An Coiste FeabhaisAcadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2002 - 2003
REVIEW OF
DEPARTMENT OF ITALIAN
Final Report
6th May, 2003
Department of Italian: Review Group Report
This report arises from a visit by a review team to the Department of Italian on the 4th and 5th of March,
2003. The Department had already prepared and submitted a 'Self Assessment Report' that, with other
documentation, was made available to the review team well in advance of the visit.
The review team consisted of Professor Sharon Wood, Professor of Italian and Head of School of
Modern Languages, University of Leicester (Chairperson); Professor Eduardo Saccone, Head of
Department, Department of Italian, University College Cork; An tOllamh Pádraig Ó Gormaile,
Department of French, NUI, Galway; and Dr Niall W. A. Geraghty of the CFA acting as rapporteur.
The report is structured to cover the following main topics:
1. Aims and Objectives
2. Organization and management
3. Programmes and Instruction
4. Scholarship and Research
5. Community Service
6. The Wider Context
7. Summary and Concluding Remarks
1.
Aims and Objectives
The Review Group (RG) noted the objectives of establishing the Department on a national
and international level as a centre of excellence in Italian studies, and of playing a significant role
within the Arts and other Faculties within NUI, Galway. The Italian Department seeks to offer a
programme which brings students to a high level of efficiency in both spoken and written language,
while introducing them to key areas of Italian culture and history, and fostering their critical and
analytical skills. The RG considered that in general the aims and objectives of the Department are
seriously jeopardized by the fact that there is only one permanent staff member currently in post, in
addition to one full-time contract person. However it is equally clear that the Italian Department
provides an impressive range of activities despite the obviously severe resource constraints. The very
high quality of the teaching provided is evident from students’ comments in particular. In addition
pastoral care is a high departmental priority and in practice is evident in the very friendly,
approachable atmosphere that pertains. The Italian Department has very happy students and there is
very clear evidence of excellent staff-student liaison; this is most definitely a clearly student-centred
department that achieves one of the vital strands of the NUI, Galway Strategic Plan for the next five
years.
With regard to research, valuable and impressive research activity, including the preparation
and publication of pedagogical material is taking place on an ongoing basis. The RG concurs that
every effort is being made to offer a full range of courses in Italian Studies and in language instruction.
The department therefore meets its “Aims and Objectives”, albeit almost miraculously, despite
unexpected staff changes and the consequent serious interruption of the Department’s previously
agreed 5-year plan.
2.
Organization and management
The RG could see that the management of the Department is democratic and that
organisational details are carried out with the full participation of appropriate staff. Every attempt is
made to ensure a fair distribution of certain administrative tasks over a range of staff with varying
grades of status, although the fact that there are two vacant permanent posts in the Department makes it
difficult to integrate part-time staff in this way. Therefore, it is also evident that a considerable burden
falls on the Head of Department, in form of teaching, administration and management tasks. This
situation is seriously exacerbated by the staffing shortfall that, in addition, has led inevitably to the
limitation of optional courses in some cases. The organisation of the teaching activities at the moment
means that a considerable amount of lecturing and associated tasks for Arts students has depended on
the continued availability of a retired staff member who will no longer be available as of Summer
2003, thus necessitating immediate action to resolve the staffing issue. Applied Italian is essentially a
separate entity with little prospect of integration into the Arts area because of the existing workload
and timetabling constraints. It is particularly impressive for example that, despite the staffing situation,
all examination material is currently double marked. While teaching loads are reasonable the staff
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Department of Italian: Review Group Report
would benefit in the future from a transparent set of workload data to include all departmental
commitments: including teaching, research supervision, administration, personal research. The RG
could see that the department strives to achieve a realistic application of Health and Safety standards in
an academic setting. However the apparent absence of appropriate university support staff was
highlighted in the transporting of heavy packages to the Arts Millennium Building (AMB), and in the
moving of audio-visual teaching equipment etc. between the AMB and teaching rooms on the
Concourse.
The RG considered that quite an amazing amount of activity is being conducted in a seriously
under-resourced department and expressed its admiration that such a lot is being done by so few. In
addition the Italian department provides a positive projection of the image of Italian in the community
at large and enjoys as a result a high public profile for a small academic department.
With regard to financial resources, it is disturbing that the special financial support that had
been made available to the Department by the University over a defined period of time had apparently
been frozen subsequently. This would be particularly disturbing since the funding was used in part for
the two very successful, high profile public lecture series organised by the Department. The absence of
secretarial support during the Secretary’s summer vacation is a serious burden on the small number of
full time staff who must combine availability at NUI, Galway with the need to spend research time in
Italy during the summer. It is considerably frustrating that ongoing problems with both software and
hardware in the Multi-media Laboratory (MML), which the RG witnessed at first hand during a
demonstration that had to be aborted because of these difficulties, are negating the quite enormous
amount of person-hours already invested in preparation of lessons by teaching staff. This cost is
additional to the purchase cost of both the hardware and the software in question and the services
provided to date by Computer Services in seeking a remedy. These difficulties, which are not in any
way attributable to the Italian department, are undermining the innovative provision of quality modern
language teaching by stymieing voluntary staff effort and wasting valuable resources. Current
difficulties underline the obvious need for the appointment of an Educational Language Technologist
to support the MML.
The RG felt that it would be desirable to clarify procedures between the Italian department
and some university services (Examinations Office, Computer Services, Library) with regard to
forward planning. There is a need for increased communication to minimise possible misunderstanding
of expectations and roles in dealings with some central university services (Accounts Office, Human
Resources, Admissions Office), including the difficulty experienced in general by smaller departments
in accessing financial information in a user-friendly format. An issue of particular concern to the
Italian Department is the lack of secretarial assistance when the Departmental Secretary is on holidays,
throughout the Summer as there are many telephone enquiries during this period relating to
examinations and the imminent start of the new academic year. The RG felt that the situation could
very possibly be improved, by means of the creative use of communications technology and the
redeployment of appropriate staff from other areas in NUI, Galway and who are apparently available
during the summer for temporary secretarial support.
The Italian Department is acutely aware of the challenges of the present situation and is
anxious to further embed its position within the Arts Faculty, which the RG recommends should
involve the collaboration of the Modern Languages Board (MLB). There is evidence of strategic
thinking in the Department and the RG strongly recommends that the MLB should be used as a vehicle
to foster this activity.
3.
Programmes and Instruction
There is considerable evidence both within the Self Assessment document and in discussion
with students that the quality of the teaching within Italian is of a very high standard. Relatively small
numbers may help, but there is a strikingly good and open relationship between staff and students and
students are given regular and full feedback on performance, both formal and informal. The range of
courses on offer is very good for a department of this size, covering a range of both period and genre.
The appointment of at least one new lecturer in the Modern period would assist in creating more depth,
and be of assistance to the several research students wishing to work in this area. The range of courses
on offer is certainly comparable to similar departments of this size. The quality of the courses on offer,
as well as the levels of student attainment, have been highly regarded by successive external
examiners.
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Department of Italian: Review Group Report
There is some excellent and highly innovative work going on in terms of multi-media
instruction, which is highly relevant and attractive to new undergraduates. This work is seriously
jeopardised by the failings of the Multi-media Laboratory, which we would urge the University to
address as a matter of considerable urgency if students and staff are not to be disincentivised and a
valuable resource underused.
A serious difficulty, not only for Italian, is the lack of information available from central
services about current student registration. Attendance, and the Department’s felt lack of any
mechanism by which failure to attend or to submit work on time could be penalised, causes
considerable concern and disruption in the smooth delivery of a taught programme. The Department
awards a small number of credits (5%) for good attendance, but such a measure can only very partially
redress a problem which impacts on retention as well as student learning. Given staffing constraints,
and as a mechanism for sharing best practice and encouraging collaboration at both teaching and
research levels, the Department could be encouraged to explore further development through teamtaught courses involving other departments within the Faculty. New combinations with Departments
from other faculties may also assist admissions.
There is a very good level of recruitment into postgraduate study, at both Masters and PhD
level. Ways could be sought, with a more stable staffing situation, of encouraging students from
outside Galway to take up postgraduate options here. The level of financial support for postgraduate
students compares very favourably with other institutions.
The RG felt that a Department so dependent on part-time help would be well advised, in
conjunction with other Language Departments, to establish a training and induction programme for
new teachers and lecturers, especially those coming from abroad with little experience of teaching, or
assessment procedures. While the Italian Department are to be commended on the care paid to career
progression for part-time teachers (encouraging uptake on Masters courses, for example), more could
be done to assist part-timers at an earlier stage. Also in conjunction with other Language Departments
the Department of Italian, given its high numbers of postgraduate students, should explore the
development of common modules at Masters and PhD level to address questions of theoretical
discourse, research methodology and research skills. Such courses would be common to several
Masters courses and thus provide essential training for new researchers as well as economies of scale.
While students clearly valued opportunities for oral practice in Italian and the work of native language
teachers in fostering oral competence, the question of communication and presentation skills could be
addressed within the optional modules. The Department could be encouraged to consider more
innovative modes of programme delivery, and loosen the reliance on the traditional lecture format to
allow space for student presentations, using for example modern technology such as PowerPoint. A
Department of this size is to be commended on its involvement in Diploma teaching in Ennis.
4.
Scholarship and Research
At present research in the Italian Department is carried out particularly, but not exclusively,
by Professor Catherine O’Brien and by Applied Language Teacher Dott. Laura Mc Loughlin. The
other permanent members (Drs. Laura Ford, Josephine Griffin and Daniele Benati), who retired or
resigned between December 2000 and July 2002, were also quite active.
Research is conducted mostly, but not exclusively, in the areas of modern and contemporary
Italian poetry, translation studies, and production of language and culture texts for commerce students.
It should be noted that the Department has been active not only in publishing articles and books both in
Ireland and abroad, but also in participating with papers in national and international conferences. Also
notable is the Department’s success in obtaining funding for research projects under several schemes
operated by the University (such as the Millennium Fund in 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the Programme
Innovation Fund, in 1998,1999 and 2000), as well as in securing external funding for two popular
Public Lecture Series in 2002 and 2003.
The strength in translation studies (demonstrated in particular by the excellent reputation
enjoyed by Professor O’Brien, whose translations have received numerous international awards) has
led to the creation in recent years of a one-year M.A. in Italian with emphasis on translation within the
Department and to the participation in a one-year M.A. in Translation with the Departments of French,
Spanish and German. The students (all successful), who were registered for the M.A. in Italian
programme, produced translation theses which, in the most recent External Examiner’s report, were
judged to be all of “First Class standard and of publishable quality”. It is also impressive that such a
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Department of Italian: Review Group Report
small and clearly understaffed department was able to recruit and have currently registered four postgraduate Ph.D. students and two M.Phil students.
The RG appreciated the provisions (for example of a non-teaching day) made in the
Department in order to encourage and facilitate the research activity particularly of the junior staff. It
seems however obvious that the current staffing difficulties constitute the most serious impediment to
the activation of vital sabbatical leaves.
A much improved, healthier staff situation, in addition to allowing for the introduction of a
larger and more varied range of teaching and research interests, should also permit the establishment of
a methodology course, to complement existing arrangements in the Faculty, and a Department
Research Seminar, which would also be beneficial to the development and training of postgraduate
students.
5.
Community Service
All colleagues are encouraged to participate in university life at all levels. Involvement is at
departmental, faculty, Academic Council and Governing Authority level, with committees, review
boards, interview and assessment boards, promotion boards and so on. The Department is also well
represented at a national level by Professor O’Brien. Staff regularly undertake school visits to discuss
undergraduate programmes offered by NUI, Galway. Staff work in liaison with the national
Department of Education and Science to assist in the promotion of pilot projects for the introduction of
language teaching at primary level
5.
The Wider Context
The Department is well aware of the importance of outreach at a time of demographic change
in the West of Ireland. Two further major initiatives seek to address this problem. Firstly, the Diploma
course at Ennis offers university-accredited courses to well qualified and highly motivated students.
This is the first course of its kind to be offered by the Faculty language departments. The popularity of
Italian at adult-learner level offers considerable potential here. Secondly, the Public Lecture series
offers a good range of external speakers and lecturers and fosters a broader interest in and exposure to
Italian history and culture
6.
Summary and Concluding Remarks
General Conclusions
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The RG considered that in general the aims and objectives of the Department are seriously
jeopardized by the fact that there is only one permanent staff member currently in post.
The very high quality of the teaching provided is evident, in particular from students’ comments
Valuable and impressive research activity, mostly, but not exclusively, in the areas of modern and
contemporary Italian poetry, translation studies, and production of language and culture texts for
commerce students is taking place on an ongoing basis.
A considerable burden falls on the Head of Department, in form of teaching, administration and
management tasks.
It is particularly impressive that, despite the staffing situation, all examination material is currently
double marked.
There is evidence of strategic thinking in the Department and the RG strongly recommends that
the MLB should be used as a vehicle to foster this activity.
The range of courses on offer is very good for a department of this size, covering a range of both
period and genre.
The range of courses on offer is certainly comparable to similar departments of this size.
The quality of the courses on offer, as well as the levels of student attainment, have been highly
regarded by successive external examiners.
There is a very good level of recruitment into postgraduate study.
A Department of this size is to be commended on its involvement in Diploma teaching at Ennis.
The Department’s success in obtaining funding for research projects under several schemes
operated by the University is notable.
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Department of Italian: Review Group Report
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The RG appreciated the provisions (for example of a non-teaching day) made in the Department in
order to encourage and facilitate the research activity particularly of the junior staff.
It is clear that all colleagues are encouraged to participate in university life at all levels.
The Department appreciates the importance of outreach at a time of demographic change in the
West of Ireland. Initiatives include the Diploma course at Ennis and the Public Lecture series.
Specific Action Points
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The two vacant academic positions should be filled as soon as possible.
A transparent set of workload data to include all departmental commitments should be introduced
for all staff.
The apparent absence of appropriate university support staff, specifically porters, should be
rectified.
The lack of secretarial cover during the Departmental Secretary's summer holidays needs to be
addressed
There is an immediate need to address the software and hardware problems in the MML.
An Educational Language Technologist should be appointed to support the MML.
There is an urgent need to clarify procedures between the Italian Department and some university
services (Examinations Office, Computer Services and Library).
The RG strongly recommends that the Italian Department participate fully in an active MLB.
The flow of information from central services about current student registration needs to be
improved.
The issues relating to attendance at lectures raised by the Department should be addressed by the
University.
The Department is encouraged to explore further development through team-taught courses
involving other departments within the Faculty.
The Department, in conjunction with other Language Departments and the Centre for Excellence
in Learning and Teaching (CELT), should establish a training and induction programme for new
teachers and lecturers.
The Department, again in collaboration with cognate Departments and CELT, should develop
common modules at Masters and PhD level to address questions of theoretical discourse, research
methodology and research skills.
The possibility of allowing space for student presentations, using for example modern technology
such as PowerPoint, should be considered.
The development of a Department Research Seminar programme is recommended.
Professor Sharon Wood (Chair)
Professor Eduardo Saccone
An tOllamh Pádraig Ó Gormaile
Dr Niall W.A. Geraghty (Rapporteur)
(May 6th, 2003).
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