BriefingBriefing

Michael Mulvey PhDMichael Mulvey PhDDirector of Academic Affairs and RegistrarDirector of Academic Affairs and Registrar

External Review Panel CompositionExternal Review Panel Composition 6 members including6 members including Student representativeStudent representative Quality Assurance ExpertQuality Assurance Expert Senior IndustrialistSenior Industrialist

Half of the Panel will be internationalHalf of the Panel will be international

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Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference

1.1. Follow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness Follow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness of DIT’s quality assurance proceduresof DIT’s quality assurance procedures

2.2. Education and training programmes offered Education and training programmes offered by the DITby the DIT

Terms of ReferenceTerms of ReferenceFollow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness Follow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness of DIT’s quality assurance proceduresof DIT’s quality assurance procedures -- 33 strategically linked recommendations33 strategically linked recommendations

- - Particular attention to be given to:Particular attention to be given to:

the five recommendations on quality the five recommendations on quality assurance assurance and enhancementand enhancement

- quality issues which the NQAI commented - quality issues which the NQAI commented uponupon

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Terms of Reference Terms of Reference (contd)(contd)- - need to implement more proactively and to need to implement more proactively and to

review the annual programme reporting review the annual programme reporting processes in order to encourage full processes in order to encourage full participation by both students and staff participation by both students and staff

and and in order to ensure greater transparency in in order to ensure greater transparency in the student feedback processthe student feedback process

-- the need to accelerate the development of the need to accelerate the development of the emerging systems for school, faculty the emerging systems for school, faculty and research reviewand research review

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Terms of Reference Terms of Reference (contd)(contd)Education and training programmes Education and training programmes offered by the DIT offered by the DIT

Criteria to include:Criteria to include: - examination of DIT’s processes for the - examination of DIT’s processes for the quality assurance of the programme of quality assurance of the programme of education education and training, including research and training, including research programmes, programmes, which it which it provides.provides. - - European standards and guidelines for European standards and guidelines for internal quality assurance within higher internal quality assurance within higher education education institutionsinstitutions

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Terms of Reference Terms of Reference (contd)(contd)Criteria to include:Criteria to include:

-- policy and procedures for quality policy and procedures for quality assuranceassurance

- approval, monitoring and periodic review of - approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awardsprogrammes and awards

-- assessement of studentsassessement of students -- quality assurance of teaching staffquality assurance of teaching staff

-- learning resources and student supportlearning resources and student support -- information systemsinformation systems

-- public informationpublic information

Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)(SER)

Part 1: General GuidancePart 1: General Guidance-- Nature and length of SER (25-40 pages)Nature and length of SER (25-40 pages)

-- References to Supporting DocumentationReferences to Supporting Documentation

-- Gathering Views to Inform the SER (internal Gathering Views to Inform the SER (internal and and external)external)

-- Mechanisms such as an internal SWOT or Mechanisms such as an internal SWOT or PEST analysis and reports of focus groupsPEST analysis and reports of focus groups

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Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER) (SER)

General Background Information to General Background Information to include:include:- On the Institute and its programmes- On the Institute and its programmes

- Range of its activities in Ireland and abroad- Range of its activities in Ireland and abroad

- A synopsis of the national and international - A synopsis of the national and international

education,training and research activities of DITeducation,training and research activities of DIT

- List of programmes to include CPDs, NFQ levels- List of programmes to include CPDs, NFQ levels

and award typesand award types

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Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)(SER)

Education and Training Programmes offered by the DITEducation and Training Programmes offered by the DIT-- details of programmes offereddetails of programmes offered

-- policy and procedures for quality assurancepolicy and procedures for quality assurance-- quality and standards of programmes & quality and standards of programmes & awardsawards-- mechanisms for monitoring stated objectivesmechanisms for monitoring stated objectives-- a means to respond to any identified a means to respond to any identified

weaknessesweaknesses-- commitment to the development of a culture commitment to the development of a culture which which

recognises the importance of quality recognises the importance of quality and quality and quality assurance, in assurance, in their worktheir work

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Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)(SER)

-- a strategy for the continuous enhancement a strategy for the continuous enhancement of qualityof quality

-- designing programme and module learning designing programme and module learning outcomesoutcomes

-- the assessment of students using the assessment of students using published published criteria, regulations and procedures criteria, regulations and procedures which which are applied consistentlyare applied consistently-- the quality assurance of teaching staffthe quality assurance of teaching staff-- adequate learning resources and student adequate learning resources and student

supportssupports

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Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)(SER)

-- appeals procedures to deal with any appeals procedures to deal with any complaints or appeals in respect of complaints or appeals in respect of academic and non-academic mattersacademic and non-academic matters

-- outcomes to date from quality, outcomes to date from quality, professional accreditation professional accreditation and and research research funding reviewsfunding reviews

-- evidence of academic leadership in evidence of academic leadership in particular disciplinesparticular disciplines

-- evidence of appropriate arrangements in evidence of appropriate arrangements in place with place with external stakeholdersexternal stakeholders

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Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)(SER)

- student number data- student number data

- retention, completion and - retention, completion and employment statistics over the employment statistics over the past five yearspast five years

-- grade achievement statistics over grade achievement statistics over the the past five years past five years

- - staff numbers by grade over the past staff numbers by grade over the past

five yearsfive years

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Other ConsiderationsOther ConsiderationsRESEARCHRESEARCH

-- DIT’s research strategy and activities, the DIT’s research strategy and activities, the Institute should allude to these in the context of Institute should allude to these in the context of evaluating its programmes and awards at evaluating its programmes and awards at Levels 6-10 Levels 6-10 of the NFQ, especially Levels 9 and of the NFQ, especially Levels 9 and 10.10.

- - In terms of its research activities, the DIT could In terms of its research activities, the DIT could discuss the on-going capacity of the Institute to discuss the on-going capacity of the Institute to contribute to national objectives for collaborative contribute to national objectives for collaborative higher education and research activityhigher education and research activity

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Participation in the Bologna Process and Participation in the Bologna Process and implementation of related national policiesimplementation of related national policies

Areas to be exploredAreas to be explored::

- - International cooperation and academic exchangeInternational cooperation and academic exchange

-- Mobility of students, graduates and higher education Mobility of students, graduates and higher education staffstaff

-- Preparation of students for their future careers and Preparation of students for their future careers and for for life as active citizenslife as active citizens

-- The implementation of the NFQ including a three-The implementation of the NFQ including a three-cycle cycle structurestructure

-- The fair recognition of foreign degreesThe fair recognition of foreign degrees

-- Development of links between higher education, Development of links between higher education, research and innovation; equitable participation and research and innovation; equitable participation and lifelong lifelong learninglearning

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Participation in the Bologna Process and Participation in the Bologna Process and implementation of related national policiesimplementation of related national policies

Demonstration of engagement with the Demonstration of engagement with the Bologna reform agendaBologna reform agenda

-- the provision of access, transfer and the provision of access, transfer and progression opportunities to learnersprogression opportunities to learners

-- increasing student and staff mobilityincreasing student and staff mobility

-- the recognition of foreign qualifications the recognition of foreign qualifications for the purposes of further studyfor the purposes of further study

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Membership of Institute Review Steering Membership of Institute Review Steering GroupGroup

Director of Academic Affairs (Chair)Director of Academic Affairs (Chair) Michael MulveyMichael Mulvey Academic Registrar (Secretary)Academic Registrar (Secretary) William GrimsonWilliam Grimson College DirectorCollege Director Paul O’Sullivan (Business)Paul O’Sullivan (Business) StudentStudent Clare Cullen (VP, DITSU)Clare Cullen (VP, DITSU) College AdministratorCollege Administrator Elizabeth Heffernan Elizabeth Heffernan

(Sciences)(Sciences) Head of School (Arts & Tourism)Head of School (Arts & Tourism) John O’Connor John O’Connor Head of DepartmentHead of Department Maev Maguire (Sciences)Maev Maguire (Sciences) Lecturer/Academic Staff member (Arts & Tourism)Lecturer/Academic Staff member (Arts & Tourism) Dominic Dillane Dominic Dillane Lecturer (Eng & Built Environment)Lecturer (Eng & Built Environment) Stephen Best Stephen Best Head of Learning Development (Eng & Built Environment)Head of Learning Development (Eng & Built Environment) Brian Bowe Brian Bowe Research (DRE)Research (DRE) Mary McNamaraMary McNamara Researcher (College of Business)Researcher (College of Business) Pamela Sharkey-Scott Pamela Sharkey-Scott Non-academic servicesNon-academic services Paul FlynnPaul Flynn Human ResourcesHuman Resources Phil KennaPhil Kenna

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In attendance:In attendance:

Quality Assurance OfficerQuality Assurance Officer Jan CairnsJan Cairns Quality Assurance OfficerQuality Assurance Officer Nicole O’NeillNicole O’Neill Institutional ResearcherInstitutional Researcher Margaret KilmartinMargaret Kilmartin Director of Student Academic Affairs, DITSUDirector of Student Academic Affairs, DITSU Mary ScallyMary Scally RPL OfficerRPL Officer Anne MurphyAnne Murphy

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Staff IntranetStaff Intranet

Link to DIT Institutional Review:Link to DIT Institutional Review:

http://intranet.dit.ie/academicaffairs/dit_institutional_revihttp://intranet.dit.ie/academicaffairs/dit_institutional_review/index.htmlew/index.html

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