An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2002-2003
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
An tArd-Dioplóma i gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
October 2002 to January 2003
29th – 30th January, 2003
14th November, 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.
Quality Office, April 2007
Note: The English version of the Report to Údarás on the following pages is for information purposes only. The
Irish version remains the official document.
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives
The aim of this programme is to provide students with practical training in the area of radio and
television. The skills involved with these mediums of communication are taught by means of
practical training in particular, however, a reasonable amount of broadcasting and journalism
theory is taught also. It is important that an atmosphere is created from the very beginning in
which the students can work entirely through the medium of Irish.
Efforts are also made to keep students up-dated with information in regard to jobs and
broadcasting systems available in Ireland. The students are prepared for the communications’
market by providing them with language, broadcasting, research, journalism, computer and
practical craftwork skills. The students will learn more about the market by means of workexperience, and also, a number of important people working within the market, will act as
occasional guest-lecturers, providing them with an opportunity to get to know the students.
The object of this Programme is to provide our students with an understanding of
television and radio, in addition to the basic pre-production, production and post-production
skills involved in each of those markets and that they will develop the Irish language, law and
office skills essential to making a start in the market. In addition to these skills, it is important
that students develop adequate interpersonal and communications skills which are required to
enable them to work in the appropriate markets.
1.2 Developments since Last Review in 1999-2000
No major change has occurred since the quality assurance period was initiated.
1.3 Student Numbers
Year ending
Number of students who
started course
Number of students
completed the course
who
Total number of students who
graduated
1995
15
15
14
1996
15
15
14+1(ó 1994)
1997
15
15
15
1998
12
12
12
1999
15
15
15
2000
12
12
12
2001
15
15
15
2002
12
12
12
2003
15
15
15
The challenge each and every year is to attract 15 students with the necessary language skills,
students who have enough interest in the material and students who have not previously attained
the practical skills in any other way. There are only enough resources suitable for a maximum of
15 students. One particular difficulty arises every year. That is, that some new entrants wait
until a fortnight before the commencement of the course in the autumn, before informing us that
they will not be accepting the place they were offered on the course.
1.4 Accommodation and Facilities
This course has been based in Áras na Gaeilge since its inception in 1994, where Scoil na
Gaeilge and Oifig na Gaeilge Labhartha provide facilities and resources. The course participants
have access to a computer laboratory, a radio studio and a classroom. They also have access to
video and sound analog equipment that was purchased when the course began, but people are
now of the opinion that this equipment is now old. Due to changes in the market, the course
organisers have to rent digital equipment for various periods throughout the year. There is a
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fulltime co-ordinator working on this course, but much of the teaching on this course is done on
a part-time basis.
2. Review Group Report Overview and Recommendations
This report arises from a visit by the review group to NUI Galway on the 29th and 30th of
January 2003. The Department had prepared and provided a self-assessment document, togehter
with other documentation which were supplied to the review group the week preceding the
review visit. An English translation of the documents was provided the day before the visit.
The Review Group consisted of: Anna Ní Ghallachair, Director, Centre for Languages, NUI, Maynooth (Chair),
Cathal Goan, Head of Television, RTÉ, Carol Byrne Jones, Lecturer, Department of Film and Communications,
University of Wales, Bernadette O’Sullivan, Director, Applied Communications, NUI, Galway and Dr Peter
Cantillon, Department of Medicine from an CFA (Rapporteur).
2.1 Summary and Main Recommendations from Report
The Ard-Dioplóma i gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach (Television, Radio, Broadcasting and
Journalism), was a major development when it began in 1994. The course has had a positive
effect on broadcasting through Irish in Ireland. Over the last few years, a change has occurred in
the area of broadcasting and it is necessary to pay particular attention to the needs and
possibilities that are linked to this change. To ensure that the graduates will be able to deal
effectively with these changes, the Review Committee recommends the following changes:
a) That the layout of the course be changed to ensure a greater emphasis can be placed on the
academic area of the course and the transferable aspects of journalism.
b) That the course has a strong philosophical/academic foundation to ensure that the students
understand how a minority language functions in a multicultural, multinational and macroeconomical context, and the implications this has on the language, language change and
indeed the broadcaster/journalist working through the medium of that minority language.
c) Development of the student’s computer skills, website design, working in the area of
computer communications etc. (This course could be provided online).
d) The Review Committee therefore suggests that a meeting of the Steering Group be held
twice a year to monitor the direction of the programme.
e) The Review Committee is of the opinion that a base should be identified somewhere as part
of an academic unit. There is a strong possibility that Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
will fulfil that role.
f) The Committee suggests that a specific room be provided for the participating students, with
three or four computers as well as the relevant editing packages. The most important
question at this stage for the programme is that of attaining the relevant equipment.
g) It has been suggested that the classes in keyboard skills should no longer be taught, and that
more emphasis should be placed on journalism and practical research: research for television
programmes, how to find a story, the functioning of the state etc.
h) It is suggested that this course be 12 months duration and that a project or a minor thesis
should be submitted at the completion of the course. An M.A. would be conferred on the
graduates after this.
i) To ensure that this course has a strong academic basis, it is suggested that one academic post
be filled in this area. This person should be actively involved in research.
j) It is suggested that an external examiner be appointed according to the normal University
system, or by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, if it is associated with its
responsibilities.
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k) Members of staff should be encouraged to pursue research in the area and they should also
be allowed undertake that research, as well as getting due recognition.
3. Action Plans
Follow up Meeting
12.00 p.m., Friday 14th November, 2003, Room SC200B
Present: Anna Ní Ghallachair (Chair of Review Group), Peter Cantillon (Review Group Member), Carol Jones
(Review Group Member) –By telephone from Wales, Bernadette O’Sullivan (Review Group Member), Briain Ó
Donnchadha (Communications Executive), Séamus Mac Mathúna (Secretary for Academic Affairs), Peadar Mac
an Iomaire (Acting Chief-Executive of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge), Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh (Administrator
of Irish Language Communications), Pádraig Ó Héalaí (Academic Director, ADCF), John Marshall (Dean, Faculty
of Arts), Declan Ashe (Administrator, Faculty of Arts), Séamus Ó Coileáin (The Translation Office – taking
minutes) Jim Gosling (Chair of Meeting). In attendance: Dairena Ní Chinnéide (Translator)
3.1 Action Plan for the Department
a) Henceforth, a meeting of the Steering Group will be held twice a year to monitor the
development of the course.
b) The course has now been divided in two parts in the Second Semester, i.e. a choice between
Television and Radio, to ensure that students will have more time for research and for the
possession of transferable journalism skills. These changes have been brought to the
attention of the Faculty. This arrangement will be reviewed after a year.
c) There is a link between the suggestion in the Report that the course should have ‘a strong
philosophical/academic foundation’ based on the minority language ‘in a multicultural,
multinational, macro-economical context, and the implications it has on the language as a
whole' and the suggestion 'that one academic post be filled in the area', as well as 'extending
the Course to a 12 month M.A. program'. The Review Committee also suggested that a short
course be provided (perhaps online), to develop the students computing skills. These
suggestions will be included while an academic development plan for Communications will
be compiled under the auspices of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge.
3.2 Action Plan for University Management
a) An external examiner will be appointed following the normal University system.
b) In conjunction with the Registrar, the Acting Chief-Executive of Acadamh na
hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge will start a review process regarding the role of Acadamh na
hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in courses such as the Ard-Dioplóma i gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach.
c) The Acting Chief-Executive of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge will continue to
support the course.
d) The Registrar and Chief-Executive are aware that the most important question at this stage is
that of attaining the relevant equipment.
Approved by: An tUasal Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh, Director, 13th February 2004
Approved by: Professor J Browne, Registrar, 20th February 2004
Approved by: Professor J Marshall, Dean of Faculty of Arts, 18th March 2004
Finalised: 18th March 2004, Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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