An Coiste Feabhais Acadúil
The Committee on Academic Quality Improvement
The Academic Quality Assurance Programme 2001-2002
Report to Údarás na hOllscoile
Review of
Department of Education
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
27 February – 1 March, 2002
24 June 2002
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.
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Education 2002
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Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, October 2002
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives of the Department
To provide up-to-date teacher training for second-level teachers according to the guidelines of the
Teacher Registration Council and to best international standards.
1. To provide a range of specific post-graduate programmes to Masters and Doctorate level and
a range of appropriate in-service courses to diploma level.
2. To provide modern up-to-date training programmes for Learning Support Teachers.
3. To provide a Teacher Training Programme in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at
both Certificate and Diploma level in Ireland and in Poland.
4. To establish a reputation for high standards of teaching.
5. To be responsive to the changing needs of education.
6. To foster and encourage educational research.
7. To foster links and co-operation with international educational institutions.
8. To operate efficiently within the University Management structures.
9. To develop Gaeilge as a spoken language and as part of a teacher-training programme.
1.2 Recent changes
The Department has had an ‘Acting Head’ since December 1993.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
Higher Diploma in Education
Ard Diploma san Oideachais
Higher Diploma in Remedial Education
Higher Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Masters of Education
Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign language
1.4 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 289 in the year 2001, having
increased from 245 in 1997 (+18%). The overall increase in all Arts Faculty departments over 1997
to 2001 was from 2358 to 2903 (+23%).
1.5 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 12.9 in 2001 (including 1
Professor [on leave], 1 Associate Professor [on secondment as Dean of Arts], 1 Senior Lecturer, 1
College Lecturer, 4 Junior Lecturers, 2 Temporary Teaching Appointment, 2 ‘Secondments’/Parttime Assistants and 35 Part-time assistants), having increased from 8.25 in 1997, giving a staff
student ratio of 22 in 2001, which is equal to the Arts Faculty average ratio. There were also 1
Educational Technology Officer, 1 Educational technology Supervisor, 1 Senior Technicians and 3
Secretary/ Administrators.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student €3310 for direct costs and €4179 for all costs) was less
than the Arts Faculty average €4026 and €5272, respectively) (2000 figures).
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1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located in Block D/Educational Technology Centre, a building in good general
condition which was constructed before 1900, in Block M/Science Teaching Center, which is a
wooden prefabricated building dating from the 1950s and in 14 University Road, which is a private
terraced house.
2. Review Group Visit and Report
The review team consisted of: Dr. Kieran Byrne, Director, Waterford Institute of Technology
(Chairman); Professor John Morgan, Director of Education Programme, School of Continuing
Education, University of Nottingham; Ms. Mary Nihill, Headmistress, St. Paul's Secondary School,
Oughterard; An tOllamh Mícheál Mac Craith, Scoil na Gaeilge, NUI Galway; and Dr Karen Doyle,
Department of Physiology, NUI Galway, acting as rapporteur.
The Group visited the Department on the 26–28 February, 2002. The Department had
already prepared and submitted a 'Self Assessment Report' that, with other documentation, was
made available in advance of the visit.
2.1 Summary, and Main Recommendations from Report
The main comments and recommendations include:
•
The Department of Education offers a good range of courses to address the needs of teacher
training in the region.
•
The facilities and buildings of the Department are sub-standard and need revamping, in
some cases urgently; the University should look to an early opportunity to provide it with
purpose built accommodation.
•
Further development of Continuing Professional Development programmes and of adult
education would be of mutual benefit to the Department and to the wider community.
•
The review group recognise the generous contribution made by all members of staff to the
running of the Department, particularly given current staffing levels.
•
Acknowledgement is given to the commitment of the Acting Head of Department under
difficult circumstances.
•
There is a pressing need for the appointment of the new Head of Department to guide the
department towards a focused strategic plan, and for the immediate filling of vacant
academic posts.
•
It is noted that some research is supervised by members of the Department, but there is a
clear need to strengthen the Departments research profile and the development of a research
strategy and appointment of a research co-ordinator are necessary if this is to be achieved.
•
The Department is encouraged to optimise its position to become the National Centre for
bilingual education in Ireland.
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3. Follow up Meeting
10.00 a.m. Monday, 24 June 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne (Registrar), Professor Ger Hurley (Dean of Research), Professor
John Marshall (Dean of Arts), Professor Micheal MacCraith (Review Group), Dr Karen Doyle
(Review Group), Professor Jim Gosling (Chair, Director of Quality), Dr Maureen Langan-Egan
(Acting Head of Department), Ms Josephine Boland, Mr Patrick Farren, Ms Patricia Eaton, Ms
Andrea Higgins, Mr Victor Davis, Dr Oliver Ryan. Ms Maureen Linnane (in attendance).
Apologies: Ms Therese Burns, Dr David Tuohy, Ms Kathleen Hartigan, Ms Maria McHugh.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department
1. The Department will develop a strategic plan that includes a common vision for the future
of the Department, to be completed by the end of the academic year 02–03. This plan will
identify options and prioritise actions and projects in preparation for the appointment of the
new Professor and Head of Department .
2. The Department will have ‘the strategic plan and matters of strategic relevance’ on the
agenda for each of its monthly meetings.
3. The Head of Department will meet with Mr Michael Kavanagh of the Registrar’s Office
before 1 September 2002 to clarify how FTE student and staff numbers are arrived at and to
confirm that the Department is being treated fairly in this respect.
4. A student-staff consultative committee will be established as a forum for student/staff
interaction. This will have meetings at the start and at the middle of each semester, with
reports on actions taken since the last meeting and formal minutes.
5. In so far as resources permit, the Department will review current teaching methods in the
Higher Diploma in Education Programme, with a view to putting greater emphasis on small
group teaching, including tutorials, problem solving and case studies.
6. The Department will maintain and expand its emphasis on programmes for Continuing
Professional Development (CPD).
7. The Department will appoint a member of its staff as Research Coordinator whose
responsibility will be to develop and implement a Departmental research plan, while seeking
the support of the Dean of Research and of the Faculty. The Research Coordinator will also
work to ensure that full advantage is taken of the Millennium Fund.
8. In consultation with the Research Coordinator and the Head of Department, each member of
academic staff will prepare a research plan before 30 January 2003.
9. The Department will continue to avail of University Staff Development courses and will
explore new opportunities for academic staff and programme development created by the
establishment of C.E.L.T., including the regular use of student surveys.
3.2 Action plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar supports the advertisement of the Professorship of Education as soon as
feasible, with a view to it being filled before September 2003.
2. The Director of Quality will support the Department in the development of a strategic plan,
including support for benchmarking visits to other universities and the provision of a
facilitator to help at a half or full day planning session.
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3. The Registrar will support the conversion of contract to permanent posts once the new Head
of Department has been appointed.
4. The Dean of Arts will work with the Department to clarify the position with respect to the
introduction of ‘modular based courses’ with a fee-per-module.
5. Improved accommodation for the Department is included in the plan for phase 2 of the Arts
Millennium Building and funding for this project is being sought actively.
6. The Registrar, the Dean and the Head of Department will meet to discuss the possibility of
extra travel support for permanent members of staff undertaking doctoral studies.
Approved by: Acting Head of Department, Dr M. Langan-Egan, 9 July 2002
Approved by: Dean of Arts, Professor J. Marshall, 8 August 2002
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J. Browne, 1 July 2002
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor G. Hurley, 18 July 2002
Finalised 8 August 2002, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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