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 Experimental Physics
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
9–11 April, 2002
13 November 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 Experimental Physics 2002
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Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, January 2003
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives of the Department
1. To deliver high-quality, attractive and relevant undergraduate courses.
2. To ensure that all physics graduates have a good background in basic science, and the
mathematical and computer skills, so to ensure that they are suitable for technical, teaching
and research careers.
3. To provide programmes of high-quality postgraduate teaching.
4. To promote and engage in high quality, strategically relevant, research programmes.
5. To increase inter-disciplinary links in teaching and research.
1.2 Recent changes
The Department has had a rotating headship since 1974. On 1 January 2002 Professor S.G.
Jennings took over from Professor R.M. Redfern, and will serve until 31 December 2005.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
B.Sc. undenominated
Denominated B.Sc. in Applied Physics and Electronics
Denominated B.Sc. in Physics and Astronomy
Denominated B.Sc. in Computing Studies
Denominated B.Sc. in Earth Science
Denominated B.Sc. in Marine Science
Denominated B.Sc. in Environmemtal Science
Denominated B.Sc. in Biomedical Science
Denominated B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry
Denominated B.Sc. in Information Technology
MB
All B.E. Programmes
B. Nursing
Module in Computer Modelling
Module in Computational Physics
Module in Physics of the Environment
Module on Introduction to the Athmosphere
M.Sc. in Occupational Health and Ergonomics
H.Dip.Appl.Sc. in Occupational Health and
Ergonomics
M.Sc. in Biomedical Science
European Masters in Astronomy
1.4 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 272 in the year 2001, having
increased from 265 in 1997 (3%). The overall increase in all Science Faculty departments over
1997 to 2001 was from 1864 to 2226 (19%).
1.5 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 14.4 in 2001 (including 1
Professor, 3 Associate Professors, 4 Senior Lecturers, 2 College Lecturers, 1 Junior Lecturer, and 2
Contract Lecturers), having increased from 13.5 in 1996, giving a staff student ratio of 19.0 in
2001, as compared to a Science Faculty average of 20.4. There were also a Chief Technician, 6
senior Technicians (two on a joint time share scheme), 1 Secretary/ Administrator and 1 Attendant.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (€5842 for direct costs and €7839 for all costs) was
greater than the Science Faculty average (€5038 and €6840, respectively) (2000 figures).
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1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located in the Arts/Sciences complex in a part that was constructed in 1973.
2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Review Group consisted of: Professor Peter Mitchell, Deptartment of Experimental Physics,
University College Dublin (Chair); Professor Bill Graham, Department of Pure and Applied
Physics, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr. Frank Bergin, Irish Shell Ltd., Dublin; Dr. Liam Carroll,
Department of Chemistry, NUI Galway, and Dr Maura Hiney of an CFA acting as Rapporteur.
The Group visited the Department on the 11–13 April, 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 Review Group commended the Department for its completion of a series of coherent and
comprehensive documents in its preparation for this review, including its Departmental Strategic
Plan and Strategic Growth Plan. These documents establish the medium term direction and future
vision for the Department in what is clearly a period of significant change, and reflect the
Department’s commitment to establishing and maintaining a high level of quality in teaching and
research.
The Review Group considers that the Experimental Physics Department is committed to the
provision of an effective and quality teaching programme and is engaged in significant research
both at national and international level. A number of concluding remarks and additional comments
which it is hoped will compliment and support the aims and objectives of the department follow.
1. The Department remains committed to the provision of a first year course taught through
Irish. However, it has expressed concern at the poor student uptake, the non-availability of
suitable textbooks and its inability (due to insufficient resources) to provide tutorials and
laboratory classes through Irish. The Review Group shares these concerns and agrees with
the Department’s view that account should be taken of this commitment when reckoning
student/staff ratios.
2. The Review Group recommend that, given the recent growth of IT use in both Physics
teaching and research, priority be given to the appointment of an IT specialist to a technical
post.
3. The documentation suggests that the workload of the Departmental Secretary (Personal
Assistant to the Head of Department) is excessive, given the range of duties involved,
including significant managerial responsibilities. The Review Group suggests that careful
consideration is given to the grading of these posts in this and other large Departments.
4. It was also suggested that credit should be given (in terms of FTE equivalents) for
postdoctoral research fellows, as their recruitment and on-going management clearly
involves a significant commitment by the academic staff concerned. The Review Group
agrees.
5. The issue of feedback from stakeholders was raised during the peer review group’s visit.
Although all involved recognised that there was no physics industry as such, the Review
Group did feel that a more systematic effort to extract detailed feedback from as wide a
cross-section of industry as possible could be beneficial, given the emphasis placed on
applied physics and industrial contacts by the Department.
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6. The self-assessment report recommends that the space taken up by the National Centre for
Laser Applications (NCLA) should not be included in the Departmental space allocation.
The Review Group was informed that this was not the universal practice in regard to other
Centres at NUI, Galway. They, therefore, suggest that the University’s administration clarify
this matter and advise the Department accordingly.
7. Regarding actual space, the Review Group understand that the present usable area available
to the Department (including the NCLA and the Mace Head field station) is approximately
2735 m2. This provides 10.0 m2 per FTE student on the basis of the revised figure of 273
FTEs for the current academic year. As the national average for Irish physics departments is
about 10.9 m2, it can be argued that the Department is somewhat short of space
comparatively speaking. The key issue, however, would appear to be whether the inclusion
of the NCLA in the calculation is appropriate or not.
3. Follow up Meeting
9.30 a.m. Tuesday, 26 June 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne - Registrar, Professor Jim Gosling - Director of Quality (Chair),
Professor Gerard Hurley - Dean of Research, Professor Peter Mitchell – Chair Review Group, Dr
Liam Carroll - Review Group and Representing Dean, Professor Stephen G Jennings, Dr Gerry
Morgan, Ms Tess Mahoney, Dr Miriam Byrne, Dr Joseph Martin, Dr Aodhagan O’Rodaighe,
Professor Michael Redfern, Dr Ray Butler, Mr PJ Walsh, Mr Anthony Brown, Dr Gary Gillanders,
Mr Don Phelan, Ms Bridget Cullagh, Professor Philip Walton, Professor Tom Glynn, Dr Mark
Lang, Mr Padraic Breathnach, Mr Padraic Thornton, Ms Maureen Linnane of the Quality Office in
attendance. Apologies: Dr Pat Morgan - Dean of Science.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Department will revise its stated aims and identify a set of objectives, targets and deadlines.
Procedures for the prioritisation and allocation of duties will also be developed.
2. The Director of CELT has been invited to give a presentation to the Department. This will lead
on to the identification of a range of structured staff development activities and other measures
designed to augment the Department’s efforts to maintain, diversify and improve teaching and
learning. These will be implemented as soon as possible, starting early in the new year.
3. The Head of Department and the Chief Technician, with the help of the technical and academic
staff, will review the current technical skill base of the Department, and will prepare (by 31
January 2003) a short proposal identifying opportunities for up-skilling and training.
Requirements for IT expertise and how these may be met will also be included.
4. External Examiners will be requested explicitly to comment on the balance and completeness of
curricula, if possible at a special meeting convened for this purpose at the end of each visit.
5. A Departmental Curriculum Subcommittee, including external members, will be set up to review
regularly the three BSc degree programmes, taking account of research trends, end-user
requirements and the availability of local expertise.
6. Arrangements for fourth year undergraduate experimental projects will be reviewed to ensure
that they are associated more closely with the research interests of the staff.
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7. The Departmental Management Committee (DMC) will review attendance at Departmental
meetings with a view to allowing for the representation of postgraduate students and research
workers. The minutes of DMC meetings will be communicated henceforth to all staff members.
8. The DMC will consider the appointment of a member of staff as Research Promotion Officer
with the task of formulating and proposing Departmental research objectives to the DMC. S/he
will also work with the Dean of Research and the Vice Dean for Research of the Science Faculty
to identify measures to facilitate and promote research, and to enhance the research output of the
Department.
3.2 Action plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar stated that the University regards the filling of the recently advertised
Professorship of Experimental Physics as a high priority, particularly given the Department’s
strategic roles in research, teaching, the wider community and the promotion of science. He will
welcome also proposals related to the structured replacement of retiring staff at appropriate
levels of seniority.
2. Arising from Departmental concerns about high academic workloads, an information session on
the calculation of FTE student and staff numbers, contact hours, building areas and costs, and the
bases on which resource decisions are made at a central level will be attended by Michael
Kavanagh of the Registrar’s Office, the Dean of Science, and the Director of Quality. This will
be organised by the Department, and if important questions still remain unanswered, the
Registrar will meet the Departmental Management Committee to discuss these.
3. The upcoming review of ‘Research Contracts and Financial Administration’ for which an expert
group will visit the University in early December will provide an opportunity for the Department
to identify issues related to the related services that it receives.
4. The Dean of Science will work with the Director of CELT to establish regular training courses
for research supervisors, with the first substantial course to be offered no later than early
September 2003.
5. University Management is aware of the general concerns about the titles used and the system for
regarding posts in departmental administration. The Registrar will bring the concerns expressed
at the meeting to the attention of the Director of Human Resources and the Vice President for
Human and Physical Resources.
6. The Director of Quality, with advice from the Director of CELT and inputs from an CFA, will
identify a range of possible measures to improve attendance at lectures, with the intention to
having these approved at Academic Council by June 2003 and implemented appropriately
faculty by faculty.
7. The Quality Office is currently reviewing the procedures used for academic reviews, part of
which involves the development of sets of criteria against which the quality of teaching and
research will be evaluated. This process will be complete by September 2003 and the new
procedures will apply from that date.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor Stephen G Jennings, 28 January 2003
Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr Pat Morgan, 10 February, 2003
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor Gerard Hurley, 31 January 2003
Approved by: Registrar, Professor James Browne, 4 February 2003
Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
10 February, 2003
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