An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2004-2005
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of Political Science and Sociology
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2004 to Jan 2005
23rd & 24th February, 2005
20th June 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, February 2006
2
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Activities of the Department
The Department of Political Science and Sociology aims to provide high quality teaching,
research and service to the University and the wider community. A major departmental strength
is its explicit integration of core ideas in both sociology and politics. The Department is a major
contributor to four undergraduate programmes in the Faculty of Arts – The BA Sociological and
Political Studies, the BA in Public and Social Policy, the BA in Economic and Social Studies
(Years 1 and 2 at St. Angela’s College, Sligo) and the (Evening) BA in Behavioural, Social and
Health Sciences. It also contributes to undergraduate teaching in the Faculties of Medicine and
Engineering. The Department delivers three taught postgraduate programmes: MA in
Community Development, MA in Social Work and the Higher Diploma/Masters in Family
Support Studies. It is also a major contributor to Interdisciplinary Masters Programmes in Rural
Development, Culture and Colonialism, Irish Studies and Information Technology.
The Department aims to provide an environment which is conductive to excellence in
the execution of research and publication of research findings. Despite a very adverse staffstudent ratio, members of the Department have continued to produce an extensive range of
publications including books, book chapters and journal articles. The Department aims to add
to the international recognition of its research output and to expand its international research
collaborations.
In addition to its teaching and research programmes, the Department is very conscious of
its obligations to the wider university community and to its local and regional communities.
Members have been very active on university committees, interdisciplinary course boards,
research committees and have represented the University on a variety o national committees.
The Department has been a major contributor to the University’s Continuing Education and
Summer School Programmes.
1.2 Background
In recent years the department has under gone major growth in student and staff numbers and in
the numbers of courses offered and, at the time of the review visit, new premises were under
cnstruction.
1.3 Student numbers
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department was 642 in the year
2003/04, representing an increase of 63% 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 23.1,
giving a student: staff ratio of 28 in year ending 2004. This ratio was 22 in 1998–99, but had
peaked at 41 in 2001/02.
1.5 Accommodation and Facilities
The core facilities of the Departments were located in Tower 1 in the Arts/science complex and
at a other locations across campus at the time of the review; but as of February 2006 the move
to the new Árus Moyola, north of the Quincentennial Bridge, is nearly complete.
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007
3
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Review Group (RG)consisted of Professor Henri Goverde (Radboud University Nijmegen,
The Netherlands), Mr. Brian Keary (University of Limerick, Chair), Ms. Catherine Forde
(University College Cork), Dr. Margaret Barry (NUI Galway) and Dr. Michael P. Carty
(Rapporteur, NUI Galway). Documents, including a Self-Assessment Report, were supplied in
advance to the Group.
2.1 Summary and Recommendations from Report
Summary
As noted at the outset of this report, the RG acknowledges the tremendous work of the
Department of Political Science and Sociology in performing its role in undergraduate teaching,
and taught postgraduate programmes, and the positive experience reported by the students of the
Department. The dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism of the staff are of the highest
order. The RG also commends the development of post-graduate research initiatives, and the
research output of the staff.
The Department should consolidate and build on its positive achievements to date,
which include the following: the critical mass of staff and students in the Department, the
presence of a national and internationally visible group of talented researchers, the support of
the community as well as professionals for the three taught MA programmes, and the goodwill
the Department has accrued in its relationships with higher administrative levels in NUI
Galway. Based on these developments, the RG would like to invite the Department to give
priority in its Departmental Academic Plan 2005-2010 to positioning the Department as a
nationally and internationally recognised centre of academic quality based on its teaching,
research and practice contributions in the field of Political Science and Sociology. However, to
achieve this, the Department must (i) prioritise its activities, and (ii) develop a highly strategic
and planned approach to its future development. By taking these actions, the Department will
be strengthened, and better positioned to embark on the next stage of its development.
Recommendations
Aims, Objectives and Planning
1. The Department, with the support of Faculty and the University should actively address issues arising
from increasing internationalization, and take advantage of the resulting opportunities to enhance the
profile of the Department.
2.
The central university administration should implement an information management system that provides
individual departments with readily accessible data on student registration, completion rates, and general
progression patterns within and across taught programmes.
Organisation and Management
3. Introduction of a mentoring programme for new staff by more experienced staff.
4.
In the light of the undergraduate student numbers, the new Masters programmes, and increased staff
numbers, the RG strongly recommends that the number of administrative positions should be significantly
increased. In line with the follow-up meeting of the previous quality review, these positions should be
funded from central resources. In this regard, the position of the present part-time administrative assistant
should be regularised, without further delay.
Programmes and courses
a) Undergraduate Courses
5. The RG believes that the number of undergraduate students has reached the limit of viability. We
recommend that no further increase in undergraduate numbers be permitted without the addition of
considerable resources. We are, however, unsure of how this can be implemented, as it is not within the
power of the Department to do so; it would appear that the issue must be addressed at the level of the
Faculty of Arts. This is a crucial issue that must be addressed.
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007
4
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
6.
While recognising the commitment of the staff to small group teaching and the students’ appreciation of
this form of teaching, the RG recommends that the Department evaluate the number and content of the
optional courses offered in third year.
7. Mindful of its recommendation that student numbers not be increased, the RG recommends that the
feasibility of a moderatorship (double major) in Sociological and Political Studies be explored. This
initiative, if implemented, could assist the Department in achieving international accreditation.
8. The difficulties experienced by the students on the BA in Public and Social Policy must be addressed.
The RG realises that while these are not problems that emanate from the Department under review, the
problems do impinge on students of the Department. The RG strongly recommends that an external
examiner be appointed to the course, and that a course review be undertaken under the aegis of the Faculty
of Arts. It suggests that, in the meantime, responsibilities for course coordination not be changed in the
middle of the course of study of a cohort of students.
9. The RG recognises the efforts that staff members make to distribute lecture notes and other course
material to students. They also note the positive evaluation given by the students to the new BlackBoard
system. The RG recommends that the Department give consideration to increased utilization of this
system. Moreover, the RG is of the opinion that the Department should explore with CELT ways in which
the delivery of courses to the large student numbers could be facilitated and improved, and the way in
which the courses delivered on out-reach campuses, such as the degree in Economics and Social Studies
in Sligo, could be enriched by applying developments in Information Technology.
10. The RG recommends that, in conjunction with CELT, the feasibility of using specific computer software
packages to identify instances of plagiarism be explored.
11. While the Department and its staff are very much aware of the necessity to make special provision for
students with special needs and do so within the constraints placed upon them, the major difficulty which
students with special needs face results from the configuration of buildings and teaching space. The
Review group therefore recommends that the issue of physical access for all students be given a high
priority by the University.
b) Postgraduate Programmes
12. The RG supports the commitment of the Department to carry out a feasibility study on the development of
a taught Masters programme in Sociological and Political Science. The Department should seriously
consider the possibility of introducing a Masters degree in this area, or a Masters in Governance and
Public Management that would be more field-based in nature. These Masters courses should incorporate
an international dimension.
13. There should be a review of assessment procedures on the MSW programme. In particular, the RG
recommends that the MSW team reconsider the use of formal examination as a method of assessment.
This recommendation is being made in the knowledge that equivalent programmes in other Irish
universities do not utilize formal examinations as a means of assessment.
14. Ongoing attention must be paid to the relationship between the Department and the organizations and
agencies that provide practice placements for students. Placements are the lifeblood of the taught
postgraduate degrees, and good relations need to be maintained between the University and these
organizations (see also Section 5, below).
15. The Department should develop and implement guidelines on best practice regarding Ph.D. and M.Litt.
supervision and monitoring of student progress.
16. Ph.D. students should be encouraged to present and discuss their work-in-progress at seminars or minisymposia specifically aimed at these students. These seminars or mini-symposia would constitute
protected space where students would gain confidence in presenting their ideas and responding to those of
others.
17. In order to facilitate the recruitment of more Ph.D. students, the Department should explore a scheme of
small-scale fellowships that would make it financially more feasible for greater numbers of graduates to
commence Ph.D. studies while seeking others sources of funding.
Scholarship and Research
18. Develop a Strategic Research Plan for the Department that will facilitate the realisation of the research
aims outlined on the Departmental Academic Plan 2005-2010.
19. Give consideration to the benefits of actively pursuing external sources of research funding to facilitate
research in the Department.
20. Take strategic decisions at departmental level regarding the balancing of staff time and resources in
respect of research and teaching.
21. Support the development of research by new members of staff, for example through establishing a formal
mentoring system.
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007
5
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
22. The office of the Vice-President for Research should be responsive to and support the particular needs of
researchers in the social sciences and humanities.
Community Service
23. Put in place formal structures that ensure continued success in the interaction between the various Masters
programmes and professional bodies and institutions, including a system for monitoring placement
students.
24. Consolidate sustainable relations with institutions in the relevant praxis to ensure that the Department is
well positioned to deal with issues arising from accreditation, and from the development of new
postgraduate curriculae.
3. Action Plans
Follow up Meeting, 20th June, 2005
The Seminar Room, 1st Floor, Tower 1, Arts Science Building
Present: Professor J Browne – Registrar, Professor J Gosling - Director of Quality (Chair), Dr Michael Carty –
Review Group Rapporteur, Professor J Marshall – Dean of Arts, Professor C Curtin - Head of Department, Dr M
Hiney – Research Office Representative, Dr B Flynn, Ms V Malesevic, Dr M Haugaard, Dr A Byrne, Mr D G Igoe,
Mr K Ryan, Dr M Millar, Dr H Rau, Dr V Veeran, Ms Maureen Linnane (in attendance).
3.1 Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Departmental will continue to plan for its future development, with a view to having a
revised strategic plan completed by June 2006, taking the following matters into account:
a. The development of ‘an environment conductive to excellence’ so as to achieve
national and international recognition for teaching, research and practice
contributions.
b. Strategic planning for research, including the realisation of the research aims
outlined on the Departmental Academic Plan 2005-2010.
c. Measures to increase internationalisation. (An MA programme in cooperation with
Wageningen University, the Netherlands has already been developed, and as well
there is active participation in the Erasmus/Socrates programmes.)
2. The Department will continue to develop its taught programmes, taking the following
matters into account, before June 2006:
a. The advantages and disadvantages of introducing a double major in Sociological and
Political Studies.
b. The use of the Blackboard System to facilitate the delivery of courses and learnigng
resources to large numbers of students (dependent on outcome of pilot programme in
the Department of English).
c. The number and content of optional courses in third year.
d. In conjunction with the Dean and the other participating departments, the
appointment of an external examiner for the BA in Public and Social Policy, and an
internal review of this Programme.
e. Working with the James Hardiman Library to impove student satisfaction with
access to relevant materials.
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007
6
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
f. The use of computer software to screen student work for instances of plagiarism (in
conjunction with CELT).
g. The recommendations (i) that assessment procedures on the MSW programme be
reviewed at the endof its first cycle and (ii) that the relationships with agencies that
provide practice placements for MSW students be developed further. A part-time
Placement Co-ordinator for the Masters in Social Work Programme will be
appointed in 2005-2006.
h. The importance of the international accreditation of all appropriate programmes.
i. Improving its established policy aimed at balancing staff time committed to teaching
and research.
3. With respect to the organisation and distribution of workloads, the Department, over the
academic year 2005–06, will:
a. Introduce a mentoring system for all new staff,
b. Review procedures for allocating responsibilities and workloads,
c. Create two Academic Co-ordinator posts, the holders will carry out both
administrative and teaching duties. (Dependant of extra resources from the Junior
Year Abroad Programme.)
4. The Department will increase it emphasis on the M.Litt and Ph.D. research degrees while
implementing the following over the academic year 2005–06:
a. Facilitation of the monitoring of student engagement and success by enrolling all
research studentsin the M.Litt programme in the first instance.
b. In conjunction with the University and the Faculty, revision of procedures and
practices regarding the supervision of research students, the monitoring of progress
and final examination.
c. In conjunction with the Faculty, the introduction of a scheme of small-scale
fellowships to encourage more graduates to undertake Ph.D. level research.
d. Expansion of capacity by collaborations with a number of European universities.
e. The greater encouragement of Ph.D. students to present their work at departmental
seminars and at national and international conferences.
5. The Department will actively seek to expand the quality and quantity of research by a range
of measures, including:
a. Pursuing external sources of research funding with increased vigour,
b. Making a specific effort to support the research activities of new members of staff
through the establishment of formal research mentoring.
3.2 Action Plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar supports the rapid implementation of the reforms of the administration of
research degree programmes outlined in the recent IUQB report, and will work to ensure
that necessary actions of the University level will be in place by June 2006.
2. The Registrar is committed to improving the supply of management information (including
student registration, completion rates, and general progression patterns) to academic
departments and will support measures for the development of Institutional Research that
may be identified in Mark Putnam’s Report due in November 2005.
3. The Dean, with the Quality Office and CELT, will organise a series of seminars and
workshops with an external consultant on the assessment of student learning for members of
the Arts Faculty on 26 and 27 September 2005. Issues to be covered include the
diversification of assessment, marking ranges and quality control.
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007
7
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Political Science and Sociology 2004–2005
4. The Office of the Vice-President for Research will continue to support the particular needs
of researchers in the social sciences and humanities, and, on invitation will give a
customised presentation in the Department.
5. The Quality Office has received funding under the NDP/HEA Quality Improvement Scheme
(part of Strategic Initiatives) to aid the Department in research planning and in developing
and expanding its research programmes.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor C Curtin, 20th September 2005
Approved by: Dean of Arts, Professor J Marshall, 28th September 2005
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J Browne, 29th September 2005
Approved by: The Research Office Administrator, Dr M Hiney, 21st September 2005
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr I MacLaren, 9th November 2005
Finalised: 9th November 2005, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
File name, Print date
PolScSocUdarasRep5
4/25/2007