University College Dublin
Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement
Peer Review Group Report
Department of Welsh
Academic Year 2003/2004
Table of Contents
Page Number
The Peer Review Group
3
1. The Department
4
1.1
1.2
1.3
Location of the Department
Staff
Courses and Programmes
2. The Departmental Self-assessment
2.1
2.2
The Co-ordinating Committee
Methodology adopted
4
4
4
5
5
5
3. The Site Visit
6
3.1
3.2
3.3
6
7
7
Timetable
Methodology
General Comments
4. The Peer Review
4.1
4.2
4.3
8
Methodology
Sources used
Peer Review Group's View of the
Self-assessment Report
5. Findings of the Peer Review Group
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
Departmental Details
Department Planning and Organisation
Taught Programmes
Teaching and Learning
Research and Scholarly Activity
External Relations
Support Services
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
11
12
12
13
6. Overall Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Concerns
14
7. Recommendations for Improvement
16
2
Members of the Peer Review Group
NAME
AFFILIATION
ROLE
Dr Derek Mitchell
Department of Botany,
University College Dublin
Chair
Dr Frank Monahan
Department of Food Science,
University College Dublin
Rapporteur
Professor Patricia Lysaght
Department of Irish Folklore,
University College Dublin
Cognate
Professor Brynley F.
Roberts
University of Wales, Swansea
and Cardiff University
Extern
Professor Máire Herbert
University College Cork
Extern
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1.
THE DEPARTMENT
1.1
Location of the Department
The Department of Welsh is located in the John Henry Newman
Building. Each academic member of staff has an office (rooms A206,
B208) in which small classes and tutorials are also held.
The Administrative Officer has his own office in room A208. He is
responsible for the administration of the Departments of Welsh,
Linguistics, Early Irish and the Faculty of Celtic Studies.
The Department has no specific room available for seminars or
postgraduate use. Each semester’s classes are normally held in
dedicated classrooms which are reserved on an hourly basis. Use is
also made – depending on availability – of both the foreign-language
and Irish-language laboratories.
1.2
Staff
The Department of Welsh currently has two tenured academic staff,
and an Administrative Officer who serves a number of units. Staff
members are based in close proximity to each other on the second floor
of the John Henry Newman Building. Since the retirement of the most
recent Professor of Welsh in 1989, the Chair of Welsh has not been
advertised, and the Department has, in the meantime, been
administered, firstly by the Professor of Linguistics, and then by the
Professor of Early Irish. In October 2003, Dr Jenny Rowland, the Senior
Lecturer in the Department of Welsh, was appointed Acting Head of the
Department.
The current staff complement of the Department also includes one parttime, temporary tutor.
1.3
Courses and Programmes
The Department contributes to the following degree programmes of the
University:
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



The three-year BA in Arts
The three-year BA in Celtic Studies
The one-year MA in Celtic Studies
The one-year MA in Welsh
The two-year MPhil in Celtic Studies
The two-year MPhil in Medieval Studies
A First Year undergraduate course in Celtic Civilization is co-ordinated
by the Acting Head of the Department of Welsh.
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2.
THE DEPARTMENTAL SELF-ASSESSMENT
2.1
The Co-ordinating Committee
Dr Jenny Rowland (Chair), Senior Lecturer and Acting Head of
Department
Dr Dewi Evans, Lecturer
Mr Michael Wallace, Administrative Officer
Ms Annemarie Hazekamp, Postgraduate Student and Tutor
2.2
Methodology Adopted
A number of meetings were organised, mainly between the academic
staff, who also distributed and assessed responses to student
questionnaires. Drafts of the Self-assessment Report (SAR) were
written and revised by both members of the academic staff.
The academic members of staff had one meeting with the Director of
Quality Assurance; they held six joint meetings and communicated by
email on many occasions during the self-assessment process.
The Head of Department met with the Tutor for the Celtic Civilization
course in October 2003.
The academic staff met with both facilitators once, with one of the
facilitators on another occasion, and communicated with them both by
telephone and email a number of times.
The full Co-ordinating Committee also met on 18 March 2004.
Dates of distribution of student questionnaires:
Welsh: 14 May 2003
Celtic Civilization: April 2003, November 2003
Allocation of tasks
Dr Rowland
Writing, distributing and analysing Celtic Civilization questionnaires, cowriting of the SAR.
Dr Evans
Writing, distributing and analysing Welsh questionnaires, co-writing of
the SAR.
Mr Wallace
Collection of student data, preparation of SAR booklet and appendices.
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3.
THE SITE VISIT
3.1
Timetable
Monday, 29 March:
18.30
Peer Review Group met the Director of QA in Hotel
20.00
Dinner hosted by the Registrar and Vice-President for
Academic Affairs
Tuesday, 30 March
All meetings took place in Meeting Room 4, Student Centre unless
otherwise stated.
09.00-09.30 Peer Review Group (PRG) meeting
09.30-10.15 Departmental Co-ordinating Committee met the PRG to
discuss the Department in the context of the Selfassessment Report
10.15-10.30 PRG travelled to Arts Building
10.30-11.0
PRG met the Dean of Arts over coffee, Dean’s Office
11.00-11.30 PRG met the Dean of Celtic Studies, Dean’s Office
11.30-12.00 PRG viewed facilities of the Department
12.00-12.15 PRG returned to Student Centre
12.15-13.00 PRG met Acting Head of Department
13.00-14.00 PRG working lunch
14.00-14.45 PRG met Lecturer
14.45-15.15 PRG met postgraduate
15.15-15.45 Slot available for PRG to meet present and past students
studying Celtic Civilization
15.45-16.15 PRG met present and past students studying Welsh
16.15-16.45 PRG met Administrative Officer over Coffee
16.45-17.15 Slot available for private meetings with individual staff and
students
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17.15-17.45 PRG visited Library
17.45-18.30 PRG met academic staff members
Evening
PRG working dinner in hotel
Wednesday, 31 March:
All meetings took place in Meeting Room 4, Student Centre unless
otherwise stated.
09.00-09.30 PRG meeting
09.30-11.0
PRG wrote draft of PRG Report
11.00-11.30 Coffee Break
11.30-13.00 PRG working lunch
13.00-16.00 PRG wrote draft of PRG Report
16.00-17.00 Exit presentation by PRG to the Department followed by
coffee reception
17.00
3.2
Site Visit concluded
Methodology
All members of the PRG participated in every aspect of the site visit.
3.3
General Comments
Staff and past students were most helpful and accommodating to the
PRG during the site visit.
The timetable was somewhat restrictive on Tuesday, 30th March and
the distance between the PRG meeting room in the Student Centre and
the Welsh Department led to some difficulties in keeping to schedule.
However, two of the afternoon slots – the meeting with Celtic
Civilization students and the open slot – were not availed of, and this
allowed the PRG to finish its report on time. The location of the PRG
meeting room in the Student Centre may also have been a factor in the
failure of current students of Celtic Civilization and of Welsh to meet the
PRG.
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4.
THE PEER REVIEW
4.1
Methodology
All members of the PRG contributed to the drafting of Chapter 5
(Findings of the Peer Review Group), Chapter 6 (Overall Analysis of
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats/Concerns), and
Chapter 7 (Recommendations for Improvement). The final version of
the PRG Report was agreed by all members of the PRG.
4.2
Sources Used
The Welsh Department Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Selfassessment Report (SAR) and the Appendices.
Interviews with the members of the Departmental Co-ordinating
Committee, the Deans of Arts and of Celtic Studies, the Acting Head of
Department and Lecturer, the current postgraduate student, past
students of Welsh, and the Administrative Officer.
Other documentation available to the PRG included the draft proposal
for the projected Celtic Civilization degree programme and handouts
and worksheets given to present first year students in the Celtic
Civilization Course. The original questionnaire replies completed by the
first year students taking the Celtic Mythology module in Celtic
Civilization were also available for scrutiny by the PRG.
4.3
Peer Review Group's View of the Self-assessment Report
The PRG was of the opinion that the SAR was well written and gave a
clear and honest assessment of the Department’s work. It also gave an
accurate assessment of the Department’s standing at present and
outlined what future developments might take place. The tone of the
SAR was positive and constructive.
The only minor criticism of the report related to the student surveys.
There was a lack of clarity as to the process and numbers involved and
consequent uncertainty regarding the results, particularly in relation to
the Celtic Civilization survey. However, the matter was satisfactorily
clarified with the Head of Department in the course of the site visit.
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5.
THE FINDINGS OF THE PEER REVIEW GROUP
Overall comments
Interviews conducted in the course of the site visit supported and
reinforced the SAR content. The PRG was of the opinion that the QA/QI
process was happening at an opportune time for the Welsh
Department, particularly in the light of Departmental plans for increasing
its undergraduate and postgraduate numbers. The interviews with past
students of Welsh clearly conveyed the esteem in which the students
held the staff of the Department and testified also to the calibre of the
students themselves. The PRG regretted that no past or present
students of the Celtic Civilization programme availed of the opportunity
to meet the PRG, but the location and timing may have been a
consideration (see 3.3 above).
5.1
Departmental Details
The PRG agrees with the statements made in chapter one of the SAR
which were confirmed during the site visit. The Welsh Department has a
committed staff who have retained their enthusiasm for further
development of their academic programmes, notwithstanding the
intensive nature of their teaching commitments. The Department has its
own Acting Head of Department since October 2003 and now has
specific representation on decision-making bodies. Cordial co-operation
exists among staff, between staff and students, and with other
departments in the University.
Office space is limited and there is a lack of adequate teaching and
tutorial accommodation as well as office space for the current research
project.
Work in room A206 is unacceptably disrupted by noise levels in a
neighbouring language teaching room (A207A).
The administration office (which the Welsh Department shares with two
other departments and the Faculty of Celtic Studies) is inadequate for
the range of duties undertaken by the Administrative Officer.
5.2
Planning and Organisation
The Department has a clear sense of its mission and fully participates
in the University’s goal of serving both Ireland and the wider world. The
Welsh Department’s stated objectives are as follows:


to advance knowledge of Welsh language and literature through
research and scholarly publications of the highest quality,
to provide a similarly high standard of teaching and supervision
in order to produce undergraduate and postgraduate students of
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

recognized international standing in Welsh,
to highlight the linguistic, cultural and historical connections
which have long existed between Wales and Ireland (and to
foster further contacts whenever possible),
to participate in interdisciplinary courses which explain Wales’s
place within a Celtic, European and global context.
While management structures of the Department of Welsh are less
formal than in larger departments, nevertheless, the Department
functions efficiently and operates the University’s administrative
procedures effectively. The Department has a close working
relationship with the Faculties of Celtic Studies and Arts. It makes very
effective use of its very limited budget allocation and it has successfully
attracted supplementary income through the JYA programme. The
current resources are insufficient to cover large capital outlays such as
computers and photocopiers.
The PRG is satisfied that:
 the shared structure of the administration office functions
effectively,
 the language teaching commitment of the Department is labour
intensive especially as courses in the Welsh and Breton
languages are offered ab initio,
 staff and student gender ratios are evenly balanced,
 there seems to be satisfactory communication with the relevant
support services,
 the workload in the Department is distributed as evenly as
possible,
 it is an advantage that many of the courses can be taught by
either staff member.
5.3
Taught Programmes
The Welsh Department offers a wide range of teaching in Welsh
language and literature and contributes to an interdisciplinary
programme in Celtic Civilization. The degree in Welsh is of a scope and
standard academically comparable to similar degree programmes in
Wales. Students are encouraged and facilitated to achieve a high
degree of competency in oral and written Welsh. The context of
teaching within the Faculty of Celtic Studies also contributes to a strong
awareness of the relationship of Welsh to Celtic Studies in general. In
teaching the Welsh degree programme, the staff bear the additional
burden of providing teaching materials in English for students taking
Welsh for the first time.
The interdisciplinary first year course in Celtic Civilization is now well
established and attracts a good cohort of Irish and international
students. The contribution of the Department of Welsh to this course is
supported by the imaginative use of teaching materials, including well10
structured worksheets. The PRG endorses and looks forward to the
speedy implementation of a Celtic Civilization degree programme. This
will offer an interdisciplinary programme of academic worth which
should have wide appeal.
The Department offers a range of postgraduate programmes. The
Higher Diploma in Medieval Welsh Language and Literature provides a
postgraduate qualification, as well as access to further higher degree
opportunities for students who do not have a primary degree in Welsh.
At present the Department has one student engaged in full-time PhD
research. The PRG endorses the Department’s wish to increase its
cohort of postgraduate students.
The Department is working closely with the Faculty of Celtic Studies,
and particularly with the Department of Early (including Medieval) Irish,
to create and promote postgraduate taught courses which would appeal
to students from outside the Irish educational system. The PRG is of
the opinion that the Department should review the number of existing
taught postgraduate programmes in the light of existing staff resources
and seek a better level of rationalisation between them, and that it
should also explore opportunities for greater flexibility in postgraduate
access.
5.4
Teaching and Learning
The PRG noted the changes to the Welsh syllabus over the past 10
years, principally:
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a greater focus than hitherto on modern spoken Welsh,
provision of financial aid for students to spend one week per year
at the University of Wales, Bangor (where accommodation is
organized in a Welsh-speaking hall of residence),
encouragement of students to attend courses in spoken Welsh at
Universities in Wales,
provision of modern teaching materials in the language
laboratory.
The PRG commends the provision of Welsh as a modern living
language, in tandem with Medieval Welsh which is of intrinsic value for
the study of medieval literature in general. The Department also has the
striking advantage of being in a position to offer modern Breton as an
adjunct to the study of modern Welsh. This is a valuable aspect of, and
contribution to, British-Celtic studies.
The PRG also commends the aspiration
towards offering on-line courses once
structures for this development are in
Department is acutely aware, however, of
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of the Department to work
the appropriate University
place. We note that the
the resource implications of
undertaking such a project.
The PRG lauds the contribution of the tutorial system to teaching and
learning in Celtic Civilization and believes that there is an equally
pressing need for similar provision in the case of ab initio language
teaching and learning in the Welsh language.
5.5
Research and Scholarly Activity
The PRG commends the Department for carrying out research to the
highest international standards in the areas of medieval and modern
language and literature. It contributes thereby to scholarship in Welsh
itself, and in the wider Celtic and related fields. The standard of
research in the Department of Welsh is such that it attracts invitations
from reputable academic publishers to produce substantial works in the
field. Along with being active in individual research, members of staff
are involved also in prestigious collaborative research and publication
ventures.
The Department of Welsh recognises the importance of internationally
refereed publications. The PRG urges regular contributions of this kind
in the international academic arena.
The PRG views the Department’s recent success in attracting
substantial research funding as a very praiseworthy development, one
which is indicative of the positive and enterprising spirit in the
Department.
The PRG welcomes the Department’s aspirations to enhance its
postgraduate numbers. It acknowledges the contribution of both staff
members to current PhD supervision.
The PRG urges continued commitment to research-led teaching but
acknowledges that this has implications for the distribution of the
workload in the Department.
A praiseworthy innovation is the organisation of well-attended public
lectures, and collaboration with other Departments in this activity.
These occasions raise the profile of the Department and contribute to
the richness and diversity of the Humanities at University College
Dublin.
5.6
External Relations
The obvious cognate disciplines for the Welsh Department are those
within the Faculty of Celtic Studies, but fruitful collaboration may be
envisaged in other directions also, in particular with other language
departments. Both academic staff members contribute to Faculty and
12
university committees and they maintain active contact with colleagues
throughout the world in the area of Celtic Studies. The research
projects being undertaken by Department members enhance
collaboration with academic institutions in Wales.
The PRG lauds the Department’s role in raising an awareness of Wales
in Ireland. It urges the furthering of reciprocal relations with Welsh
expatriates in Ireland as a means of heightening the Department’s
profile, and, perhaps, as a resource for student access to native
speakers of Welsh.
5.7
Support Services
The SAR indicated general satisfaction with Support Services in UCD.
There was some dissatisfaction with Computing Services, with some
aspects of Library provision and especially with sound disturbance from
classes in room A207A. Student complaints about delays in getting
examination cards from the Examination Office were also noted by the
PRG.
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6.
OVERALL
ANALYSIS
OF
STRENGTHS,
WEAKNESSES,
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS /CONCERNS (SWOT ANALYSIS)
Strengths
 Constituting the only full Department of Welsh anywhere outside
of Wales, and consequently providing UCD with a resource
unique in Ireland, a full degree programme in Welsh.
 The UCD Chair of Welsh has had a succession of illustrious
holders since its establishment at the foundation of the National
University of Ireland in 1908.
 Welsh has been an integral part of the internationally recognised
Faculty of Celtic Studies, a foundation Faculty of the National
University of Ireland.
 The Department has well-qualified, committed and enthusiastic
staff.
 The Department has academic staff whose research is highly
regarded internationally.
 The Department has excellent teaching at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels.
 The Department provides comprehensive academic programmes
in Welsh language and literature.
 The Department has successfully extended its range of courses
to include Celtic Civilization.
 The Department has a successful record in postgraduate training
and in the appointment of graduates to prestigious international
academic institutions.
 The Department provides excellent pastoral care of students.
 The Department has had recent success in obtaining substantial
EU funding.
 The Department is successful in generating substantial JYA
income.
Weaknesses
 Small department in the University context, with comparatively
low student numbers.
 Bearing the legacy of the lack of specific representation on
decision-making bodies for over a decade, up to the recent
appointment of an Acting Head from within the Department.
Opportunities
 Modularisation seen as an opportunity for course expansion and
interdisciplinary co-operation.
 Planning for a full degree programme in Celtic Civilization is well
advanced.
 Involvement in restructuring and extending access to
programmes in Celtic Studies.
 Possibility of developing UCD’s unique resources in the subject
14

area and extending academic development of the British
dimension of Celtic Studies.
Further possibilities of obtaining EU funding and establishing
links with other academic institutions in the EU.
Threats / Concerns
 That the Department has been without a professor and Chair for
15 years.
 High number of contact hours incommensurate with student
numbers.
 Current financial climate, an area of concern for Humanities in
general, but particularly so for small departments such as Welsh.
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7.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT
The PRG recommends:
 the maintenance of the Department’s status as an independent
entity with its own headship.
 the maintenance of Ireland’s unique Chair of Welsh which should
be filled as soon as possible.
 the early implementation of current plans for a full degree
programme in Celtic Civilization in which the Welsh Department
would play a significant role.
 that staff expertise in the British aspects of Celtic languages,
literatures and cultures be utilized to full advantage within Celtic
Studies, British Irish Studies and within the Humanities in
general.
 that the Department take all appropriate measures to increase
student recruitment at all levels, including the urgent provision of
a specific Department of Welsh website, outreach to schools in
Ireland and the UK, and investigation of adult education
opportunities.
 that rationalization of postgraduate programmes takes place to
allow for more flexible access to these programmes.
 that staffing needs be reviewed as the proposed developments
at undergraduate and postgraduate levels increase student
numbers.
 that tutorial assistance be provided for language teaching.
 that capital grant levels be also reviewed in the context of
increased student numbers.
 that consideration be given to the Department’s requirements for
class and tutorial space, study areas for postgraduate students,
and the accommodation requirements of the INTERREG
research programme.
 that rooms adjoining the office of the Acting Head of Department
be soundproofed as a matter of urgency.
 that existing contacts with centres of excellence in Welsh and
Celtic Studies internationally be fostered and enhanced.
 that the current productive links with the University of Wales,
Bangor, and the University of Wales Dictionary project be further
supported, and that such links be further developed.
 that the Department’s unique role in advancing the linguistic,
cultural and historical connections between Wales and Ireland be
fostered and enhanced.
 that the Welsh Department’s current connections with Welsh
diasporic communities be further supported and developed in the
northern and southern hemispheres.
 that the Department’s initiative in arranging student study visits
16

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
to a Welsh-speaking environment within the University of Wales,
Bangor, be continued.
that the Department’s expertise in IT continues to be used to the
best possible advantage.
that academic staff explore sabbatical possibilities in the light of
support from such bodies as the IRCHSS.
that staff members should continue to avail of all possible
opportunities to prepare research for publication in international
journals.
that the Department should foster its connections with the
expatriate Welsh community in Ireland as appropriate.
17