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 Geology
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
18–20 February, 2002
7 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 Geology 2002
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Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, November 2002
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1. Overview of Department of Geology
1.1 Aims and Objectives of the Department
We take it as self evident that knowledge and understanding of the earth and its systems is of
incalculable value to both the individual and society at large and that the first object of education
and research in geology is to enable this to be acquired in the following manner:
• Through high quality teaching and learning in the undergraduate programme;
•
Through high quality research at both postgraduate and postdoctoral level;
•
By contributions to education, research and development in society at lerge.
1.2 Programmes currently contributed to
B.Sc. in Geology
B.E. (Civil)
1.3 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 107 in the year 2001, having
increased from 66 in 1997 (+62%). The overall increase in all Science Faculty departments over
1996 to 2001 was from 1748 to 2226 (+27%).
1.4 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 5.4 in 2001 (including 1
Professor, 1 Associate Professor, 1 Senior Lecturer and 2 Junior Lecturers), and has been static
since at least1996. This gave a staff student ratio of 19.9 in 2001, as compared to a Science Faculty
average of 20.4. There were also two senior Technicians and 1 Secretary/Administrator.
1.5 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (€6314 for direct costs and €7837 for all costs) was
greater than the Science Faculty average (€5038 and €6840, respectively) (2000 figures).
1.6 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located in the Quadrangle Building, which was constructed about 1850. It also
shares a large, 80 place first year teaching laboratory located in a new extension at the south end of
the concourse with the Departments of Botany and Zoology.
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2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Review Group consisted of: Professor David Sanderson, Department of Earth Sciences and
Engineering, Imperial College, London (Chair), Professor Pat Shannon, Department of Geology,
University College Dublin, Dr. Peadar McArdle, Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Dr. Mary
Cawley, Department of Geography, NUI Galway and Dr. Ivan Gibson, Department of industrial
Engineering, NUI Galway and of the CFA acting as rapporteur.
The Group visited the Department on the 18–20 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 Review Group considers that Geology is a small department that is delivering an effective
teaching programme and is engaged in significant research at both national and international level.
We recommend a number of actions aimed at further improvement, the major ones being:
• An urgent review of the quality of the space allocated to the department [Action University]
• Increased training opportunities for all staff (including part-time teaching and postgraduate
students) [Action Department]
• Introduction of a mentoring scheme for junior staff [Action Department]
• Realistic startup funding for new staff [Action University]
• Postgraduate FTEs to be weighted more highly [Action University]
• Better funding for Postgraduate Fellowships [Action University]
• Better support for postgraduate students [Action Department]
The Review Group identified a direct requirement for the creation of a new post in Geology
to alleviate teaching loads and to allow adequate coverage of the discipline [Action University].
The algorithms used by the University in assessing departments and allocating resources
should be made routinely available to departments. Also, data to which they are applied need to be
updated as soon as available especially where planning decisions are being made in a rapidly
changing environment. The University (and indeed its faculties and departments) should consider
basing strategic planning and resource allocation more on the business plans of departments rather
than on historic data and issues arising from statutes, both of which should be incorporated in any
sound business plan. It was unclear to the Review Group how the University assesses the quality of
research in its departments and how this is balanced against teaching effort and excellence.
The Review Group gained the impression of an effective Department, but one that was
struggling to maintain standards with such high student-staff ratios. Staff are stretched in their
attempts to maintain effective teaching and research, and with little time to plan for the future. A
similar lack of “vision” seems to permeate through all levels of the University management. The
Review Group acknowledge the fact that there have been many changes at the highest executive
levels of the University and that it takes time to establish priorities and develop a visible research
and teaching vision. Nevertheless, it is imperative that such a vision be developed and articulated
both internally within the University and externally to industry and government.
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3. Follow up Meeting
11.30 a.m. Friday, 7 June 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne Registrar, Dr Pat Morgan Dean of Science, Professor Jim Gosling
Director of Quality (Chair), Professor Paul Ryan Head of Department, Dr Maura Hiney Office of
the Dean of Research, Dr Ivan Gibson Review Group Rapporteur, Dr Mary Cawley Review Group
Cognate, Ms Lorna Larkin, Professor Michael Williams, Dr Martin Feely, Mr Graham Lowe, Mr
Harry O’Donnell, Dr Patrick Orr, Mr Alfie Sherlock. Apologies: Dr Kathryn Moore, Dr Jenny
Holland-Ryan.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department of Geology:
1. The Department agreed with all recommendations made in the Review Report and are
currently acting on these recommendations, with the aim of completing all feasible changes
by September 2003.
2. The Department will complete the development a Strategic Plan by April 2003. This Plan
will take into account the outcome of current discussions on a common structure to
incorporate the Applied Geophysics Unit and the Department of Oceanography.
3. Working with the Staff Development Officer, the Department will give greater support to
the continuing professional development of its technical staff, taking particular account of
continuous evolution in teaching and research requirements.
4. The Department has developed a full new practical course for First Year students in Earth
Sciences and this has been in place since September 2001.
5. Improved computer support for postgraduate students is already being addressed in
cooperation with Computer Services.
3.2 Action plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar acknowledged that the current physical facilities of the Department are
substandard, inadequate and unattractive to incoming students. Plans for the permanent rehousing of the Department are in place and interim arrangements to take account of the
renovation of the Quadrangle, starting in summer 2002, are being finalised.
2. The Dean of Science will work with the Head of Department and other departments to
resolve timetable restrictions that inhibit the greater use by the Department of shared
laboratory facilities.
3. The issue of delays in Departmental access to research funds is appropriate to the review of
‘Research Contracts and Financial Administration’, which will take place later this year.
4. In relation to the re-titling of departmental administrators and opportunities for re-grading,
the Registrar stated that the entire administration situation in the University is being revised,
with a view to being completed by 1 January 2003.
5. The Director of Quality will provide support for an ‘Away-Day’ to help with the
development of s strategic plan for the Department, or for the agreed new ‘school’
incorporating the Applied Geophysics Unit and the Department of Oceanography.
6. The Director of Quality will work with the Department over the summer months on
resolving the slide projector problems in lecture rooms. The new Director of C.E.L.T.,
whose responsibilities may include Audio-Visual Services, will commence work in NUI,
Galway in September, 2002.
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7. The Faculty of Science is currently attending to the issue of funding and resources for
postgraduate students with a view to attracting more non-NUI, Galway graduates and to
facilitating the timely completion of Ph.D. research.
8. The Dean of Research welcomes suggestions for improving the criteria and procedures for
the Millennium Fund.
9. The Registrar stated that it is now University policy to increase the weighting for
postgraduate student FTEs and to encourage all faculties to implement this reform.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor Paul Ryan 12 September 2002
Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr Pat Morgan 13 September 2002
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor Gerard Hurley 19 September 2002
Approved by: Registrar, Professor James Browne 13 September 2002
Finalised 19 September 2002, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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