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 Geography
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
6–8 February, 2002
15 May 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.
Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, November 2002
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1. Overview of Department of Geography
1.1 Aims and Objectives of the Department
We are committed to excellence in the fields of learning and teaching. Everyone working in
the Department shares a vision of the university as a place for open dialogue, freedom of enquiry,
tolerance and inspirational communication of knowledge to students. The practices fostered by this
set of objectives are shaped by local customs, which we seek to integrate into a host of international
involvements.
Our curriculum is designed in such a way as to empower students, to teach skills that matter
in today’s world and to allow students to realize their potentials. Analytical tools, factual
knowledge and critical awareness are taught with the aim of assisting students to become capable of
synthesizing information and of accepting civic responsibilities later in life. We teach Geography
because we believe in the need for broadly based approaches to knowledge; our students leave us
with a greater appreciation of the complexity of the real world, its challenges and possibilities and
the many different ways of responding to them. Committed to the dual mission of a university as a
place where teaching and scholarship are equally at home, we seek to combine the enthusiasm that
is derived from a research-driven teaching agenda with the need for a more systematic approach to
knowledge. We hope that the structures we have set in place serve this set of goals.
1.2 Recent changes
The current Head of Department was appointed as Professor in January 2001 and will serve an
initial term of three years.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
B.A. in Arts
M.A. in Rural Development
1.4 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 201 in the year 2001, having
increased from 131 in 1997 (+54%). 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 8.12 in 2001 (including by
January 2002 1 Professor, 1 Associate Professors, 2 Senior Lecturers, 3 Junior Lecturers, and 2
Temporary Teaching Appointments), having increased from 6.05 in 1997, giving a staff student
ratio of 25 in 2001, as compared to an Arts Faculty average of 22. There were also a Departmental
Administrator and a Senior Technician.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (£2469 for direct costs and £3371 for all costs) was
less in 2000 than the Arts Faculty average (£3171 and £4152, respectively).
1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located on the ground floor of the Arts/science Building and has the
Geographical Practical Room (216) on the upper floor.
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2. Review Group Visit and Report
The review team consisted of: Professor Paul Cloke, School of Geographical Sciences, University
of Bristol (Chairman); Professor Des Gillmor, Department of Geography, University of Dublin; Mr
John Whiriskey, Teagasc Resource Centre, Athenry, County Galway and Dr Ricca Edmondson,
Department of Political Sciences & Sociology, NUI Galway; with Ms Marie McGonagle, of the
Department of Law and the CFA acting as rapporteur.
The Group visited the Department on the 6–8 February, 2002. The Department had already
prepared 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 Geography Department, has recently undergone profound changes in terms of personnel and
organization. The Review Group are impressed by the Department’s positive response to change
and its deep commitment to its role and responsibilities in the University. All members of staff are
research active.
Our recommendations to the Department are that it:
• adopt a strategic planning approach
• hold regular, frequent, focused, short meetings
• be pro-active in making a pitch for greatly needed resources which are prioritised in the
Department's strategic plan
• reach a strategic view of the necessary balance between publishing in international refereed
journals and providing knowledge and expertise to the local and national community.
Our recommendations to the University are that it:
• convert the Human Georgaphy TTA to a permanent post
• recognise Physical Geography as a part-Science subject, opening the way for provision of
laboratory and technical support which is essential
• create a new post in the area of Physical Geography/ Environment
• upgrade the GIS laboratory and provide the necessary hardware and software
• provide appropriate technical support in those areas within the Geography Department
• improve its system for induction of new key staff
• Improve and revamp its system of internal communication from the University through the
Faculty right down to the Department
• The Geography Department must be supported in terms of staffing and resources to enable it to
achieve its strategic objectives.
3. Follow up Meeting
10.00 a.m. Wednesday, 15 may 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne (Registrar), Professor Ger Hurley (Dean of Research), Professor
John Marshall (Dean of Arts), Professor des Gilmore, TCD, Review group member), Dr Rica
Edmondson (Review Group, cognate member), Dr Marie McGonagle (Review Group Rapporteur),
Professor Ulf Strohmayer (head of department), Dr. Mary Cawley, Dr. Chaosheng Zang, Dr.
Siubhán Comer, Dr. Sheila Gaffey, Dr. Kieran Hickey, Dr. John McDonagh, Dr. John Morrissey,
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Professor Jim Gosling (Director of Quality, Chair). Apologies: Professor Micheál ÓCinnéide. (Dr.
SéamusGrimes was on sabbatical leave.)
3.1 Action Plan for the Department of Geography:
1. The Department is committed to developing a Strategic Plan and will begin the development
process by June with a view to completing the Plan by January 2003. All of the issues
below will be considered also in the broader strategic context.
2. The Department Management Committee will set up subcommittees to take care of specific
aspects of its activities. These subcommittees may be permanent or for specific projects.
Records of every formal meeting of all Departmental committees will be kept and these
made accessible to all members of the Department.
3. The Department will continue to promote its culture of research by working closely with the
Dean of Research to promote a range of measures including:
• Development of personal research plans for members of academic staff
• Short taught courses for research students
4. The Department remains committed to the Irish language mission of the University and is
willing to contribute, in so far as resources permit, to the development and teaching of new
programmes delivered through Irish. To this end, the Department is happy to work closely
with Stiurthóir na Gaeilge Labhartha.
3.2 Action plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar congratulated the Department on the marked progress it has made under its
recent acting heads and the new Professor of Geography, and looks forward to working with
the Department in the achievement of its strategic objectives.
2. The Registrar will support the conversion of the current contract position in Human
Geography into a permanent post at the earliest possible time. He also recognises that the
future development of the Department will benefit from the establishment of a new
lectureship in Environmental Geography.
3. Having consulted with the Dean of Arts on the general situation within the Faculty, the
Registrar supports the reclassification of the Department in a way that will improve the
financial support provided by the University for its practical- and field-teaching and
research.
4. The Dean of Research undertook to make a presentation on supports available for research
to the Department Management Committee. He also accepts that a mechanism is needed
whereby research and scholarship that is unconventional, or published unconventionally,
can be given formal recognition.
5. The Director of Quality will support activities related to developing the new Strategic Plan
and will also support a workshop on student assessment procedures.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor U. Strohmayer, 13 June 2002
Approved by: Dean of Arts, Professor J. Marshall, 2 July 2002
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J. Browne, 24 June 2002
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor Ger Hurley, 1 July 2002
Finalised 5th July 2002, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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