropriateness of expanding course content to embrace medical technology industries, for example in the area of gene therapy. a. The ‘Industry Advisory Group’ will help identify contacts in this area. b. The possibility of including modules with related content offered by other M.Sc. programmes in the University will also be examined. Action Plan for the Discipline of Microbiology: 1. The Head of the Discipline will meet with the Director of Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and with the Dean of Graduate Studies to establish whether relevant training for new laboratory demonstrators can be provided which will motivate students to impart excitement and curiosity about topics being demonstrated. If possible, it is intended that these laboratory demonstrators will be trained before January 2010. Action Plan for the School of Natural Sciences: 1. The Head of School will facilitate the Programme Board to ensure that appropriate stakeholders are approached and asked to become members of the Industry Advisory Group. 2. The Head of School will work with the Programme Director to recruit an optimum number of students for this programme: taking into account the various constraints including availability of supervisors/projects, laboratory space, class size and employment opportunities. Action Plan for the College of Science: 1. The Dean, supported by Heads of Schools, with the assistance of the College Subcommittee on Research and Graduate Education, will initiate a M.Sc. Programme Working Group, composed of the MSc programme directors, within the next 12 months to increase the integration of M.Sc. programmes across the College of Science. This initiative could progres towards a University­wide initiative in the near future.
Report to Údaras – Review of M.Sc. Biotechnology 2008­09 8 2. The Dean and the M.Sc. Programme Working Group, with the assistance of the College Subcommittee on Research and Graduate Education, will explore opportunities for closer integration across Masters Programmes. This could lead, for example, to more shared modules/courses which would increase the choice or options of courses for students. Such options will benefit from the introduction of distance and blended learning modes, by avoiding timetable clashes in the College of Science. 3. The Dean will work with the Head of Discipline of Microbiology, the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and the Dean of Graduate Studies to establish if it will be possible to initiate a programme for the improved training of laboratory demonstrators in the College of Science. Action Plan for University Management: 1. The Registrar acknowledged that for the distance learning initiative to be successful, additional staff and additional resources, including funding, would be required. In this respect, The Registrar invites the Programme Board to submit a business proposal including market research which highlights the resources required at each stage of the process. This will then be submitted to UMT for support. Approved by: Course Director, Dr Aoife Boyd, 8th July 2009 Approved by: Head of Discipline of Microbiology, Professor Vincent O’Flaherty, 31 st August 2009 Approved by: Head of School of Natural Sciences, Dr Heinz­Peter Nasheuer, 3 rd September 2009 Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr Gerry Morgan, 13 th July 2009 Approved by: Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr Pat Morgan, 3 rd September 2009 Approved by: Registrar, Professor Jim Ward, 12 th August 2009 Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr. Iain MacLabhrainn, 31 st August 2009 Approved by: Director of Human Resources, Mr Chris McNairney, 12 th August 2009 Approved by: VP for the Student Experience, Ms Mary O’Riordan, 9 th July 2009 Professor James A Houghton Director of Quality 11 th September 2009