An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme, 2006–2007
Review of
Department of Microbiology
Final Report
1 May 2007
2
Department of Microbiology: Review Report 2007
This report arises from a visit by a review team to the Microbiology department on 20th
and 21st March 2007. The Department prepared and submitted a ‘Self Assessment
Report’ and a Strategic Plan, which with other documentation was made available to the
Review Group.
The Review Group consisted of:
Professor Fergal O’Gara, Head of Microbiology Dept, Director- Biomerit
Research Centre, UCC (Chair)
Professor Nuala Booth, Chair in Mol. Haemostasis & Thrombosis, Institute of
Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen
Ms Evelyn O’Toole, Managing Director, Complete Laboratory Solutions, Ros
Muc, County Galway
Dr John Kelly, Department of Pharmacology, NUI Galway
Mr Murray Scott, Department of Accountancy and Finance, NUI Galway
(Rapporteur)
The report is structured to cover the following topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Aims, Objectives and Planning
Organisation and Management
Research and Scholarship
Programmes and Instruction
Facilities and Infrastructure
Community Service
Summary and Recommendations
This review of the Microbiology Department has been undertaken at a time of imminent
change in structure within the University and the creation of new schools. Therefore, the
report should be read as reflecting our impressions of the discipline of Microbiology and
its future, whatever the details of future structures. We found the staff in Microbiology to
be enthusiastic about engaging fully in the emergence of a new school and confident in
their ability to contribute to its success.
1. Aims, Objectives and Planning
The Department should be commended on producing a Strategic Plan as part of the
planning for the imminent retirements of several senior staff. The aims of the plan
outline two key areas of current and projected research activity, namely Environmental
(including Marine) and Biomedical (including Biomolecular) aspects of microbiology.
These two areas are in line with the University Strategic Plan. With the imminent
prospect of academic restructuring however, this plan should now more proactively
consider the position of the Microbiology discipline in light of new operational
structures. There is little doubt as to the pivotal role that the members of the current
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Department can play in the new school structure given the important role that
Microbiology has played in the development of research centres and institutes in the past.
The Review Group would recommend a reformulation of this strategic plan with
particular emphasis placed on the current strengths of Microbiology coupled with a clear
vision for the coming years. Specifically, the Department should consider which key
research-driven themes will define their future contribution to the School and University
as a whole. The plan should also develop a clearer sense of vision in delivering these
areas of speciality. In particular, the strategic plan should document in more detail how
these areas will be developed, how the Department in the emerging structures will
interface with the new and existing institutes/centres, a leadership strategy for delivering
these areas and ultimately a more reasoned justification for the new positions the
Department requires and proposes to fill.
In summary, the review Group was made aware of the full support proffered by
central University administration to the Department along with the recognition of its
achievements and potential contribution to the new School and University. The
Department should be encouraged to present their strategic vision very positively from
this highly credible position.
2. Organisation and Management
It was clear from interviews with Academic staff, technical staff and students that this is a
Department that has sustained an excellent work culture that continues to result in
excellent relations between staff and with the student body. Departmental workloads
seem to be distributed equally among staff and there exists a strong collegiate spirit and
sense of collective responsibility for the activities of the Department.
The Review Group would recommend that in light of impending change it is
appropriate to begin considering the use of mechanisms that will ensure continuity in the
ethos of a clearly successful Department and associated programmes. The knowledge
and expertise of senior staff members, which has contributed to the current strength of the
Department, should ideally be passed on to the new leaders of Microbiology in order to
develop the discipline and to secure its position in the new School. More formalised and
systematic organisational structures would not only assist in this process of knowledge
transfer but form a mechanism for driving more focussed strategic objectives as outlined
in section 1.
The Review Group would further recommend more formality in the staff-student
liaison mechanism and more formalised meetings of student and staff representatives.
3. Research and Scholarship
The Department has a well-established culture of research at all levels and is to be
commended on its supportive environment in which critical thinking and creative
activities are nurtured. The Review Group believes that the decision, contained in the
Departmental strategic plan, to focus on the key areas of Environmental (including
Marine) and Biomedical (including Biomolecular) has merit in promoting and sustaining
the Microbiology research programme. These areas are included in the University
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strategic plan and are also foundation components in the portfolios of a number of
research institutes. As such the Review Group regard Microbiology as well positioned to
realise the potential of their current position and in their ability to contribute to key
research themes in the University and the new School. As these are multi-disciplinary
activities it will also be essential that the Microbiology staff continue to engage
vigorously with key stakeholders in these areas to ensure that their potential contributions
will continue to be recognised as representing Microbiology.
The formation of research clusters within Microbiology is a positive development
in the ability to attract funding and the Review Group also notes the significant
achievements of individuals who have succeeded in attracting additional research funding
for specific programmes. The Department has consequently developed a broad, diverse
profile of research interests and this has contributed to a position where the Department
can be flexible in a rapidly changing research environment.
In line with general comments made in Section 1, the Review Group would
further advise that according with International norms Microbiology present their case for
research excellence by including metric analysis to strengthen the presentation of their
research profile when applying to and communicating with research funding agencies and
the University Authorities. The Review Group would encourage the development of
more detailed research areas from the thematic strands outlined in the strategic plan in
order to produce more focussed research contributions from the Department. The
necessity to engage with University stakeholders in this regard reflects the multidisciplinary nature of Microbiology but, as a consequence, highlights the need to
integrate these areas into the R&D strategy of the University, so that the contribution the
Department makes is fully recognised. We would encourage the involvement of all staff
in this initiative.
Microbiology should also consider measures to increase the number of research
scientists in order to sustain and develop the research and postgraduate programmes of
the Department. This would balance the existing strength in numbers of graduate
students. It would also alleviate pressure on academic staff to have postdoctoral
researchers in place in laboratories to contribute to postgraduate training.
Finally, it is of critical importance that links with existing institutes continue to
flourish, as the Department has been pivotal in establishing a number of these units.
Further, Microbiology staff have a central role to play in sustaining the success of these
institutes whilst helping to promote the discipline of microbiology at NUI Galway.
4. Programmes and Instruction
The Department is to be commended on sustaining a consistently high level of teaching
quality that provides an optimal learning experience for students. In general, the Review
Group would concur with the External Examiners’ reports, which attest to the scope and
quality of programmes available. The Review Group would suggest that, similar to the
recommendations made in section 2, the Department should consider implementing more
systematic administrative structures, mindful of the imminent changes in academic
structure and staffing composition. Again the objective would be to ensure a level of
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Department of Microbiology: Review Report 2007
continuity in the effective functioning of a successful Department and programmes in the
general area of microbiology.
Specifically, there appears to be a need to harmonise the assessment of
undergraduate student assignments by post-graduate students. Specific training should be
provided to post-graduate students in order to ensure fair and comparable assessments of
students’ work. Marking schemes still appear to be informally produced in the main and
some formal guidelines for assessment, and standards would seem to be appropriate for
new staff members to ensure consistency and accountability. The Curriculum Review
Committee (CRC) is currently charged with the task of reviewing the appropriateness of
the taught module content and the Review Group would suggest that this be extended and
linked with an assessment of graduate employment data and other related trends. The
CRC is well placed to drive this agenda.
Finally, the Review Group was made aware of the considerable success of the
Higher Diploma in Microbiology and the impressive rates of employment enjoyed by the
graduates of this programme. In relation to the placement component that is part of this
programme, a class representative reported on the inability of the Placement office to
secure sufficient placements for the students. It was noted that this causes significant
stress for students and we would recommend a re-evaluation of the placement
component, as most students appear to be independently successful in securing
employment. The usefulness of the Placement office in the function of actually securing
placements should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
5. Facilities and Infrastructure
All staff highlighted the lack of sufficient laboratory space and the review group points to
a growing need for better space and infrastructure to maintain the competitiveness of the
Microbiology programme and alleviate the heavy demands made on laboratory facilities.
The Review group would strongly recommend that the ongoing programme of laboratory
refurbishment be urgently completed to the appropriate standards for the categories of
micro-organisms used. The review group would also support the suggestion made by
staff members that a space audit be completed in the formation of the new School in
order to reflect the research and training needs of the Department and the space that is
thus required.
Postgraduate students and research staff also require writing up space separate
from laboratory space, possibly in the form of writing stations.
6. Community Service
The Department is to be commended on their efforts to engage with various units within
the University and in their activities in contributing to the broader community. It is
recognised that the Department has an important role to play in the community from the
perspective of environmental and microbiological issues. From the self-assessment
report there is clear evidence of this involvement.
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Department of Microbiology: Review Report 2007
7. Summary and Recommendations
The Review Group has visited the Microbiology Department at a time of unprecedented
challenges, not only with the imminent retirement of several members of staff, but also
with the changes in administrative structure and the formation of schools. We are
confident that the staff in Microbiology are prepared and, with the implementation of an
appropriate planning strategy, will be able to further develop and thrive in their mission.
To further this process, the Review Group has made the following recommendations:
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A reformulation of the strategic plan involving the participation of all staff.
Particular emphasis should be placed on the current strengths of Microbiology,
the key research-driven themes to be developed, and how Microbiology will
interface with the new and existing institutes/centres, and be closely aligned to
University strategy.
Included in the strategic plan should be a leadership strategy, indicating how the
expertise of senior staff members will be passed on to the new leaders of
Microbiology in order to develop the discipline and to secure its position in the
new School.
The case for displaying research excellence would be enhanced by the use of
metric analysis in order to strengthen the presentation of their research profile
when applying to and communicating with research funding agencies and the
University Authorities.
Consideration should be given to increasing the number of research scientists in
order to sustain and develop the research and postgraduate programmes of the
Department.
Ensure the links with existing institutes continue, as the staff will play a central
role in sustaining the success of these institutes whilst helping to promote the
discipline of microbiology at NUI Galway.
Consideration should be given to implementing more systematic administrative
structures, mindful of the imminent changes in academic structure and staffing
composition. More formality in the staff-student liaison mechanism and more
formalised meetings of student and staff representatives.
Specific training should be provided to post-graduate students in order to ensure
fair and comparable assessments of undergraduate students’ work.
Marking schemes and guidelines should be introduced for the assessment
methods, to ensure consistency and accountability.
The role of the Curriculum Review Committee should be extended and linked
with an assessment of graduate employment data and other related trends.
The placement component of the Higher Diploma in Microbiology should be reevaluated.
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Department of Microbiology: Review Report 2007
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The ongoing programme of laboratory refurbishment should be urgently
completed to the appropriate standards for the categories of micro-organisms
used.
A space audit should be completed at the first available opportunity following
formation of the new School.
Provision of writing up space for postgraduate students and research staff
should be provided separate from laboratory space, possibly in the form of
writing stations.
Professor Fergal O’Gara (Chair)
Professor Nuala Booth
Ms Evelyn O’Toole
Dr John Kelly
Mr Murray Scott (Rapporteur)
13th May 2007.
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