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 Zoology
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
November 2006 to February 2007
7th – 8th February, 2007
16th May 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 Zoology 2006–2007
2
1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives
Aims
The principal aim of the Zoology department is to teach and research the subject to the highest
possible standards. We also aim to communicate our research findings, and Zoology in general,
to the widest possible audience, thus contributing to the overall integration of scientific
knowledge and methods into the fabric of society, in both Irish and global contexts. Our specific
objectives in relation to undergraduates, postgraduates, research funding, collaboration and
publication will emerge in stages from the document; it would be artificial to attempt to list
these in detail at the outset.
Objectives
A strategic plan for the department for the period 2004-2008 was produced in July 2004,
followed by a brief update on progress achieved one year into that period. Both of these are
included in the set of documents available to the Review Group. The 2006-07 review of the
department provides an opportunity for further reflection on how the plan has been, and is being,
put into effect.
1.2 Background
The last review of the department (which was also the first) occurred in 2000/01. The previous
established professor, Prof. Padraig O’Céidigh, had retired in July 1998. The new established
professor, Prof. Wallace Arthur, did not take up office until 1st April 2004. During the interim
period, the department was run by two acting HoDs, Profs Keegan and Fives. Regrettably, Prof.
Keegan died in March 2004 while still in post. Prof. Fives retired at the end of 2004. Also,
another long-standing member of staff of the department, Dr. Mercer, retired in the summer of
2004. A year later, Prof. Noel Wilkins retired, again after many years with the department. New
staff appointed over the last few years are: Dr. Colin Lawton, Dr. Grace McCormack, Dr. Uri
Frank and Dr. Anne Marie Power.
Due to these changes, the Department is in a situation whereby (a) the majority of the
complement of seven academic staff are ‘new’; and (b) the areas of research and teaching
expertise are considerably different to what they were at the time of the last review. Current
expertise falls into the two broad areas of Ecology and Evolutionary and Developmental
Biology. Both the teaching programme and the research groups in the department are in a state
of flux, with some previous subjects being reduced or phased out, and the new areas of expertise
becoming fully incorporated into all the department’s activities.
Finally, the Review Group should be made aware of the fact that the senior management of the
University have recently (June 2006) issued a document containing a proposal for the restructuring of the University. This includes a plan to disband all departments with effect from
1/9/2007. If this plan goes ahead, the Zoology department will cease to exist on that date.
1.3 Progress to date
Since the 2005 update document, further progress has taken place, as follows. All years of the
undergraduate teaching programme have been revised. Remaining postgraduates from the
groups of the members of staff who have left are declining, as they complete their MSc and PhD
projects. New labs have been established, and postgraduate numbers in these are building up
(main funding sources: SFI, IRCSET, industry). The co-ordination of the BSc in Marine
Science will move to Zoology with effect from January 2007; we intend to transform this into a
ZooUdarasRep07Final
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Zoology 2006–2007
3
Marine Biology BSc, in order to give it greater focus and to distinguish it more clearly from the
University’s BSc in Earth and Ocean Sciences.
1.4 Student Numbers
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department was 184.4 in the year
2004/2005, representing an increase of 21.9% in the three years since 2001-2002.
1.5 Student to Staff Ratios
In 2004-2005, the number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) academic staff in the Department of
Zoology was 7.5, giving a student:staff ratio of 24.7 in year ending 2005 (this ratio was 20.4 in
2001-02). For the same academic year, across the Faculty of Science, the average student:staff
ratio was 20.6.
1.6 Accommodation and Facilities
The core facilities of the Department are located in Áras De Brún, with experimental laboratories
being located in the Arts/Science building…Martin Ryan Institute???
2. Review Group Report Overview and Recommendations
The Review Group consisted of: Professor Ann Burnell, Department of Biology, NUI Maynooth (Chair);
Professor Randall W. Phillis, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts; Dr Ken Whelan, an executive
Director with the Marine Institute; Dr Maura Grealy, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, NUI Galway
(cognate) and Dr Máire Áine Ní Mhainnín, Department of French, NUI Galway, acting as rapporteur.
2.1 Summary and Main Recommendations from Report
Summary
The Review Group commends the Zoology Department for its performance in all areas of its
practice. Excellent progress has been made by the Department since the previous Quality
Review Report, particularly in research and research-related activity and departmental
organisation, but also in the diversification of the Department’s teaching programmes, some of
which are still undergoing review. Following the large turnover of academic staff in the last few
years, the Department has begun reform of the undergraduate syllabi and this modified
curriculum has been associated with an increase in the numbers of students taking Third and
Fourth Year Zoology. We commend the efforts that have been made by the members of the
Zoology Department to revise and develop the undergraduate curriculum and teaching
programmes in Zoology over the past three years. We realise that this process of change is still
ongoing and that the Zoology Department has been constrained to date from implementing
certain changes to its academic programme because of large turnover of academic staff in recent
years, an unsatisfactory staff student ratio and a limited recurrent budget.
All members of staff are clearly very committed and dedicated to their duties and the atmosphere
in the Department is excellent. It was apparent that there is a very strong work ethic in the
Department, along with a clear focus on multi-tasking and teamwork. There is a transparent and
equitable system for distribution of teaching and administrative loads and the responsibilities of
all staff are clear and unambiguous. The Department is fortunate to have the support of
committed and highly qualified technical staff and an administrative assistant who competently
carries out a wide and varied workload.
ZooUdarasRep07Final
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Zoology 2006–2007
4
Departmental staff members are very active on Faculty and University committees. Externally
departmental staff members are active as members of national and international scientific groups
and committees. The Department also has strong links with the community, contributing
regularly to radio, TV and print media. There is a strong emphasis on compliance with Health
and Safety regulations in the Department. The Review group was very impressed with the
facilities and laboratories in the Martin Ryan Institute where some members of the Teaching
staff are housed. The Áras de Brún building is in a poor state of repair and although some of the
laboratories have been refurbished there are others in a dilapidated condition. The Review
Group was encouraged to hear of the possible move of the whole Department to the Martin Ryan
Institute and annexe (currently under construction), which we understand is under negotiation
and we strongly recommend that this happen at the earliest opportunity.
It is obvious to the Review Group that the Zoology Department is now at a critical juncture
regarding its future development. New opportunities are now becoming apparent: the possibility
that the whole Department my be located in the Martin Ryan Institute and annexe; a new schools
structure may allow for innovations in undergraduate and post graduate programmes and a
substantial new national marine research initiative, The Sea Change Programme, will target
topics in which the Zoology Department has specialist research expertise.
Main Recommendations
a) The Zoology Department requires a new strategic plan which would outline its longer and
medium term objectives with regard to teaching and research along with associated resource
requirements. We recommend that, where possible, linkages with sister Departments and
units (e.g. MRI and ECI) be explored to provide visionary and innovative research and
teaching programmes. The Department should also consider as part of their planning
process how the new school structures can be used as an opportunity for the Department to
develop and grow.
b) Greater emphasis needs to be given to undergraduate practical courses and field-teaching
elements. The practical classes should be focused at developing targeted skills in the
practise of Zoological Science. Manuals for practicals should be available at the beginning
of each semester, with clear guidance on expectations and continuous assessment of all
practicals.
c) Further curriculum reform is required in the second-year of the programme and the
promotion of transferable skills, especially communication skills (written and oral), science
writing and information retrieval needs more emphasis throughout the curriculum.
d) We recommend that the Department, as a unit, engage with CELT to assist it in its
development of teaching and learning and to gain advice on the use of audiovisual and
technological aids for teaching purposes, and current ideas on best practice in large group
teaching and assessment methods. Advice should also be sought from CELT on
development of a more systematic and comprehensive system for evaluating student
satisfaction with teaching quality. Student feedback sought from all students while courses
are ongoing (i.e. not in the following Academic Year.)
e) We suggest that the Department engage in more contact with industry and employers in
order to prepare students for the world of work. Other possibilities that might be considered
by the Department in this regard would be the organization of work placements for students,
or the provision of a taught M.Sc. programme with a more vocational bias. With the current
emphasis in the Irish University system on creating graduate schools, the Group suggests
that there is an opportunity for the Zoology Department to interact with cognate departments
at NUI Galway to explore the viability of interdisciplinary taught M.Sc. programmes. The
Group is aware that some of our recommendations have significant resource implications.
ZooUdarasRep07Final
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Zoology 2006–2007
5
f) Funding should be provided to enable the Department to increase its academic staff by at
least one member, to allow successful implementation of many of the recommendations
above, especially curriculum revisions and the possible introduction of taught M.Sc.
programme/s.
g) We recommend that the post of the Administrative Assistant should be re-graded to Grade 3,
to acknowledge the changes in workload and responsibility.
h) There is an urgent need to appoint a junior technician for succession planning, so that skills
will not be lost to the Department due to retirements of highly skilled technical staff.
i) Additional funding is required to support the recruitment of a part-time Senior Demonstrator
and more demonstrator teaching hours.
j) We recommend that an increase in the Departmental Budget be provided, as this is currently
inadequate to cover the cost of equipment and consumables for Molecular Biology and fieldwork.
3. Action Plans
Follow up Meeting
Wednesday, 16 May 2007 11.30 a.m., Boardroom, Martin Ryan Institute
th
Present: Professor J Browne – Registrar, Professor J Gosling – Director of Quality (Chair), Dr MÁ Ní Mhainnín Review Group Rapporteur, Dr K Whelan - Review Group Member, Professor A Burnell - Review Group Member,
Professor W Arthur - Head of Department, Dr G Morgan - Dean of Science Faculty, Dr I MacLabhrainn - Director
of CELT, Mr P DéBurca - Research Office, Ms C Browne - HR, Dr U Frank, Dr C Lawton, Dr AM Power, Mr E
MacLoughlin, Mr T Callanan, Mr A Lawless, Dr J Dunne, Mr B Dawson, Dr K McCarthy, Ms G Lyons - in
attendance.
Apologies: Ms A Quinn.
Action Plan for the Department
1. The Department is developing a new strategic plan, Zoology 2007–11, to be completed by July 2007.
As such plans are now central elements in many applications for funding, this exercise is being taken
very seriously and the targets set will be both ambitious and credible. The new plan will:
a. Be aligned with the University’s Strategic and Academic plans and take the recently developed
University Research Strategy into account.
b. Be informed by discussions with representative colleagues in the departments with which
Zoology will form a school, namely Biochemistry, Botany, Earth and Ocean Sciences, and
Microbiology.
c. Include options for new B.Sc. and/or taught M.Sc. programmes, both Zoology-centred and in
conjunction with other departments and research institutes
2. The Department will continue to revise the entire Zoology curriculum.
a. Emphasis will placed on the promotion of transferable skills, especially communication skills
(written and oral), and information retrieval. From next year, all 4th year students will make a
presentation on their final year projects.
ZooUdarasRep07Final
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Zoology 2006–2007
6
b. Practical classes (and the accompanying practical manuals) are already being refocused to
develop targeted skills in the practice of Zoological Science and this process will continue. In
this context all opportunities will be taken to expose students more to fieldwork. Extra funding
will be sought, but low cost options and successful practices in other field departments will be
explored.
c. A Departmental meeting with CELT with the purpose establishing areas where inputs will be
beneficial will be held before the start of the next academic year.
3. Student feedback on the courses provided by Zoology will be sought systematically, by means of a
student–staff committee and surveys.
4. The Department will examine how greater engagement with industry and the employers of graduates
may be achieved, including the potential advantages and roles of adjunct appointments, targeted
joint workshops and short term student work placements.
5. Given that the Department of Zoology currently has a poor student-staff ratio when compared to the
average in the Science Faculty and since further increases in student numbers are anticipated, the
Head of Department will present a case to APRC for more academic appointments. This case will
include additional staffing requirements arising from planned new programmes.
6. The Head of Department will explore all options (including those arising in the context of the new
school) for improving the argument for the re-grading of the Departmental Administrative Assistant
post, and will support applications to this end.
7. To avoid the loss of essential skills due to the retirement of technical staff and to support the
continued development of molecular zoology, the Department will conduct a technical staff needs
assessment in the context of the new strategic plan, and make an application for the provision of
extra technical personnel.
8. An application will be made to the Faculty of Science for increased departmental and part-
time teaching budgets. In preparation for this and in support of the continued development
and expansion of practical teaching, the Department will review its requirements for
demonstrators and the potential in also having a senior demonstrator.
Action Plan for University Management
1. The Registrar and the Dean acknowledge the significant improvements made in recent years and will
continue to support the ongoing development of the Department as it consolidates and diversifies its
research and refines and expands its educational offerings. All application for funding and support
will be assessed carefully in the context of the high priority given by the University to programmes
such as ‘marine research’, and overall Departmental (and School) plans and projections.
2. The Registrar will continue to represent to government and national agencies, the need for the
provision of improved national resources to allow university departments such as Zoology to take
full advantage (in their teaching, training and research activities) of the greatly improved
infrastructure now available via the Marine Institute.
3. The University has asked the MRI and the ECI to identify overlapping and complementary research
areas that are in line with University strategic research priorities, with a view to clarifying
opportunities for further research projects in the related disciplines such as Zoology.
4. The Quality Office and CELT will support the Department as student feedback mechanisms are
made systematic.
Approved by: Head of Department of Zoology, Professor W. Arthur, 14 June 2007
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J. Browne, 12 July 2007
Approved by: Vice President for Research, Professor N. Canny, 19 June 2007
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr. I. MacLabhrainn, 18 June 2007
ZooUdarasRep07Final
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Zoology 2006–2007
7
Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr. G. Morgan, 18 June 2007
Approved by: Director of Human Resources, Mr. C. McNairney, 10 July 2007
Finalised: 12 July 2007, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
ZooUdarasRep07Final