Mini Review
Department of Human Anatomy
University College Dublin
17 November 2004
The Review
Members of Review Group
Professor Rodney Thom
Professor Grace Mulcahy
Ms Bronwyn Molony
Department of Economics
Chair
Department of Veterinary Microbiology
and Parasitology
Quality Assurance Office
Methodology
The Mini Review Group visited the Department of Human Anatomy on Friday,
November 19. In preparation for the visit the Mini Review Group reviewed the
following documents supplied by the Department:
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Mini Review Progress Report
Quality Improvement Plan
Peer Review Group Report
Self-assessment Report
Faculty of Medicine Strategic Plan
During the visit to the Department the Review Group met with the head of
department, department staff, student representatives and the Dean of the Faculty of
Arts. The Review Group also made a tour of the Department’s facilities.
Findings of the Mini Review Group
1. General Comments
The Group were impressed with the level of enthusiasm shown by members of
staff along with their level of participation in the quality improvement process
despite the difficulties they are currently operating under, in particular the
physical working environment.
The Mini Review Group wish to support the majority of recommendations made
by the Peer Review Team in their report of April 1999. The Department has
implemented many of the recommendations advised in the Peer Review Group
report and are to be commended. To date the departments has not received any
funding from the Quality Improvement Fund; improvements have been achieved
through the department or faculty.
Many of the problems currently experienced by the Department will be alleviated
by the move to the Belfield campus. However, this move will not take place until
2006 and the Mini Review Group are concerned that some of the issues raised
below will need to be addressed prior to this move.
2. Departmental Details
2.1. Building
Facilities within the department have not changed to a large degree from the
original peer review group report. The building and physical working
environment is quite dilapidated. Any work carried out has been funded by
the department. With the planned move to Belfield in 2006 little investment
has been undertaken by the University in improving facilities. However the
Mini Review Group is concerned about matters of safety and whilst Earlsfort
Terrace is a listed building the safety of staff and students should take priority.
There have been two reported incidents concerning windows within the
department.
The Review Group recommend that the Safety Office should replace/repair
windows that are in an unsafe condition regardless of cost. It is not
appropriate that staff are unable to ventilate their working environment for
safety reasons.
The Review Group also recommends that a keypad security system is
installed within the department for security reasons. The department is quite
accessible from the street and the cost would be justified in terms of city
centre location.
The Review Group suggests that the department apply
directly to the Quality Improvement Finance Committee with a revised and
updated cost of installation.
2.2. Equipment
Facilities within the department will greatly improve with the relocation to the
Belfield campus. The Review Group recommends that the department fully
engage with Faculty in its relocation strategy to ensure that the department
has the required equipment and facilities.
2.3. Staffing
The recommendations made in the 1999 Review Group report concerning
staff have been completed. However the filling of the Senior Lecturer post
created by the retirement of Professor Hooper in 2002 has not been
successful. Given what appears to be an adverse staff/student ratio the
Review Group wish to recommend that this post should be filled as soon as
possible. The department feels that this post could be filled at lecturer level
and the Review Group supports this. The department needs to look at new
methods of technology as a means of freeing up staff time.
With regard to the difficulty currently experienced by the department in
recruiting demonstrators the department needs to look at different ways of
recruiting them in view of the large class numbers.
2.4. Planning and Organisation
The Department has implemented all recommendations made by the Peer
Review Group with the exception of establishing regular meetings with the
Physiology Division.
In the Review Group’s view the Department of Anatomy needs to work on
developing this relationship with the Department of Physiology prior to its
move to Belfield. There are important synergies between the two divisions
and both departments are losing out by not communicating at the right level.
The opportunity posed by the appointment of the new professor of Physiology
should be used to facilitate building a closer relationship.
3. Taught Programmes
Interest was expressed by the head of department in setting up an undergraduate
programme in Anatomy based in the Faculty of Science with Anatomy offered as
an option in years 2, 3 and 4. Similar courses are offered in NUIG and UCC.
Grace/Rodney – do you want to comment on this? Is mentioned on page 7
of Summary report. Additional resources will be required.
4. Teaching and Learning
4.1. Undergraduate
The Review Group met with undergraduate students who expressed their
satisfaction with the level of taught Anatomy and the examination process.
Clear course outlines are available for students. Staff are approachable and
accessible to students.
Concern was expressed by staff over the decrease in teaching time allocated
to Anatomy in the new curriculum and that certain areas may not be covered
comprehensively.
In the light of the laborious nature of the exam system arising from the new
curriculum the Review Group would recommend that administrative staff
should have a greater involvement in the process. Concern was also
expressed by staff that no formulated exam procedures were available from
Faculty which they found very confusing particularly as regards the new policy
on modularisation. The Review Group recommend that the department
clarifies this with the Faculty of Medicine.
The number of tutorial students this year has grown significantly with on
average 80 students in first year tutorials. The Review Group is concerned at
this high level of students. This problem can only be alleviated by employing
more graduate students.
A recommendation made by the Peer Review Group on the sharing of
cadavers between UCD, TCD and RCSI. The department did not agree with
this recommendation as the number of cadaver donation is similar between
the universities.
The Review Group supports the departments view.
However we would suggest that the department look at ways of developing
closer co-operation between the Dublin Medical Schools, for example, a joint
seminar series for students.
4.2. Postgraduate
Postgraduate are currently involved in the tutorial system with tutors given a
topic to cover. Because of the large class size participation by students is
limited. Feedback from students has indicated that smaller class size would
be preferable.
PhD students are an important part of research teams. Consideration should
be given to provide a more supportive environment. The role of the
supervisor and student should be clearly defined. Clear guidelines should be
agreed within the department for the selection, supervision and progress
review of postgraduate students. These should incorporate the University’s
booklet on PhD Regulations and Guidelines.
5. Research and Scholarly Activity
Attention needs to be given to research strategy within the department. It is
clear from discussions with staff that they are aware of this. The department
have had little success in obtaining research funding. The Review Group
would recommend that the department use the services of the Office for
Funded Research Support Services in grant/funding applications.
Also
recommended is that the University should provide more professional support
for grant applications i.e. sabbaticals. The department should also consider
an in-house policy on sabbatical leave.
Mentoring of new staff and the development of co-operation and collaboration
with research groups in Conway are also important for the department. The
development of a departmental research strategy with goals and targets
should also be established.
6. Faculty Strategic Planning
The department needs to look at its role within the Faculty. In the context of ongoing
changes at UCD it is hoped that the department would play a constructive role in
advancing the discipline and the Faculty of Medicine in the University.
Recommendations of the Mini Review Group
1. The Safety Office should replace/repair windows that are in an unsafe condition
regardless of cost.
2. A keypad security system should be installed within the department.
3. The department should fully engage with the Faculty of Medicine prior to the
move to the Belfield campus in ensuring that the department has the required
equipment and facilities.
4. The post of senior lecturer that is currently vacant should be filled as soon as
possible. Consideration should be given to advertising the post at lecturer level.
5. The department should look at new methods of technology as a means of freeing
up staff time. Contact should be made with the Centre for Teaching and
Learning.
6. The department needs to review its current practices of recruiting demonstrators
in view of the large class numbers.
7. Tutorial class sizes need to be decreased.
8. The department should develop a closer working relationship with the department
of Physiology.
9. The department should commence discussion with the Faculty of Science in
setting up an undergraduate programme in Anatomy.
10. The department should review the programme offered to students under the new
curriculum through regular feedback.
11. Clarification with the Faculty of Medicine on exam procedures particularly with
regard to the new policy on modularisation should be sought.
12. With the new laborious nature of the exam system arising from modularisation
administrative staff should be involved in the process.
13. The department should look at ways of developing closer co-operation between
the Dublin Medical Schools, for example, a joint seminar series for students.
14. Clear guidelines need to be available for postgraduates particularly with regard to
supervision and progress review.
15. Close attention needs to be focused by the department on its research strategy
and activity. A clear strategy with goals and targets should be established.
16. The services of the Office of Funded Research Support service should be
utilised in grant applications.
17. The department needs to develop an in-house policy on sabbatical leave.
18. Mentoring of new staff and collaboration with research groups in Conway should
be developed.