REPORT ON PROGRAMME VALIDATION
Part 1
Q 3 Report
Programme details
Proposed title
BTech in Timber Product Technology
Nature and duration of programme This is a
programme
three
year
full-time
degree
DIT award sought
Bachelor of Technology in Timber Product
Technology
Classifications of award
With classifications of Distinction; Merit, Upper
Division; Merit, Lower Division; Pass
Parallel award sought from other award body
Professional/external accrediting body
None
None
Background
The proposed programme sets out to cater for a number of identified pre-existing
shortfalls in the provision of advanced level qualifications within the timber product
production sphere. Within this domain a requirement exists for qualified persons with
conjoined though equally disparate skills sets: these include that of a Timber
Production Manager and that of the Entrepreneurial producer of Bespoke Furniture
and Joinery. To cater for both the recognised similarities and disparities, the
programme has been designed with both common and strand-specific modules
leading the graduate to the attainment of Bachelor of Technology Timber Product
Technology specialising in either timber operations management or furniture and
joinery manufacture.
The programme has also been designed with the intention of providing the industry
with graduates that will have the business qualifications and confidence to adapt to
the changing economic climate coupled with the hands-on practical skills set
demanded of top class crafts persons in existing craft areas. It will also provide
those already within the industry with the opportunity to up-skill and gain additional
expertise in related areas of the industry.
Stated aims and learning outcomes of the programme
Strand A – Timber Operations Management
This strand provides the learner with knowledge, skills and competencies in the
broad areas of: principles of furniture and joinery production / automation, timber
technologies, design for manufacture with product development, computer
applications, human resource management, business studies, law and marketing and
other appropriate legislation.
Strand B – Furniture & Joinery Manufacture
The programme provides the student with knowledge, skills and competencies in the
broad area of furniture and joinery construction, reproduction, restoration,
conservation and finishing. On completion of the programme the graduate will also
be qualified in the marketing, management and administration associated with a
small furniture or joinery manufacture company.
Learning outcomes
Strand A – Timber Operations Management
Upon successful completion of this programme, graduates will be able to:
 plan and co-ordinate elements of work in a production run;
 plan, co-ordinate and control production resources;
 interpret design drawings and specifications;
 recognise and apply the statutory requirements of the WOODWORKING
MACHINERY REGULATIONS, 1972;
 recognise and apply the statutory requirements of Health and Safety at Work Act
and Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations;
 recognise and apply where appropriate other statutory legislation applicable to
factories and employment;
 liaise with designers, and others as part of a team for the successful completion of
project;
 monitor and control production projects to meet required standards of quality, cost
and time;
 assess and evaluate quality in production and workmanship.
Strand B - Furniture & Joinery Manufacture
Upon successful completion of this programme, graduates will be able to: design and produce drawings and specifications from a given brief;
 interpret working drawings and specifications;
 apply the theoretical principles related to the construction restoration and repair of
furniture and joinery;
 construct, repair, restore, reproduce and finish furniture and joinery projects;
 assess the level of result possible in the restoration or repair of furniture and
joinery of modern and historical styles;
 liaise with customers, architects, designers and others as part of a team for the
successful completion of projects;
 plan and control each element of production;
 control projects to meet required standards of efficiency and quality;
 apply the principles of management with regard to marketing, finance and law
related to the operations of a small/medium sized company;
 apply the health and safety regulations as applied to furniture and joinery
workshops and on-site assessments and fitting;
 apply the health and safety regulations related to the construction of furniture and
joinery;
 start up their own company.
Programme structure
The programme is a full-time programme delivered over three years.
The
programme shares all common core modules in year 1, six common modules in year
2 and three common modules in year 3. The first year of the programme is common
to both strands while during the second and third years students take modules
according to their strand.
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Entry Requirements (See Part 4 Findings of the Panel)
Intending students of this programme will require:
Standard Entry
A Pass in 5 Leaving Cert subjects with D3 in Maths +D3 in English or
a trade qualification in a related area.
Non-Standard Entry
Completion of Phase 4 in Cabinet Making, Wood Machining or Joinery Standard
Based Apprenticeship or equivalent or a FETAC related Level 5 qualification.
Applicants may be asked to attend for interview where deemed necessary.
RPL Applicants: Recognition Of Prior Learning
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL):
Consideration will be given to mature candidates who can supply supporting
evidence of Prior Experiential Learning with significant and relevant work experience.
Such applicants will be expected to:
Submit a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their experience and indicating their
capability of undertaking the work and learning in the various modules. The portfolio
will be in a prescribed format.
Student assessment
In accordance with the General Assessment Regulations of the Institute.
Derogations from the General Assessment Regulations (See Part 4 Findings of
the Panel)
None sought
Part 2
Validation details and membership of panel
Dates of Validation Event
31 May/1 June 2011
Programme of visit to College
Tuesday 31 May (Day 1)
DIT Bolton Street
17.00 hrs
Introductory meeting of Review Panel with Head of School and other
relevant staff from the College of Engineering and the Built
Environment and School of Construction.
17.30 hrs
Private meeting of Panel to discuss and draw up an agenda of matters
to be raised at subsequent meetings with various groups.
18.30 hrs
Panel visits facilities available to the programme.
20.30 hrs
Dinner.
Wednesday 1st June (Day 2)
09.00 hrs
DIT Bolton Street (Linenhall)
Private meeting of Panel.
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09.30 hrs
Meeting of Panel with staff responsible for the management of the
programme and appropriate members of the Programme Committee
to discuss specific issues raised by the Panel.
11.30 hrs
Meeting of Panel with staff teaching on the programme to discuss
such matters as syllabi, teaching methods and assessment issues.
13.00 hrs
Lunch.
14.00 hrs
Private meeting of Panel to consider draft report.
15.45 hrs
Final meeting of Panel with Head of School of Construction and other
relevant staff from the School and from College of Engineering and
the Built Environment to present orally the Panel’s findings.
Part 3
Comments on documentation and arrangements for event
Documentation provided
The documentation provided for the Validation Panel included Part A, Background
Information and Part B, the Programme Document, some staff CVs and a draft
Student Handbook, along with extracts from the Handbook for Quality Enhancement
setting out procedures and other matters associated with the validation of
programmes.
Part 4
Findings of the Panel
Recommendations of Panel in relation to award sought
The Panel is pleased to recommend to Academic Council approval of the Bachelor
of Technology in Timber Product Technology, at level 7 within the National
Framework of Qualifications, leading to the following awards:
 Bachelor of Technology in Timber Product Technology (Timber Operations
Management)
 Bachelor of Technology in Timber Product Technology (Furniture and Joinery
Manufacture).
This approval is subject to conditions and the Panel also makes some
recommendations and observations.
The Panel welcomes the proposal and commends the Programme Team on the
proposal, the Team’s knowledge and understanding of the industry, and its healthy
respect for tradition along with its desire to seek progress. The Panel believes that
the Panel’s report will help to enhance the programme and its attractiveness to
industry and potential students.
Conditions
a)
The aims and learning outcomes of the programme should be reviewed to
ensure that these reflect the type of graduate that the Programme Team
envisages, in line with industry advice.
b)
The structure of the programme should be reviewed, to avoid unnecessary
duplication and to integrate content more effectively at each stage of the
programme. As part of this review the assessment strategy for the programme
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should also be reconsidered, while retaining a balance of formative and
summative assessment.
c)
The Panel notes that some of the modules currently listed within the programme
document are located outside the School of Construction and it considers that
expressions of support should be forthcoming from the relevant
Schools/Colleges, to ensure that these modules will be delivered by suitably
qualified staff. The Panel requests that academic-style curriculum vitae are
submitted for all staff teaching on the programme.
d)
The Panel is of the view that the Programme Team should include within the
programme discrete modules in certain topics, such as quality control,
communications and entrepreneurship.
e)
The entry requirements pertaining to non-standard entry, the use of RPL to
facilitate entry, exemptions and advanced entry, as well as possible progression
routes should be clarified within the Programme Document.
f)
Learning outcomes and regulations pertaining to the exit award of Higher
Certificate should be clearly stated within the relevant sections of the
Programme Document.
g)
There should be clarity within the relevant section of the Programme Document
in terms of how the General Assessment Regulations apply and any derogations
that might be sought.
Recommendations
i)
The Panel recommends that the final year of the programme should include a
project of a value greater that 5 ECTS that integrates student learning including
independent learning across all modules.
ii)
The Panel recommends that the Programme Team/Committee should develop
collaborations with other Schools/Colleges/institutions to maximise use of
resources and facilitate student and staff mobility.
iii)
The Panel recommends that the Programme Team/Committee should
reconsider the award titles in relation to each strand.
Observations

The Panel notes the Programme Team’s intention to consider the inclusion of a
work placement within the programme and it would support this as a future
development.

The Panel encourages the Programme Team to consider a part-time route for
those working in industry, and also to consider other potential markets, such as
the international market, e-learning. It also encourages the Team to submit
programme modules as stand-alone CPD programmes for approval through the
College process.
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