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 Management
Self Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
25–27 February, 2002
29 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.
Report to Údarás – Review of Department of Management 2002
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Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, November 2002
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1. Overview of Department of Management
1.1 Aims and Objectives of the Department
1. To provide high quality teaching and learning in the key discipline areas of management,
including Business Strategy, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations,
Organisational Behaviour, Enterprise Development and Innovation.
2. To conduct and disseminate research in these areas through conference papers and
proceedings and through publications such as books and monographs, internationally
recognized journals, case study materials and professional publications.
3. To provide a community resource of expertise, leadership and research support for business
and regional development in Galway and the west of Ireland, particularly with a view to
building an effective regional innovation system.
1.2 Recent changes
The current Head of Department. Professor Roy Green, took up the position in January 2000. In
June 2002 he also assumed the responsibilities of Dean of the Faculty of Commerce.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
BComm.
BCorp Law
BSc (Information Technology)
BSc (Biotechnology)
BE (8 degree programmes)
MBA
HDip (Business studies)
HDip (Systems Analysis)
HDip (Marketing)
MBS (e-Commerce)
HDipApplSc (Occupational Health)
MIT
M Accounting
HDip (Software design and Development)
MAppl Sc (Business Strategy)
MSc (Biotechnology)
MA (Community Development)
MMedSc
HDip ApplSc & MSc (Anaylt Biochem & Chem)
HDipApplSc (Microbiology)
1.4 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 287 in the year 2001, having
increased from 209 in 1997 (+37%). The overall increase in all Commerce Faculty departments
over 1997 to 2001 was from 967 to 1403 (+45%).
1.5 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 9.47 in 2001 (including 1
Professor, 1 Senior Lecturer, 2 College Lecturers and 5 Junior Lecturers), having increased from
6.09 in 1997, giving a staff student ratio of 30 in 2001, as compared to a Commerce Faculty
average of 28. There was also1 Secretary/ Administrator, a post that has been full time since June
2000.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (€1680 for direct costs and €2283 for all costs) was a
little higher than the Science Faculty average (€2249 and €2943, respectively) (2000 figures).
1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located in St Anthony’s College.
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2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Review Group consisted of: Professor Bill Roche, Smurfit Business School, University College
Dublin (Chair); Dr Seán Ennis, Department of Management and Marketing, University of
Strathclyde; Mr Michael Coyle, CEO, Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Breda
Sweeney, Department of Accountancy and Finance, NUI Galway, and Mr.Brendan Flynn,
Department of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway (Rapporteur).
The Group visited the Department on the 25–27 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 are struck by the dynamism and energy of the Department. It has in the past
delivered impressive results (with limited resources) and continues to achieve notable initiatives
(i.e. HEA/PRTLI funded Centre for Innovation and Structural Change [CISC]). However, there is a
need for consolidation of the change process at this juncture.
In particular care must be taken by the Department not to overreach itself in the light of the
resources currently available and likely to be realised in future. A balance needs to be struck
between expanding the growing research effort, alongside the many new teaching commitments
that are also promised. This issue needs careful attention and management.
In conclusion we make a number of recommendations for action, which are divided into two
parts; those which are addressed to the Departmental level for attention, including those measures
which the Department could pursue within Faculty of Commerce, and those which demand a wider
and strategic University level focus, or involve issues of resources.
Recommendations requiring strategic action at University Management level.
•
At least two additional full-time permanent staff are needed to ensure the Department can meet
its current commitments.
•
The St. Anthony’s site requires urgent attention. What is needed is a transparent and definite
agreement on a coherent overall plan for its development and refurbishment.
•
There is a need for a new engagement by Computer Services with the Department, over the
management of existing IT infrastructure.
•
New graduate-level teaching programmes cannot be embarked upon by the Department unless
funding is released by the UMT simultaneously or near simultaneously to programme
commencement. The teaching capacity of the Department is already in excess of its capacity
and cannot be expanded without a risk of harming the research potential, unless extra resources
are sourced.
Recommendations requiring action by the Department or at Faculty of Commerce level.
•
The Department needs to ensure a thorough and systematic approach to information provision
in the context of new and existing programmes. Students and prospective students must be
aware of course attributes, details of accreditation by professional bodies, where appropriate,
and other organisational details.
•
The Department should introduce a systematic method of student course evaluation and
feedback. The review group do not advocate here any particular approach to this and stress that
the Department itself should select a method of course evaluation that best suits its needs and
concerns.
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•
The review group suggests that a strategic review of service teaching commitments should be
undertaken by the Department.
•
The review group suggests that future programme development at graduate level should be
consolidated within the various existing planned schemes, given the fact that the Department’s
resource base is already stretched.
•
In general, there is much scope for a greater Faculty of Commerce dimension in addressing
problematic management areas that affect the Department. Administrative burdens and IT
needs could be effectively addressed at this level.
•
The Department should aim to ensure a more even and better usage of IT resources as a support
for its teaching programmes. This should form part of any new engagement with Computer
Services and cognate departments at Faculty level.
•
The review group suggests that a structured review of the Department’s undergraduate teaching
programmes be undertaken and that this can best be undertaken within the context of a Facultywide review of undergraduate programmes.
In conclusion the review group strongly believe that the Department of Management offers the
University an ambitious and dynamic unit, which is currently at a key juncture in its development.
If given adequate support, it will undoubtedly prosper and grow. We endorse and support the
Department’s future plans in research and teaching.
3. Follow up Meeting
11.00 a.m. Wednesday, 29 May 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne Registrar, Professor Ger Hurley Dean of Research, Professor Michael Cuddy Dean of
Commerce, Professor Roy Green Head of Department, Dr Breda Sweeney Review Group Cognate, Mr Brendan Flynn
Review Group Rapporteur, Mr Mike Moroney, Dr Leo Smyth, Dr Paul Ryan, Ms Deirdre Morgan, Ms Maureen
Maloney, Dr Tony Dundon, Professor Jim Gosling Director of Quality (Chair), Ms Maureen Linnane of Quality Office
in attendance. The meeting took ~ 100 min, and the following decisions and acknowledgements were made and
intentions expressed.
Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Department will continue its process of strategic planning and development, to emphasise
its growing research profile and new postgraduate offerings, and to assess its role in
undergraduate programmes, including the provision of service teaching. In this context, the
Department will contribute to next year’s review of the Faculty of Commerce and B Comm
programme, with agreed objectives and priorities for a five-year period.
2. The Department will further review how students taking its courses and programmes are
provided with information on courses and feedback on their performance, and will implement
appropriate, standardised improvements. Substantive changes will be in place for the first
semester 2002–03 and their effectiveness will be monitored.
3. The Department will introduce formal systems for regular course evaluation by students in
consultation with the newly appointed Director of CELT. These will be introduced as soon as
feasible and in the context of agreed standardised Faculty procedures.
4. The Department will address specific student needs and identities as resources permit where
programmes involve mixed-stream teaching (e.g. Higher Diploma of Business Studies) and
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increase, where feasible, the provision of tutorials where necessary to complement large class
teaching.
5. The Department will explore, with the assistance of CELT, how computer and internet aided
learning may be used to a greater extent in support of its teaching programmes, building on a
process of internal training with software applications which was foreshadowed in the
Department’s self-assessment, and which has now commenced.
6. To further advance the development of an effective research culture, the Department will
continue to pursue appropriate policies and activities in line with the recommendations in the
Review Report. Members of the Department will play a key role in the Faculty’s new HEAfunded Centre for Innovation & Structural Change.
7. The Department will build on its current initiatives aimed at increasing interactions with the
broader community, in the city, the region and the country.
Action Plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar recognises the student to staff ratio in the Department as being high with respect
to Faculty and University averages and will address this staff deficit through the University
resource allocation process in the medium and longer term. The Registrar will also examine
appropriate ways of recompensing the Department for its substantial role in service teaching,
which is not adequately reflected in this process.
2. The Registrar stated that it is now University policy to increase the weighting for postgraduate
student FTEs and will encourage all faculties to support and implement this reform.
3. The Registrar will work with the Head of Department and the Dean of Commerce to address the
issue of administrative burdens within the Department, particularly in relation to the running of
postgraduate programmes.
4. The Registrar confirmed that an extension to St. Anthony's College will be constructed and
should be completed by Summer 2004. In relation to shorter-term space problems, temporary
accommodation will be made available for September 2002.
5. The Registrar assured the Department that the upcoming review of Computer Services will take
into account the needs of the Commerce Faculty and the Management Department.
6. The Registrar, the Dean of the Commerce Faculty and the Head of Department agreed to meet
to discuss the possibility of extra travel support for permanent members of staff undertaking
doctoral studies.
7. The Director of Quality will support the Department’s strategic plan development process.
8. The Dean of Research will make a presentation on supports available for research to the staff of
the Department.
Approved by: Head of Department, Professor R. Green, 9 July 2002
Approved by: Dean of Commerce, Professor R. Green, 15 July 2002
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor G. Hurley, 10 July 2002
Approved by: Registrar, Professor J. Browne, 15 July 2002
Finalised 15 July 2002, Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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