Prof. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh

Chair, Universities IrelandPresident, Irish Universities Association

President, NUI Galway

Monitoring performance including quality: the Irish experience

Outline

• QA / QI in the Irish Universities– The Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB)

– EUA Sectoral Review Irish Universities 2004

• Quality-related activities at NUI Galway– Reviews of academic units

– Reviews of administration and service units

– Issues arising

Quality System in the Irish Universities

• Universities Act 1997 obliged every university:– To establish procedures for the evaluation of each department and of any

service provided– To arrange for reviews of the effectiveness of these procedures

• In 2003 the Universities established the IUQB to review independently their

internal quality procedures

• In 2006, after EUA reviews of the sector:

– the IUQB was established as a legal entity

– The HEA agreed to nominate members to the Board

– University representation on the Board was reduced

Irish University Quality Board

• The 17 member board of IUQB:

– Has an independent chair jointly nominated by IUA and HEA

– Members from Europe and North America

– Representatives from main stakeholders

– Seven university nominees

• IUQB organises cyclical reviews of effectiveness of quality procedures in

Universities

• IUQB manages sectoral projects that give rise to National Guidelines of

Good Practice

• There is also an annual conference sponsored by IUQB

IUQB/HEA-sponsored Review by EUA of Irish University Sector – 2004

The EUA, jointly commissioned by IUQB/HEA, (see www.iuqb.ie)

Conducted, & reported to the HEA on an overall review of quality procedures established by the universities (sectoral review), and

In the case of each university, reviewed and reported to the IUQB on its quality assurance procedures and implementation of findings.

Via the Review reports, made many substantial recommendations for improvements for the sector and the individual universities

Quote [from EUA Sectoral Review]:

“This systematic organisation and promotion of QA at the initiative of the universities themselves is, in the opinion of the EUA teams, unparalled in

Europe, or indeed in the US or Canada. The system would appear to strike the right tone and combination of public interest, accountability, and

university autonomy.”

Quality-related Activities at NUI Galway

• Driven by Strategic and Academic Plans

• Reviews of all units on a five/six year cycle

• Regular surveys of student satisfaction

• ‘Deans and Heads’ annual conference series

• Initiatives arising from review outcomes: (e.g.

establishment of teaching centre (CELT), development of

institutional research processes)

Characteristics of Internal Reviews (Similar in most other Irish universities)

• Transparent Open and clear processes

• Staff centred All staff included at all stages

• Student centred Students on self assessment groups

• Comprehensive Teaching, research and community

• Practice-focused Seek to improve policies and procedures

• Independent Chairs of review groups are external

• International One member from EU, US, etc.

• Standard format Self assessment, review and follow-up

Administration, Services and Supports

• Committee Chair is external business executive • Reviewed to date:

– 1997–98 James Hardiman Library – 2001–02 Human Resources– 2002-03 Careers and Placement Services, Research

Administration– 2003–04 Buildings Office– 2004–05 Computer Services & Student Services– 2005–06 Examinations Office and Library (2nd review)

• Review of senior management functions by 2008• First cycle to be completed by 2007–08

Academic Units

• Reviews were commenced in 1995–96

• All ‘departments’ and have been reviewed at least once

• Research institutes and centres:– Irish Centre for Human Rights reviewed in 2002-03– National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science in 2005–06

• All main faculties will have been reviewed by June 2006

• Twelve interdisciplinary programmes have been reviewed separately

• Already, 17 ‘departments’ have been reviewed for a second time.

Some direct outcomes of qa/qi systems

• Systematic collection and use of student feedback

• Student learning and engagement – New ‘Complaints Procedure’ and updated ‘Code of

Conduct’

– More field and practical teaching

– More supports for mature/extramural students

• New institutional research function

• Improved administration of departments/units

• Improved administration of research degrees

Lá le Pádraig faoi mhaise dhíbh