An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2005-2006
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of Anatomy
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
December 2005 to February 2006
7th – 9th March, 2006
6th July 2006
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, June 2007
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Anatomy 2005–2006
1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives
Aims
The aims of the Department of Anatomy are presented under the following four headings:
• Clinical Disciplines
o Promote horizontal and vertical integration
o Reduce factual content to an acceptable core
o Ensure upward vertical integration of basic sciences
o Integrate Anatomy with modern Medical Imaging
• Faculty of Science
o Deliver teaching within a research-led environment
o Provide students with a broad background in Modern Anatomical Science
o Provide laboratory/practical training within Biophotonics and Imaging
o Encourage students to develop oral, written, numerical, visual, presentation and
collaborative skills appropriate to a wide range of employment
• Research
o Provide a high quality, well-resourced Imaging Centre at NUI Galway
o Develop existing strengths in Reproductive Cardiovascular and Neurobiology
o Integrate department with research activities in REMEDI/NCBES NCLA (applied optics)
• General
o Provide a supportive environment for students
o Encourage students to develop skills for the acquisition, use and evaluation of information
o Develop in students a critical approach to scientific study
o Provide opportunities for training and research
o Encourage learning by curiosity and exploration and so impart an awareness of the
importance of lifelong learning
o By graduation, students should:
¾ Have acquired a broad knowledge of their subjects with detailed knowledge in
selected areas
¾ Have acquired skills in observation and measurement, as well as technical data
gathering skills
¾ Be able to demonstrate the ability to acquire, analyse, critically evaluate and
present subject-related information
¾ Have acquired computing skills sufficient to aid data manipulation and
analysis/report presentation
¾ Have undertaken research-based study
¾ Have experience of working in collaboration to resolve problems
¾ Be able to use oral, written, numerical and presentation skills effectively
¾ Be qualified for employment in the graduate employment market or to pursue
postgraduate training
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Objectives
The objectives of the Department of Anatomy are presented under the following three headings:
• Clinical Disciplines
o To further develop the undergraduate anatomy courses around a central core of minimal
factual content
o Emphasise principles
o Expand educational bridges between anatomy teaching and both clinical undergraduate
and continuing medical education
o Define accurately and deliver core curricula in anatomy to Medical, Nursing and Therapies
students
• Faculty of Science
o Further develop the undergraduate anatomy courses around a central core of minimal
factual content
o Emphasise principles
o Expand educational bridges between anatomy teaching and continuing biomedical
education
o Define accurately and deliver core curricula in anatomy to science and bio-engineering
students
• Research
o Extend fields of neuroscience activity further from cellular to include Medical
Neuroimaging (extensive crossover with Psychiatry)
o Increase research income, participate in and lead SFI approaches
o Ensure that graduate students are trained in knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them
to pursue advanced postgraduate research
o Extend interdisciplinary research collaboration further, both locally within NUI Galway
(with Physiology, Biochemistry, Surgery, Medicine REMEDI/NCBES Applied Optics),
nationally and internationally
o Develop Microscopy and Imaging at NUI Galway. A proposal has been prepared for the
National Biophotonics and Imaging Platform Proposal led by the RCSI. NUI Galway will
have the Education and training brief.
o Participate in the NUI Galway postgraduate training initiative, including development of a
formal pre-MD/Ph.D. and Masters programmes in a range of research disciplines
1.2 Background
At the time of review, the Department of Anatomy had no full time academic Head of
Department since the departure of Professor Folan-Curran (1993-2000). Three relatively junior
staff maintained and developed the departmental service teaching commitments to the faculties
of Science, Medicine and Engineering. The Review Group gave credit to their commitment but
noted the considerable cost to the research career of the staff concerned. Professor Dockery
took up post in July 2005. He has been actively involved in developing the new medical
curriculum and has rationalised some of the medical and science service commitments. Part of
this process has seen a reduction/redistribution of contact hours and mode of content delivery.
1.3 Student Numbers
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department of Anatomy was 107
in the year 2004/2005, representing a decrease of 19% in the four years since 2000-2001.
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1.4 Staff to Student Ratios
In 2004-2005, the number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) academic staff in the Department of
Anatomy was 5.7, giving a student:staff ratio of 19 in year ending 2005 (this ratio was 23 in
2000-01). For the same academic year, across the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the
average student:staff ratio was 13.
1.5 Accommodation and Facilities
The core facilities of the Department are located in Block B, adjacent to the Newcastle Road
exit.
2. Review Group Report Overview and Recommendations
The Review Group consisted of: Dr Alistair Warren, University of Sheffield (Chair); Dr Dave Wilson, Department
of Anatomy, Queen’s University of Belfast; Ms. Ruth McMenamin, Dept of Speech & Language Therapy, NUI
Galway; Dr. Adrian Frazier, English Department, NUI Galway (Rapporteur).
2.1 Summary and Main Recommendations from Report
The Panel thanked the Anatomy Department, especially Professor Dockery, for the open and
positive way in which they received this site visit. Commenting that such visits are intrusive
and take up a great deal of time; the panel appreciated the patience and cooperation shown.
They also thanked NUI Galway and the Quality Office for its hospitality.
The panel was impressed by the spirit of reinvigoration within the department.
Over the past five years the Department of Anatomy has gone through a difficult time, with no
head and diminished teaching staff, and all members of the department have taken a huge
responsibility to maintain medical, science, and other teaching on behalf of the university.
The department has responded positively to its new dynamic Head of Department. The changes
introduced by him have been embraced by all categories of staff and classes of student.
The new Human Biology Building is both a necessary and important investment, and the
Anatomy Department requires and deserves a significant representation in that space.
It is clear that the department now has Professor with a strong voice in institutional affairs and a
vision for the future of the discipline. Leaders of the institution are evidently sympathetic to the
plans for improvement of the department and its work conditions.
The self-assessment report did not adhere fully to the guidelines of the Quality Assurance
Programme; e. g., there was no participation by students in the construction of the selfassessment report.
Specific SWOT analyses were provided by all elements of the staff.
Core course documentation & survey data were patchy.
Staff reported they did not receive written copies of the External Examiner’s reports and
therefore the recommended changes in them were not made.
Whilst most units in NUI Galway are on the second round of review, this visit represents the
first review of Anatomy. The next review should be, with the agreement of the Anatomy staff,
within a shorter interval than the planned 6 year cycle.
It would be helpful to external assessors to be provided with a ‘Quality Handbook’ that included
such information as the university’s policies on sabbatical leave, student feedback, courseloading, etc.
The recommendations were presented under the following four headings:
a) Physical Plant
i) The fabric of the existing Anatomy building is poor. As a matter of urgency, the
University should allocate resources for refurbishment, contingent on progress
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Anatomy 2005–2006
with the new building. Anatomy should be given adequate teaching and research
space to allow the continued expansion of this discipline within the Human
Biology Building.
b) Revitalization of Research Culture
i) The department has talents in teaching and innovative, rigorous delivery and
assessment; we recommend that staff be encouraged to publish such innovations in
relevant journals.
ii) We recommend that staff be given time for development to advance their careers, to
include pedagogic, research, administrative, and technical developments. Sabbaticals
should be taken on schedule; mini-sabbaticals should be explored. Therefore we
further recommend that the department receives as soon as possible a full-time
contract teaching post for a period of at least two years in order to facilitate
sabbaticals for academic staff. This is necessary as partial remediation after years of
neglect.
iii) Additional funds (beyond the Triennial Grant) should be provided to cover staff
travel for academic conferences, staff development, and training opportunities. This
also is necessary as a form of remediation after the years of neglect.
iv) We endorse the Department’s plans for collaborative research both nationally and
internationally, and recommend focusing intra-departmental research into core areas.
c) Teaching
i) Although there are innovative aspects to the teaching (‘snapshot marking’ and ‘peer
teaching’ for instance), there remains a heavy reliance on didactic delivery. We
acknowledge that progress has been made in reducing student contact time, but
recommend reducing this still further to give both staff and students more time for
reflection and self-direction.
ii) Prior to any further expansion in student numbers, adequate staff and resources
should be put in place.
iii) An objective student evaluation and monitoring process must be introduced as soon
as possible, possibly in collaboration with CELT.
d) Communication between staff, with students, and across departments
i) We recommend that the department’s internal communication processes should be
clarified, with regular staff meetings and the introduction of a student-staff
committee.
ii) Furthermore, it is recommended that lines of reporting and responsibility should be
made clear to all staff and students.
iii) We recommend the introduction of a web-based weekly calendar, accessible by
students and all categories of staff, in order to disseminate information.
iv) We recommend that the department institute a systematic process of timely student
feedback.
v) The student perception of 4th year is that it is poorly organized and structured, with
an imbalance of workload across the semesters. We understand that there are plans
to rationalize the management of Science teaching, but recommend that the problems
with the current 4th year class be addressed immediately.
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3. Action Plans
Follow up Meeting
11.30 a.m., Thursday 6th July 2006
Belmont Room, Department of Anatomy
Present: Professor J Browne – Registrar, Professor J Gosling – Director of Quality (Chair), Ms Ruth McMenamin
– Review Group Cognate, Dr Donal Leech – Vice Dean of Science Faculty, Dr Tony Carney – Dean of Medicine
& Health Sciences Faculty, Ms Lorraine McIlrath – CELT, Mr Pádriac De Búrca– Research Office, Professor Peter
Dockery, Head of Department, Mr Alex Black, Dr Brendan Wilkins, Mr Mark Canney, Mr Pierce Lalor , Mr John
Furey, Ms Delores Tierney, Ms Geraldine Lyons (in attendance).
Action Plan for the Department
1.
Communication within the Department will be enhanced by:
a. The preparation of a document clarifying staff responsibilities and reporting lines
within the Department, to be in completed and agreed by the start of the academic
year, 2006–07.
b. Monthly Staff meetings with pre-circulated agendas and minutes.
c. Student–Staff Committee meetings scheduled for the last Friday of each month,
within semesters/terms.
d. Continuation of ‘open door policy’ for students wishing to consult staff,
e. A web-based weekly calendar, which is currently being formatted and will be in
place by the start of the academic year, 2006/07.
2.
The Department is currently preparing a teaching development plan with a view to
implementing its main provisions by September 2007. This plan will involve:
a. Self-directed learning exercises accompanied by reduced direct contact time,
b. Innovations in methods and diversity of student assessment.
3.
The Department will develop its existing mechanisms for students to provide feedback
on teaching and programme administration, which will lead to more timely responses,
starting in September 2006.
4.
With the aim of becoming a noted research centre, the staff of the Department will
continue to seek increased external support and continue to develop collaborations with
a range of outside partners, including:
a. REMEDI and NCBES, including graduate school bids
b. Individual staff in the departments of Pharmacology and Physiology.
c. The National Biophotonics Initiative,
d. The Department of Chemistry/Laser Group.
5.
The Department will also seek to enhance its research culture by facilitating staff in
visits to the laboratories of potential research collaborators and in attending relevant
conferences.
Action Plan for University Management
1. The Registrar and Deputy President is aware of the difficult period that the Department has
passed through and looks forward to greater development of Anatomy as a strategic
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academic discipline under the new Professor. Requests for the consideration of plans and
for resources will always be considered carefully. In particular:
a. Now that the chair of Anatomy is filled, new permanent lectureship posts have been
provided and applications for additional posts will be considered on their merits in
the context of departmental plans for future developments.
b. The Departmental part-time teaching budget is not constrained in how it is used to
provide teaching to students, provided the activities funded conform with University
regulations and policies.
c. Technical staff will have greater promotional opportunities when the Department
joins in a larger school, as new grades for technical staff will be introduced.
2.
Plans for the new Human Sciences Building are being developed and the estimated cost
is €43 million.
3.
The Quality Office will modify the 2006/07 Self-Assessment Review Guidelines to
facilitate recognition in self-assessment reports of the roles of administrative and
technical staff.
4.
The Registrar and deans recognise the importance of the ceremony organised each year
by the Department for the families of those who donate their bodies for teaching and
research purposes, and will consider realistic proposals on how this recognition could be
expressed.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor P Dockery, 2nd June 2007
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J Browne, 6th June 2007
Approved by: Dean of Science Faculty, Dr G Morgan, 5th June 2007
Approved by: Dean of Medicine & Health Sciences Faculty, Prof. B.G. Loftus, 5th June 2007
Approved by: Vice President for Research, Professor N Canny, 5th June 2007
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr I MacLabhrainn, 5th June 2007
Finalised: 6th June 2007, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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