An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2002-2003
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of Bacteriology
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2002 to Jan 2003
3–4 Feb, 2003
4 June 2003
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, March 2004
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Bacteriology 2003
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aim of the Department
To achieve the highest possible standard in teaching and research related to the discipline of
clinical microbiology.
1.2 Background
The current Professor of Bacteriology was appointed in 1999 and also acts as Consultant
Microbiologist in University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) and Director of the National
Salmonella Laboratory. The current Senior Lecturer was appointed in 1979 and is also a fulltime Consultant Microbiologist in UCHG.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
MB
Diploma/Degree in Nursing Studies
BE in Biomedical Engineering
BSc in Microbiology
HDip’s in Nursing
MMedSc
MSc in Occupational Health and Ergonomics
The Department also has 2 research students registered for a PhD degree and takes part in the
supervision of another located externally.
1.4 Student numbers
The number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) students in the Department was 17 in the year
2001/02.
1.5 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 1.3 in 2001/02 giving a
staff student ratio of 13.1 in 2001/02, as compared to a Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty
average of 17.1. There were also a senior technician, a technician and a half-time
secretary/administrator.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (€12,814 for direct costs and €15,508 for all costs)
was greater than the Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty average (€6625 and €8412,
respectively) (2001/02 figures).
Note: Because of the complexity of resource allocation to the Medical and Health Sciences
Faculty the above figures and cannot be compared with confidence to those from other faculties
and may not agree with internal departmental estimates.
1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located mainly in the Clinical Science Institute on the University College
Hospital Galway campus.
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2. Review Group Visit and Report
This report arises from a visit by a Review Group to the Department of Bacteriology on 3–4
February, 2003. The Department had already prepared and submitted a 'Self Assessment
Report' that, with other documentation, was made available to the review team in advance of the
visit.
One other department was reviewed during the same visit, namely the Department of
Pathology. The review group report for Pathology is a separate document similar to this one.
The Review Group consisted of Professor Hilary Humphreys, Dept. of Clinical
Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI, Dublin (Chairperson), Dr Mary Sheppard,
Department of Histopathology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, Professor Emer Colleran,
Department of Microbiology, NUI, Galway (Cognate), Mr. Brendan Flynn of the CFA and
Department of Political Science and Sociology (Rapporteur)
2.1 Summary, and Main Recommendations from Report
By way of summary, [the group stressed] a number of crucial insights and suggestions.
1. The Department is at a critical juncture as regards its development. A continued focus on
balanced excellence needs to be maintained, paying attention to the mix of clinical
demands, teaching and research. Currently heavy clinical loads and teaching
commitments tend to dominate what is already a very impressive research track record,
given time and staff resources.
2. We strongly advocate as a matter of urgency the provision of at least one additional nonclinical permanent member of staff, who would reduce teaching loads for the Head of
Department and other staff, and undertake some of the management of the PhD research
programme. In our view it is imperative that the UMT support such a position as soon as
possible.
3. There is a need to confirm the Department’s status as a full academic unit with the
appropriate extra resources that this entails given its excellent research potential. What is
particularly needed is greater evidence of support from within Faculty and the UMT.
This also requires a more assertive effort on the part of the Department itself.
4. External communications need to be improved upon. There is a need for a more assertive
style of participation in Faculty, UMT and WHB deliberations.
5. In general, we were highly impressed with the standard of teaching and instruction. It is
clear there is a culture of teaching that is of a very highest standard.
6. Outstanding potential as regards research in particular needs to be nurtured and
prioritised over the coming years. We advocate that one greater focus for expanding the
research effort should be in building up internal University links and synergies with
other units and departments (Microbiology, BMES, etc.).
7. In particular we would reiterate the link between staffing issues and the Department’s
research potential. It is vital that the UMT appreciate the need for funding new staff, that
can free senior consultant staff to produce work for journals of international repute. A
failure to provide these resources will be, in effect, reducing the potential for highly
significant research to emerge.
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3. Follow up Meeting
9.30 a.m. Wednesday, 4 June 2003
Present: Professor Jim Browne - Registrar, Professor Jim Gosling - Director of Quality (Chair),
Dr Tony Carney – Dean of Medicine & Health Sciences, Professor Gerard Hurley – Dean of
Research, Professor Martin Cormican, Dr Geraldine Corbett-Feeney, Ms Mary Whelan, Mrs
Victoria Buckley, Ms Maureen Linnane (Quality Office) in attendance.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department:
1. As its Response to the Review Report, the Department has prepared a strategic plan that
lays out longer and medium term objectives and describes the extra resources needed.
The new name being considered is the ‘Department of Infection and Immunity’.
2. If persuaded that a new approach will be effective, the Department will enhance its
interactions with University Management by adopting a more positive and assertive
style.
3. The Department has held a meeting with the relevant staff from the Registrar’s Office
requesting additional resources for the Department.
4. As improved resources become available (see actions 1, 2, 3 for University
Management), research productivity will be enhanced by expanding links with other
departments and the new research centres and institutes.
5. With respect to the medical curriculum and its delivery, if adequately supported the
department will:
•
Continue to participate in medical curriculum development, with a view to having
greater attention put on syllabus coherence, course organisation and appropriate
examination methods.
•
Explore with other medical departments how the teaching of related areas may be
more coordinated and integrated.
3.2 Action plan for University Management
1. The Registrar and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences will
continue to develop an academic staffing model for the Faculty as a whole, which is
expected to be complete by June 2003; after which time the Registrar will support a
decision in relation to the provision of at least one additional non-clinical permanent
member of staff for the Department of Bacteriology.
2. The Dean of Medicine and Health Sciences supported the need to confirm the
Department’s status as a full academic unit with the appropriate extra resources that its
excellent research potential entails.
3. The Registrar will liase with the Department in relation to the conversion of existing
contract posts to permanent posts.
4. The Registrar and the Dean will encourage the creation of larger academic units within
the Faculty which would allow the more efficient use of resources; and will encourage
the Department to participate (perhaps in a united department or school of Clinical
Laboratory Medicine) while ensuring the integrity of ‘medical microbiology’ as a
discipline.
5. The Registrar will work to bring about the establishment of a formal WHB/NUI, Galway
Strategic Group to which existing WHB/NUI Galway working Groups would report.
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This commitment will be adapted to suit the new national system for the management of
hospitals and health services.
6. The Dean of Medicine and Health Science will allocate to the Department a portion of
some extra space that has become available.
7. The Dean of Research will work with the Department/Faculty in providing/developing:
•
•
•
•
An information session on grant applications/proposals to the Millennium Fund and to the
main funding bodies, with emphasis on support for younger staff and for proposals involving
other departments in the Faculty and University.
Appropriate support for contract staff wishing to establish a research programme.
Research methodology training.
A register of research projects in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor Martin Cormican, 10 July 2003
Approved by: Dean of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dr P A Carney, 1 August 2003
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor Gerard Hurley, 6 August 2003
Approved by: Registrar, Professor James Browne, 18 July 2003
Approved by: Director of CELT, Dr I MacLaren, 1 September 2003
Finalised: 1 September 2003, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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