An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2003-2004
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Irish Centre for Human Rights
DRAFT, April 2005
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2003 to Dec 2003
10th-11th February, 2004
12th July, 2004
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, April 2005
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Report to Údarás – Review of Irish centre for Human Rights 2003–2004
1. Overview of Centre
The Irish Centre for Human Rights began operations in January 2000. In the late 1990s, the Law
Faculty succeeded with a funding proposal to Atlantic Philanthropies aimed at establishing a
world-class academic human rights centre. The University contributed a prestigious heritage
building, and agreed to create a professorship in human rights. Professor William Schabas was
appointed in late 1999 to this position, and designated as the first director of the Centre.
1.1 Background and Developments
The Irish Centre for Human Rights initially followed the approach outlined in the Faculty’s
funding proposal, of which there were several strands.
Post-graduate education.
An LLM programme in human rights was approved by the University and by September 2000
the first cohort of students, numbering approximately twenty, began a one-year programme. By
September 2003, the fourth cohort of the programme consisted of more than sixty students. The
degree had expanded to include two related programmes, the peace support LLM and the crossborder LLM (in partnership with Queen‚s University, Belfast).
In addition, the Centre began attracting a growing number of PhD students. These now
number approximately thirty. The Centre holds an annual one-week doctoral seminar, to which
prominent academics from around the world are invited for interaction with the PhD student
population. These students have been very successful in obtaining outside funding, notably
from the HEA (currently six doctoral fellowships).
The dramatic and quite unexpected growth in student numbers has justified increases in
the teaching faculty at the Centre, and two additional full-time lecturers have been recruited,
one in 2002 and the other in 2003, to meet the growing needs.
The Centre has also become an active participant in two EU-sponsored master’s in
human rights programmes, based in Venice and Malta. In 2003, ten students from these two
programmes spent a semester at the Centre.
Other teaching.
It was also anticipated that the Centre would develop a summer programme of some sort. In
2000, it announced a one-week summer course on the International Criminal Court. Some of
the world’s leading experts on the subject have participated as faculty. Now entering its fifth
year, the course attracts between sixty and eighty students each year, from around the world. In
2001, the Centre offered a second specialised summer programme, on the international legal
protection of minorities. It has had success similar to that of the ICC course, and draws an
equally prestigious faculty. In 2001, the Centre also developed a partnership with four US law
schools, led by the New England School of Law, to offer a summer programme in human rights.
Hosted by the Centre, it draws about fifty US law students each year.
Contract research.
The plan for the Irish Centre for Human Rights called for the development of contract research,
which would gradually, over a seven-year period, provide income sufficient to make the Centre
self-sustaining from a financial standpoint. Within the first year of operation, the Centre
positioned itself to coordinate a major project funded by the European Commission within the
context of its EU-China dialogue. By late 2001, the contract had effectively been finalised, and
three full-time staff members were recruited. The first phase of the project (2002-2003) had a
total value of approximately €1.5 million. The project helped position the Centre at the heart of
a network of the major human rights research centres in the European Union. In 2001, the
Centre developed a second contract research programme with the United States Institute of
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Peace. Known as the ‘applicable law project’, its objective is the preparation of a body of
criminal law to be used by the UN in peacekeeping and post-conflict environments. Several
expert meetings were hosted by the Centre. The results were presented at a major international
meeting organised by the Centre held in Geneva in June 2003 under the chairmanship of the
Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Individual and team research.
Faculty and students at the Centre generate a considerable body of research, with several books
and scores of journal articles to their credit. Of particular note is a publishing culture that has
developed among the PhD and LLM students, many of whom publish regularly in reputable
international legal journals.
Conferences.
The Centre has hosted three major international conferences. In 2001, it held a conference on
the abolition of capital punishment, in cooperation with the Université de Paris II; in 2002, it
held a conference on the relationship between truth commissions and criminal prosecution, in
cooperation with the International Centre for Transitional Justice and the US Institute of Peace;
in 2003, it hosted the bi-annual meeting of the International Association of Genocide Scholars,
at which some 200 of the world‚s experts attended. In addition, the Centre regularly hosts
seminars, symposia and guest lectures.
Service.
In the field of human rights, what is often labelled ‘service’‚ in other university departments
takes on the form of ‘advocacy’. The Centre has taken public positions on issues of importance
from time to time. For example, in May 2003 it made a public statement condemning racist
comments by two Irish judges that attracted significant media attention. Members of the Centre
have been active in a range of human rights activities, for international organisations such as the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, and NGOs such as Amnesty International,
FLAC, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Handicap International, SOS Torture and
FrontLine.
2. Review Group Visit and Report
This report arises from a visit by a review group to the Irish Centre for Human Rights on the
10th-11th February, 2004. The Department had already prepared and submitted a 'Self
Assessment Report' that, with other documentation, was made available to the Group well in
advance of the visit.
The Review Group consisted of: Ms Angela Hegarty, School of Law, University of
Ulster, (Chairperson); Professor Colin Harvey, School of Law, University of Leeds; Ms. Jane
Liddy, Former President of the first Chamber of European Commission of Human Rights; Dr.
Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Department of Political Science and Sociology, National University of
Ireland, Galway; and Dr. David O’Sullivan, Department of Industrial Engineering, National
University of Ireland, Galway acting as Rapporteur.
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2.1 Summary, and Main Recommendations from Report
This is a Centre of very high international standing and regard, a status which it has achieved in
a remarkably short period of time. In many ways the centre is a global model of its kind and the
reviewers were tremendously impressed with the energy, commitment, work rate and
entrepreneurial approach adopted throughout the Centre. Its contribution to the University, to
the country and to the global understanding and promotion of human rights is significant and
unique.
The Centre has very clear aims and objectives and a very highly motivated staff and
student body. The range of activities is impressive, but its primary focus is, and should remain,
research. There has been a natural expansion into teaching, which is to be commended, as it
goes beyond what was expected. This expansion brings with it a need for the re-calibration of
the Centre’s priorities and also the responsibilities necessary for the delivery of quality teaching
and pastoral care of students.
In conclusion, the review group expresses its gratitude to all of those at the Centre and
the university who facilitated its visit and who allowed the reviewers to learn more about the
very important work being undertaken at the centre. We make our recommendations in the hope
that they will, if implemented, make that work even better.
™ Aims and Objectives
¾ The Centre should continue to explore its relationship and work to strengthen lines of
communication on a routine basis with the Law Faculty and School of Law with a view
to participating in ‘law’ development within the University and collaborating across
research and learning programmes. The reviewers recommend the establishment of
annual or biannual meetings between senior personnel in the Law Faculty, Law School
and the Centre to discuss areas of common interest in research and teaching.
¾ In preparing for future quality reviews we recommend that more attention be given to
ensuring that the documentation adhere to the quality assurance guidelines e.g. provision
of external examiner reports and student surveys.
™ Organisation and Management
¾ In order to facilitate the aims and objectives of the Centre that a clear and effective
management structure be put in place.
¾ These procedures should address issues such as absence of staff, in particular senior
staff, during the normal academic year and the increased workloads of administrative
and academic staff. A clear description of the respective roles of director and deputy
director should be produced.
¾ More structured management of all staff loads at the centre with visible and written
allocation of workloads,
¾ The administrative burden in the Centre has naturally increased and there is a need to set
clear limits to the workload of administrative staff.
¾ The Centre needs to do more to ensure that the workload on PhD fellows does not
expand beyond contractual requirements. This is necessary in order to protect students’
research time.
™ Programmes and Instruction
¾ The Centre should institute quality assurance mechanisms for its teaching such as the
following: staff-student committee with formal minutes and actions; a comprehensive
student handbook; induction sessions for new students including PhD students; the
circulation of external examiner reports to staff; avail of staff training programmes
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available on campus; timetables and class rescheduling that is sensitive to the learning
needs of all students; ensure the consistency of the application of assignment deadlines;
ensure consistent moderation of marking across all programmes;
¾ The Centre should conduct student surveys for all courses and programmes run through
the Centre.
¾ This is a time to consolidate rather than expand teaching activity and ensure than
commitments to existing students are underpinned by appropriate resources particularly
in the area of library and computer facilities
¾ The University should make an investment in significantly upgrading the book
collection relating to human rights available to student through the University library
¾ Channel some resources into significantly upgrading the centres web site to make it
more collaborative and central to the exchange of communications between staff and
students.
¾ The Centre should consider cutting back on the range of optional courses available to
LLM students as the range of courses is wider than is necessary.
™ Scholarship and Research
¾ There should be clear guidelines regarding supervision routines and expectations for
Ph.D students.
¾ PhD completion rate needs to be monitored
¾ The University should develop measures to gauge research output.
™ Community Service
¾ Feeding back knowledge to Irish community: in this respect the reviewers cannot ignore
the fact that the European Convention on Human Rights with its body of 50 years case
law has been incorporated into Irish law with effect from this year and that Irish society
would benefit greatly from expertise of the calibre to be found within the Centre.
3. Follow up Meeting
Monday, 12th July, 2004
The Seminar Room, Irish Centre for Human Rights
Present: Professor Jim Gosling - Director of Quality (Chair), Professor Jim Browne (Registrar),
Professor Gerard Quinn (Dean of Law), Professor Gerard Hurley (Acting Dean of Research),
Ms Jane Liddy (Review Group), Dr Niall O Dochartaigh (Review Group), Dr David O’Sullivan
(Review Group), Professor William Schabas, Dr Ray Murphy, Dr Vinodh Jaichand, Ms Fiona
Gardiner, Ms Sinead Beacom, Ms Vivienne O’Connor, Ms M Linnane (in attendance)
3.1 Action Plan for the Director and Centre:
1. To clarify the Centre’s policies and procedures and to codify its ‘institutional memory’, the
Centre has established a Policies and Procedures Manual (P&PM), to be kept in a loose-leaf
binder, organised by subject with tabs and kept by the Administrator. Agreed items for the
P&PM will be signed off by the Director. An electronic form of the Manual will be
maintained also and distributed to all staff as additions and changes are made.
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2. In preparation for future quality reviews, more attention will be given to ensuring that the
documentation specified in quality assurance guidelines is generated as part of normal
practice. This will be noted in the P&P Manual under ‘Quality Review’
3. Biannual meetings between senior personnel from the Centre, the Law Faculty, the Law
School will take place to discuss areas of common interest in research and teaching. The
first meeting took place on 14th September 2004.
4. An organigramme will be prepared and circulated by the Director before 30 September
2004, and will be included in the P&P Manual. This will have the roles, responsibilities and
workloads of individual members of faculty and staff, including the Director and Deputy
Director, Administrative Assistant, and sector and programme heads. It will include also
procedures to address issues such as absence of staff during the normal academic year.
5. The Director will appoint a committee with responsibility for the Centre’s website, general
brochures and other Centre publications, and public relations before 30 September 2004.
6. Because of the high and growing number of post-graduate students at the Centre, an audit of
current physical resources will be completed by 31 October, and a proposal made to
University Management for further assistance with resources in the area of library and
computer facilities.
7. Given limitations on resources, the Centre will consolidate rather than expand teaching
activity and act to ensure that commitments to existing students are underpinned by
appropriate resources.
8. The Centre, with the aid of Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, will conduct
student surveys for all courses and programmes for which the Centre has responsibility,
starting in the second semester 2004–05.
9. A staff-student Committee for the LLM Programme was established in September 2004, and
has monthly meetings and minutes that record issues raised, actions taken and outcomes.
The director or deputy-director will be an ex officio member of the committee.
10. The Centre has prepared a comprehensive student handbook, in consultation with current
undergraduate and postgraduate students, which will be updated on a regular basis.
11. The intensive induction session for students delivered last September will be repeated
annually, with enhanced additional activities, such as film, a major debate or discussion and
social events.
12. The administration and delivery of programmes and courses will be kept under review. In
particular,:
a. A policy on timetables and class rescheduling which is sensitive to the learning
needs of all students will be prepared, by 30 September 2004
b. Simple guidelines on student observance of formal deadlines for the submission of
course work will be prepared by 30 September 2004, but these will also recognise
that individual lecturers must have some flexibility.
13. Internal guidelines on procedures for PhD students will be revised in line with developments
at University level. In the meantime, the progress of each individual PhD will be monitored
by the Administrator based upon information from both student and supervisor. Provisional
guidelines for supervision will also be drafted. Also, the duties and standard workload for
PhD student assistants will be clarified in writing.
14. The Director will make the creation of a University collection of books, documents and
other records relating to human rights of national significance a high priority. The Director,
in consultation will the Librarian and the University Foundation, will prepare a plan directed
to this end by January 2005. The Quality Office has obtained support for this project from
the HEA/NDP Quality Improvement Programme.
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3.2 Action Plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar agrees that the workloads on academic staff have increased as a result of
increased requirements for legal compliance and agrees with the need to develop a system of
workload models. The University will act on the report from an IUQB sectoral project on
this subject, expected in late 2005
2. The Registrar will ensure that the regulations and guidelines for research degrees will be
revised when the report for the IUQB project on ‘Good Practice in the Administration of
PhD Programmes is ready in early 2005.
3. The Registrar agreed to review the procedures for securing, handling and responding to
external examiners’ reports and will place more emphasis on chasing up missing external
examiners’ reports.
4. The Quality Office will provide support by way of a professional facilitator for a workshop
(to be held by Easter 2005) to examine the allocation of administrative duties and
administration loads in the Centre.
5. The Acting Dean of Research is working to develop measures to gauge research output e.g.
minimum standards of research output in terms of usual elements; number of publications in
peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, etc., with a view to establishing a system that
conforms to emerging national norms by January 2005.
6. Since the Follow Up Meeting, a Law Faculty Intranet has been set up. Among other things,
this allows the recording of the movement of individual postgraduate research students
through their programmes.
Approved by: Director, Professor William Schabas, 31 August 2004
Approved by: Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Quinn, 1 February 2005
Approved by: Representative of the Research Office, Dr Maura Hiney, 11 March 2005
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr Iain MacLaren, 11 April 2005
Approved by: Registrar, Professor James Browne, 25 February, 2005
Finalised: 11 April 2005 Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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