An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2006-2007
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of Biochemistry
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
January to March 2007
21st-22nd March, 2007
2nd July 2007
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, July 2007
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Biochemistry
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims
The aims of the Department are five-fold, covering the areas of:
 Teaching and Learning
 Research
 Contribution to the wider Community
 Contribution to the University
 Staff Development
The over-arching goal of the Department is to achieve excellence in both teaching and research.
In doing so, they hope to achieve the objective of producing undergraduates, postgraduates and
highly trained researchers of world-class standards. The aim of the Department is to become not
only the leading Department of Biochemistry in Ireland but also one that is internationally
respected.
1.2 Background
The Department of Biochemistry was introduced as a separate discipline at NUI Galway in
1963, and this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of its first honours graduates in 1967.
Currently, the Department is in a state of flux characterized by considerable growth, particularly
in research.
1.3 Progress since last review
Arising from the last Quality review, several issues of prime importance to the future of the
department were raised. As the Department has always delivered, and continues to deliver, a
high quality undergraduate education, the most critical issue was the research standing of the
Department. Therefore, during the current review period the goals for the department, led by the
Head of Department, included the following in order of priority:
 Raise the research profile of the Department
 Recruit and retain academic staff of the highest international standing
 Establish a priority research area aligned with the University’s strategic plans
 Upgrade the equipment to support research within the Department
 Improve the physical infrastructure of the Department
 Increase the number of postgraduate students and recruit more students from outside the
University
 Consolidate undergraduate programmes
 Provide more protected time for research by reducing teaching loads
 Recruit staff, outside the standard academic grades, to support undergraduate teaching
(Experimental Officer & University Teacher)
Changes and progress achieved based on recommendations in the last review (28th-30th March
2001) include an increase in the number of full-time permanent academic staff since 2001,
including the appointment of an SFI-funded principal investigator and two SFI-funded
professorships. Perhaps the most marked increase can be seen in the numbers of post
doctoral/senior scientist researchers and postgraduate students since 2001. In addition, the total
amount of research funds awarded to staff in the department in the period 2001-present is in
excess of €22 million in comparison with a total of €2.08 million for the period 1996-2000.
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1.4 Student Numbers
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department was 280.2 in the year
2004/2005, representing an increase of 18% in the three years since 2001-2002.
1.5 Students to Staff Ratios
In 2004-2005, the number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) academic staff in the Department of
Biochemistry was 12.3, giving a students-to-staff ratio of 22.8. (This ratio was 27.3 in 2001-02.)
For the same academic year, in the Faculty of Science the average ratio was 20.6.
1.6 Accommodation and Facilities
The Department is located in the section the Arts/Science building completed in 1973 and in an
extension completed in about 2000. Some personnel use space and facilities in the National
Centre for Biomedical Engineering.
2. Review Group Report Overview and Recommendations
This report arises from a visit by a review group to the Department of Biochemistry on 21st/22nd March
2007. The Department had already prepared and submitted a 'Self Assessment Report' that, with other
documentation, was made available to the Group in advance of the visit.
The Review Group consisted of: Professor Clive Williams, School of Biochemistry and Immunology,
Trinity College Dublin (Chair); Professor Ten Feizi, Glycosciences Laboratory, Imperial College
London; Dr Liam Donnelly, Director, Moorepark Dairy Production Reseach Centre, Teagasc; Professor
Peter Dockery, Department of Anatomy, NUI Galway; and Dr. David O’Sullivan of the CFA acting as
rapporteur.
2.1 Summary and Main Recommendations from Review Group Report
Summary
The Biochemistry Department has made major improvements since the last review in 2001.
These are evident in the scale and quality of research, in academic recruitment and in
improvement/upgrading of research facilities and reflect a strong and positive leadership in
recent years. Improvements in research have, to some extent, reduced teaching quality — views
expressed by some staff and students — by diverting academic time away from teaching duties
and by narrowing the focus of academic interest. The highly concentrated nature of the research
expansion has meant that not all staff have shared in these improvements. There is a feeling of
lack of consultation and collegiality in decision making. Nonetheless, staff are enthusiastic and
highly motivated.
The challenge for the future is to continue the process of improvement in research quality
and output through the strategy of clustering, but from a broader scientific base and using all
opportunities, internally and externally to build critical mass. A further challenge is to copperfasten the discipline of Biochemistry as the core discipline of the new School of Biological
Sciences and as a relevant subject for students interested in a wide range of biochemistry-related
employments.
The Department has moved a considerable way to establishing its position in competitive
science and must set high targets to complete the journey in the immediate years ahead. It is now
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extremely timely for the Department to embark, as a matter of urgency, on a new strategic plan
to address these challenges and to grasp the opportunities that are open to it.
Main Recommendations
 Development of a Strategic Plan for the period 2007-2010
 The Departmental Management Committee should be reconstituted and be fully representative
of all Department constituencies and should be responsible for implementation of the new
Strategic Plan.
 More administrative support for organisation of teaching activities is essential.
 More attention must be given to Health and Safety issues in the department in view of the
variety and heterogeneity of the population within the laboratories.
 A more formal review of teaching by the departmental teaching Committee and a policy of
translation of research into research-led teaching.
 Department should pursue its stated aim of prioritising research areas, encouraging staff to
cluster both inside and outside the Department, e.g. on genome stability, developmental
biology, programmed cell death (apoptosis) glyco-biotechnology, protein biochemistry.
 Department should work with the University to maximise space quality and to provide
sufficient space in a timely manner to support the next phase of research expansion.
 The University should create a better promotional structure and other incentives to further
improve the technical staff support for teaching and research.
3. Action Plans
Follow-up Meeting, 11.30 h Monday 2nd July 2006
Biochemistry Seminar Room, Arts/Science Building.
Present: Professor J Browne – Registrar, Professor J Gosling –Director of Quality (chair), Professor L Donnelly –
review group member, Professor P Dockery – review group member, Dr G Morgan – Dean of Science Faculty, Dr
K Coate – CELT, Ms C Browne – Human Resources, Mr P DeBúrca – Research Office, Professor N Lowndes –
Head of Department, Dr M Tuohy, Mr O Nee, Dr J O’Keeffe, Dr J Donlon, Mr D Collins, Mr J Rushe, Ms M
Thornton, Ms A O’Rourke, Ms M Shire, Dr A Flaus, Dr P Morgan, Dr HP Nasheuer, Mr P Henderson, Mr G
McLoughlin, Dr C Morrison, Dr L Byrnes, Professor B Lahue, Dr M Carthy, Dr T Griffin, Ms B Ashe, Ms G
Lyons (in attendance).
Apologies: Dr D O’Sullivan - review group member.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Department Management Committee (DMC) has established a ‘Strategic Working
Group’ that is representative of all staff and is empowered to draft the ‘Strategic Plan for
Biochemistry 2007-2010’. The Group will consult widely in the Department and with the
Department’s partners in the new school. The new Plan will be a short, focused, flexible
document and take the new school structure into account. A full first draft will be ready for
consideration by the DMC before Christmas 2007. After adoption, implementation of the
actions specified in the Plan will be monitored under a ‘standing item on the agenda at every
DMC meeting.
2. The Departmental Management Committee (DMC) has discussed the following
recommendations by the review group with a view to immediate implementation:
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o The DMC itself will be reconstituted to be fully representative of all Department
constituencies, including postgraduate and undergraduate students. It may be necessary at
some meetings to have a ‘reserved business agenda’.
o All subcommittees of the DMC will operate with a formal agenda and minutes, and have
clear reporting procedures to the DMC.
o The DMC will communicate and explain clearly and in a timely manner new policies and
decisions to all personnel through e-mail and regular general Departmental meetings.
o Recruitment and budget distribution policies will be approved by the DMC.
3. The Department is currently developing policies and practices to support the motivation and
engagement of technical staff and recognition of their central importance to high standards
of student learning and research.
4. The Head of Department has engaged with University management with respect to the
allocation of more administrative support and, in the context of the new school, is currently
drafting a job specification for a new higher level administrator, to be considered by the
DMC before submission to management.
5. While reiterating that much has been, and is being done to maintain high levels of safety in
all laboratories and facilities, the Department recognises that health and safety issues present
constant challenges. Particular attention will be given to situations where already busy
research laboratories also have significant numbers of undergraduate students working on
projects.
6. The Department agrees with the Review Report where it states that: “It is now time to
review teaching in a structured way in order to reap the rewards of the massive investment
in research by successful translation into research-informed teaching.” Accordingly, in
addition to Action 7 below, the Department will:

Emphasise in all its programmes the importance of student-centred, integrated curricula
and teaching methods based on Bologna compliant learning objectives.

Grant its Teaching Development Committee (TDC) a broader remit and increased
power to build on the outcomes of the review of the teaching programmes that took
place on the 11 June 2007.

Consider the designation of a member of academic staff as responsible for overall
integration ‘across years’ of each teaching programme.

Develop a policy and procedures that make clear the current individual teaching /
research / administration work-loads of all staff, and seek to equalise these in accord
with regularly revised, agreed definitions and standards.

Take all opportunities to increase Departmental administrative support for teaching to
lighten administration loads on academic staff.

Ensure substantial and varied participation by academic staff at practical classes,
tutorials etc. that are configured to display, as appropriate, the varied research
programmes of the Department.
7. The Department is committed to the increased involvement in teaching of externally funded
academic staff and recognises the great value of the recent Departmental workshop.
Facilitated by Dr. Alan Jenkins, this had the theme Research Informed Teaching of
Biochemistry and, at the request of the Department, was organised by CELT. Close
cooperation with CELT on this and other projects will continue.
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8. Departmental guidelines have been drafted for M.Sc./PhD students for implementation in
line with the University policies and Guidelines. A Departmental Director of Post-graduate
programmes has been appointed. Current involvement with two of the emerging national
Graduate Schools will be maintained as overall structures and systems are rationalised.
9. The Department will continue to work with the University to:

Create better promotional opportunities (and other incentives) for high performing technical
staff.

Complete the on-going Departmental refurbishment programme, if possible by end of year
2008.

Maximise space usage and to provide for the next phase of research expansion
3.2 Action Plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar and Deputy President recognises that the new school, of which Biochemistry
will be a part, must be capable of providing substantial support for teaching administration
to allow academic staff more time for teaching innovation and research.
2. The new University Guidelines for Research Students will be in effect from September
2007.
3. A Dean of Graduate Studies for NUI Galway is currently being advertised. The new Dean
will work internally and externally to coordinate and rationalise all inputs to the education of
research students local and national.
4. Currently new structures for technical posts are being introduced nationally in the ‘semipublic sector’. Human Resources confirmed that these new grades are being reflected in the
designation of new and vacant technical posts being advertised by the University.
5. The Dean will continue to assess the potential advantages (with respect to facilitating
teaching innovation and space utilisation) of a radical reform of the Faculty timetable of
lectures, practical classes etc. The Quality Office would consider any such project with a
view to granting significant support in 2007–08.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor Noel Lowndes, 26th July 2007
Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr Gerry Morgan, 27th July 2007
Approved by: Registrar, Professor Jim Browne, 30th July 2007
Approval by: Vice President for Research, Professor Nicholas Canny, 14th August 2007
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr. Iain MacLabhrainn, 27th July 2007
Approved by: Director of Human Resources, Mr Christopher McNairney, 27th July 2007
Finalised: 14th August 2007, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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