An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2001-2002
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of English
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2003 to Jan 2004
19th – 21st January 2005
21st September 2005
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.
Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, November 2005
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of English 2004–2005
1. Overview of Department
1.1 Developments since last Review in 1995–96
The last quality review of the Department of English took place in June 1996. A statistical
comparison between 1996 and 2004 shows marked increases in staff, and in undergraduate and
postgraduate numbers:
1996
2004
Permanent academic staff
Measure
10
15
Administrative assistants
1
2
BA students
712
1089
Visiting students
192
273
Students on taught MA programmes
16
43
MA research students
17
0
PhD students
2
18
Postdoctoral researchers
0
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1.2 Aims and Objectives
The Department of English is committed to the ideals of humanistic scholarship and education,
and seeks to demonstrate and promote these ideals through the study of literature and
complementary media and modes of expression. In particular, the department seeks to affirm the
special and unique knowledge to be derived from the study of imaginative forms of expression
and representation, and from the practice of critical thinking and writing. The department aims
to achieve international excellence in the fulfilment of these objectives, and to provide a
supportive, inspiring and rewarding environment for its staff and students.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
1. To facilitate the structured and informed study of a varied range of literary texts and related
cultural forms, including media and performance.
2. To provide students with a knowledge of the major periods of literary history.
3. To teach a balanced curriculum, comprising core courses and wide-ranging options.
4. To familiarise students with a variety of literary theories, critical debates, and methods of critical
analysis.
5. To improve students’ skills in reading, analysis, problem-solving, oral communication and
written communication.
6. To use appropriate, varied and effective teaching methods and modes of assessment.
7. To provide a stimulating learning experience for undergraduates and postgraduates.
8. To enhance the employability of graduates.
RESEARCH
1. To undertake and facilitate new research in the fields of literature, theatre, film, and culture.
2. To support both individual and collaborative research projects.
3. To encourage innovative forms of research activity, including creative work and interdisciplinary
initiatives.
4. To foster a vibrant and substantial postgraduate and postdoctoral research culture in the
department.
5. To win research funding at university, national and international levels.
6. To integrate where possible the activities of research and teaching.
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of English 2004–2005
7. To ensure the recognition of the international standing of department’s research.
RELATION TO WIDER COMMUNITY
1. To enhance and continue to promote activities linking the department to the wider community,
especially the educational system, the media, the arts, and professional organisations.
2. To foster close relationships between MA programmes and the worlds of theatre, publishing and
professional writing.
RELATION TO UNIVERSITY
1. To assist in the achievement of the strategic aims of the Faculty and University.
2. To contribute to various aspects of the academic and administrative life of the University.
3. To promote and represent the values of literary study and the humanities at university level.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
1. To support the career progress and development of academic and administrative staff.
2. To create a safe, hospitable and collegial work environment.
3. To ensure transparency and fairness of workloads among staff.
1.3 Student numbers
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department was 569 in the year
2003/04, representing an increase of 43% in the five years since 1998–1999.
1.4 Staff to Student ratio
In 2003–04, the number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) academic staff in the Faculty was 18.9,
giving a student: staff ratio of 30 in year ending 2004. This ratio was 26 in 1998–99.
1.5 Accommodation and Facilities
The core facilities of the Departments are located on the top floor of tower 1 in the Arts/science
complex.
2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Quality Review Group (QRG) consisted of: Professor Brian Caraher, Professor & Head of
Graduate Teaching and Research, School of English, Queen’s University Belfast (Chairman);
Professor Patricia Coughlan, Department of English, University College Cork; Professor Chris
Curtin, Department of Political Science & Sociology, NUI Galway; and Dr. Maria Tuohy, of the
Department of Biochemistry, NUI Galway acting as Rapporteur.
2.1 Summary and Concluding Remarks
o Staffing: In the view of this Group, the University must address the immediate staffing
needs of the Department of English:
(a) the academic needs (a minimum of two (2) fulltime, permanent staff appointments from
University funds and contract appointments for JYA teaching (at the discretion of the
Dean of Faculty)
and
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of English 2004–2005
(b) administrative needs (immediate filling of the two (2) vacant fulltime administrative
positions (one at a high grade).
o Physical Infrastructure: The Department of English is clearly struggling with inadequate
infrastructural provisions, especially with regard to appropriate and sufficient workspace. A
plan to rectify this situation needs to be agreed and implemented properly by the University.
o Library Facilities: The Library is essential to the teaching and research life of the
Department of English. It is evident that major improvements have taken place in the
Library, especially in the provision of electronic resources. However, a strong case exists
for additional University resources to be directed towards significant improvements in the
Library’s infrastructure and towards recurrent funding for significant increases in book
acquisitions. Grave concern was expressed by all respondents, staff and students, in this
regard.
o Faculty Involvement/Inter-disciplinary work: Appropriate recognition and reward of staff
participation in inter-disciplinary taught MA programmes, research projects and initiatives
within the Faculty of Arts needs to be taken into account in the University’s resource
allocation process. We recommend that the Dean of the Faculty be given a leading role in
advancing this issue, one that is crucially important to the healthy operation of the Faculty
of Arts as well as the Department of English.
o Staff-Postgraduate Consultative Committee: The QRG recommend the creation of a
Staff-Postgraduate consultative committee in the near future, to maintain and develop
further the existing good relations between the department and its students, especially in the
context of the growing numbers of taught and research postgraduate students in the
Department of English.
o Staff Research Mentoring: The QRG recommend that the Department of English put in
place a low-key research mentoring process for newly-recruited staff in order to ensure the
careful and professional development of research projects and profiles for all new and
newly-recruited members of staff.
o Research Management: The QRG recommend that the Department of English carefully
review all aspects of its proposal to create a post of ‘Director of Research’. Before
advancing this proposal, the Department as a whole should carefully explore the title,
purpose and its remit of this role, and should proceed by open discussion of the various
issues concerned.
o Research Seminar Programme: The review group discussed with the Department of
English the desirability of establishing a regular or weekly research seminar programme to
which all staff and postgraduate students contribute, and recommends the implementation of
this project.
o Staff Workload Profiles: The QRG recognises the existing effective and transparent
balance between agreed Departmental structures and workloads, on one hand, and practical
flexibility, on the other hand. In this context, the group recommends that the Department of
English explore flexible workload models or profiles reflecting career stages, career
pathways and progressions, and the variety of work carried out. To develop and implement
its own model along these lines, after appropriate consideration of such processes in place
internationally, would help the Department to nurture and improve the already good
working relationships in the Department, as well as clarify the depth and range of
Departmental work when it comes to making its case administratively for sustained and
enhanced resources at both Faculty and University levels.
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of English 2004–2005
3. Action Plans
Follow up Meeting Friday, 15th October, 2004
at 3.00 p.m. in Boardroom A132
Present: Professor J Browne – Registrar, Professor J Gosling – Director of Quality (Chair), Dr
M Tuohy – Review Group Rapporteur, Professor C Curtin – Review Group member, Professor J
Marshall – Dean of Arts, Professor K Barry - Head of Department, Dr M Hiney – Research
Office Representative, Dr. S Ryder, Dr. R O’Dwyer, Dr. D Carey, Dr. S Mooney, Professor T
Foley, Dr ML Coolahan, Dr. E Tilley, Dr A Frazier, Dr F McCormack, Dr. J Carlson, Ms. C
Carney, Ms. D. Mooney, Ms M Linnane & Ms G Lyons (in attendance).
Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Department welcomes the Report of the Review Group and has being working (with the
assistance of its new Academic Administrator grade IV appointed in April 2005) to
implement its recommendations in areas over which it has control, including:
a. The clarification and equalisation of staff responsibilities.
i. A set of basic documents to support administrative processes have been
drafted (including a Departmental Calendar, a description of Responsibilities
of Full-Time Lecturers for Each Course, and a Staff Workload Profile form).
ii. During 2005-06 each holder of a post of administrative responsibility will
provide a job-description of their particular role in order to facilitate a clear
understanding of such responsibilities.
b. The rotation of assigned management responsibilities with annual reviews of these
responsibilities.
c. The establishment by November 2005 of a Staff-Postgraduate Consultative
Committee.
d. Working with the Buildings Office to develop expanded and re-structured workspace
within Tower One.
2. In accord with its existing plans and the relevant recommendations in the Review Report,
the Department will continue to develop its research and scholarship:
a. The designation of a Departmental ‘Co-ordinator of Research’ has been agreed.
b. Both individual and team-based innovative research projects (including
interdisciplinary and inter-Departmental initiatives) will continue to be supported
fully.
c. ‘Staff Research Mentoring’ for newly recruited staff will be an item for discussion
within the Department in 2005-06.
d. A Departmental ‘Research Seminar Program’ has been agreed that will have special
focus on two annual Department Seminars, rather than on regular events throughout
the year. The Department will also support and make inputs to other relevant
research seminar series and events organised by the Faculty, CHSHC, the Centre for
Irish Studies etc.
Action Plan for University Management:
1. The University notes that the Review Report describes the Department of English as ‘highly
functional’ and that the Reviewers viewed it positively in the context of ‘departments of
English literary studies in these islands’.
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Report to Údarás – Review of Department of English 2004–2005
2. Resources allocated to the Department since the Review visit in January 2005:
a. Two new full-time academic appointments, including one funded by the JYA
Programme has been assigned to the English Department.
b. An Academic Administrator (Grade IV) was appointed in April 2005 and an
Administrative Assistant post will be filled on 1st October 2005.
c. The Buildings Office is working with the Department to develop expanded restructured workspace within Tower One due for completion in September 2006.
3. The Registrar stated that the University is committed fully to significant improvements in
the Library’s infrastructure and facilities, particularly with a view to facilitating the
expansion of research student numbers. The Department will be invited to contribute their
views during the Review of the James Hardiman Library in November 2005.
4. The Dean of Arts recognises and applauds the contributions of departments such as English
to inter-disciplinary taught programmes over many years. He has proposed the establishment
of a Centre for Inter-disciplinary Studies within the Arts faculty in order to support
contributors to various programmes and facilitate overall management.
5. The Director of Quality will support the Department in its continued development of
improved administrative procedures and practices. Approaches, procedures and processes
proven to work well in the Department of English may prove appropriate for wider
implementation across the University.
6. The Director of Quality will investigate how whole departments judged to be ‘highly
functional’ might be subject only to a ‘focused’ review in the next cycle, whereby, with the
agreement of the Dean, they could nominate one or more limited aspects of their activities
for more detailed consideration.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor K Barry, 4th October 2005
Approved by: Dean of Arts, Professor J Marshall, 16th November 2005
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J Browne, 8th November 2005
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr I MacLaren, 9th November 2005
Approved by: Research Office Administrator, Dr M Hiney, 28th October 2005
Finalised: 16 November 2005, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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