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 Oceanography
Self-Assessment
Review Group Visit
Follow Up Meeting
Sept 2001 to Jan 2002
5 and 6 March, 2002
18 September 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 Oceanography 2002
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Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality, December 2002
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1. Overview of Department
1.1 Aims and Objectives (30 January 2002)
1. To carry out good quality research in several fields; these include measurements and
modeling of the oceanography of Irish waters, air sea interaction and limnology.
2. To supervise research students participating (during their time as students and after) in current
Irish Marine research programmes.
3. To make oceanographic expertise available to the community at large; this includes advice to
fisheries, sailors, local authorities, police etc.
4. To teach the elements of physical and chemical oceanography to undergraduates.
5. To teach sufficient oceanography to carry out research to postgraduate students who have no
previous experience of the subjects.
6. To offer more advanced courses to suitably qualified undergraduate students.
1.2 Recent changes
The previous Professor of Oceanography retired in July 2000 and the Head of Geology, Professor
Paul Ryan, has acted as Head of Department since then.
1.3 Programmes currently contributed to
Denominated B.Sc. in Earth Science
Denominated B.Sc. in Environmental Science
First year subject, Earth Science taken also by un-denominated Science students.
1.4 Student numbers
Fulltime equivalent (FTE) student numbers in the Department were 15.6 in the year 2001, having
decreased from 19.1 in 1997 (-18%). The overall increase in all Science Faculty departments over
1997 to 2001 was from 1748 to 2226 (19%).
1.5 Staff to student ratio
The number of fulltime equivalent academic staff in the Department was 2.04 in 2001 (1 College
lecturer and 1 Temporary Teaching Appointment), having been 2.0 in 1996, giving a student staff
ratio of 7.8 in 2001, as compared to a Science Faculty average of 20.4. There were also 2 Senior
Technicians.
1.6 Costs
The cost of the Department per FTE student (€11,513 for direct costs and €19,341 for all costs) was
much greater than the Science Faculty average (€5038 and €6840, respectively) (2000 figures).
1.7 Accommodation and facilities
The Department is located in the Martin Ryan Marine Research Institute on the main campus. This
is a very good modern building opened in May 1993.
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2. Review Group Visit and Report
The Review Group consisted of: Dr. Alison Weeks, School of Marine and Coastal Studies,
Southampton Institute (Chair); Dr. Eric Achterberg, Department of Environmental Sciences,
University of Plymouth, Professor Des Cunningham, Department of Chemistry, NUI Galway; Dr.
Annette Harte, Department of Civil Engineering, NUI Galway (Rapporteur).
The Group visited the Department on 5 and 6 March 2002. The Department had already
prepared and submitted a 'Self Assessment Report' that, with other documentation, was sent to the
Group in advance of the visit.
2.1 Summary, and Main Recommendations from Report
The research activities of Oceanography fall clearly within the research areas outlined in the
University’s Strategic Plan. It is of the utmost importance that the University commits itself to the
future of the discipline. The review Group has identified considerable problems with the
Department as it is currently structured and makes the following major recommendations:
1. A clear set of aims and Objectives for the Department should be defined and communicated
to the University community and the public at large.
2. The Department of Oceanography should combine with other departments to form a larger
department, thus ensuring that undergraduate and postgraduate student numbers increase,
and that quality control procedures for teaching and research are at a high level.
3. The appointment, at a senior level, of a chemical oceanographer is essential.
4. Academic staff should critically review their teaching activities. Participation in appropriate
University training courses is advised.
5. The issue of the space requirements of the Department should be set out in a letter and sent
to the Dean of the Science Faculty, as well as to the Director of the MRI. This should be
done at the earliest opportunity.
6. Regular Departmental staff meetings (four per year), which are minuted, and a higher level
of engagement with the Faculty of Science and the MRI.
7. The issue of secretarial support for the Department should be resolved.
8. Some aspects of safety need urgent attention.
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3. Follow up Meeting
14.15 h Tuesday, 18 September 2002
Present: Professor Jim Browne Registrar, Dr Pat Morgan Dean of Science, Professor Jim Gosling
Director of Quality (Chair), Professor Gerard Hurley Dean of Research, Professor Paul Ryan
Acting Head of Department, Professor Des Cunningham Review Group Cognate, Dr Annette Harte
Review Group Rapporteur, Dr Nic Morely, Mr Tom Furey, Dr Peter Bowyer, Mr John Coyne, Dr
Martin Whyte, Ms Maureen Linnane of the Quality Office in attendance.
3.1 Action Plan for the Department:
1. The Department supports its amalgamation with the Departments of Geology and the Applied
Geophysics Unit, and hopes that this merger will be complete by June, 2003. The outcome of
the ongoing negotiations is to be presented to Governing Authority in December 2002.
2. The Department is currently drafting a short Strategic Statement that will include a clear set of
aims and objectives. This will be formulated so as to be valid and appropriate after the above
merger is complete and will be communicated to the University Community and the public at
large, as recommended, and published on the new web site.
3. The Department will work with the Earth Science Programme Board with a view to that Board
being in a position to present a revised curriculum for the Denominated BSc to the Science
Faculty in November, 2002. In this, as in other appropriate activities, the Department will
work to promote the discipline of Oceanography.
4. The Department will continue to avail of the university Student Evaluation of Teaching
Programme and will explore new opportunities for academic staff and programme development
created by the establishment of CELT, including the regular use of student surveys.
5. The Department agreed to hold regular staff meetings for which minutes are kept. This
practice will be continued after the merger, as appropriate to the new circumstances. Staff of
the department will also participate fully in the Faculty of Science and the MRI.
6. The Department will immediately request the Health & Safety Adviser to prepare a short-report
on its facilities in MRI Building, particularly those used for teaching Chemical oceanography.
In addition, the Acting Head of Department will ask the MRI Board to include the issue of
Health & Safety on the agenda of all future MRI Board Meetings.
7. The Oceanography website will be improved and extended before the end of December 2002.
3.2 Action plan for University Management:
1. The Registrar agrees that for Oceanography to be a viable teaching and research activity at NUI
Galway, permanent expertise in both Chemical and Physical Oceanography must be available.
In the shorter term, the Registrar will support an application for the appointment, at a senior
level, of a chemical oceanographer, based on a strategic plan submitted by the new combined
Department. This plan must indicate projections for student numbers and proposals for new
courses, thereby providing a basis for the commitment of resources.
2. The Dean of Research will work with contract teaching appointments to facilitate their being
fully research active, including helping with applications for research funding.
3.
The Registrar acknowledges that the designation of the MRI Building as a research centre has
had some unforeseen consequences as regards the Oceanography Department. The Registrar,
the Director of MRI, the Acting Head of Department and the Vice-President for Physical
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Resources will meet to discuss the issue of space requirements, the management of health and
safety and other areas of concern to the Department in the MRI Building.
4. In September 2002, the Faculty of Science will offer an Induction Course for all postgraduate
students in the Faculty.
5. The Dean of Science will work with the Director of CELT to establish a training course for
Research Supervisors at the end of each semester.
6. 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.
Approved by: Acting Head of Department, Professor Paul Ryan, 7 October 2002
Approved by: Dean of Science, Dr Pat Morgan, 31 October 2002
Approved by: Dean of Research, Professor Gerard Hurley, 10 October 2002
Approved by: Registrar, Professor James Browne, 9 October 2002
Finalised, 31 October 2002, Professor Jim Gosling, Director of Quality
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