1. Briefing Michael Mulvey PhD Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar
Review by the NQAI of the DIT under Section 39(4) of the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act 1999
Briefing
Michael Mulvey PhD
Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar

2. External Review Panel Composition
6 members including
Student representative
Quality Assurance Expert
Senior Industrialist
Half of the Panel will be international

3. Terms of Reference
Follow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness of DIT’s quality assurance procedures
Education and training programmes offered by the DIT

4. Terms of Reference
Follow-up to the 2006 review of effectiveness of DIT’s quality assurance procedures
- 33 strategically linked recommendations
- Particular attention to be given to:
the five recommendations on quality assurance and enhancement
- quality issues which the NQAI commented upon

5. Terms of Reference (contd)
- need to implement more proactively and to review the annual programme reporting processes in order to encourage full participation by both students and staff and in order to ensure greater transparency in the student feedback process
- the need to accelerate the development of the emerging systems for school, faculty and research review

6. Terms of Reference (contd)
Education and training programmes offered by the DIT
Criteria to include:
- examination of DIT’s processes for the quality assurance of the programme of education and training, including research programmes, which it provides.
- European standards and guidelines for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions

7. Terms of Reference (contd)
Criteria to include:
- policy and procedures for quality assurance
- approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards
- assessement of students
- quality assurance of teaching staff
- learning resources and student support
- information systems
- public information

8. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
Part 1: General Guidance
- Nature and length of SER (25-40 pages)
- References to Supporting Documentation
- Gathering Views to Inform the SER (internal and external)
- Mechanisms such as an internal SWOT or PEST analysis and reports of focus groups

9. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
General Background Information to include:
- On the Institute and its programmes
- Range of its activities in Ireland and abroad
- A synopsis of the national and international
education,training and research activities of DIT
- List of programmes to include CPDs, NFQ levels
and award types

10. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
Education and Training Programmes offered by the DIT
- details of programmes offered
- policy and procedures for quality assurance
- quality and standards of programmes & awards
- mechanisms for monitoring stated objectives
- a means to respond to any identified
weaknesses
- commitment to the development of a culture which recognises the importance of quality and quality assurance, in their work

11. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
- a strategy for the continuous enhancement of quality
- designing programme and module learning outcomes
- the assessment of students using published criteria, regulations and procedures which are applied consistently
- the quality assurance of teaching staff
- adequate learning resources and student supports

12. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
- appeals procedures to deal with any complaints or appeals in respect of academic and non-academic matters
- outcomes to date from quality, professional accreditation and research funding reviews
- evidence of academic leadership in particular disciplines
- evidence of appropriate arrangements in place with external stakeholders

13. Self-Evaluation Report Guidelines (SER)
- student number data - retention, completion and employment statistics over the past five years - grade achievement statistics over the past five years - staff numbers by grade over the past five years

14. Other Considerations RESEARCH
- DIT’s research strategy and activities, the Institute should allude to these in the context of evaluating its programmes and awards at Levels 6-10 of the NFQ, especially Levels 9 and 10.
- In terms of its research activities, the DIT could discuss the on-going capacity of the Institute to contribute to national objectives for collaborative higher education and research activity

15. Participation in the Bologna Process and implementation of related national policies
Areas to be explored:
- International cooperation and academic exchange
- Mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff
- Preparation of students for their future careers and for life as active citizens
- The implementation of the NFQ including a three- cycle structure
- The fair recognition of foreign degrees
- Development of links between higher education, research and innovation; equitable participation and lifelong learning

16. Demonstration of engagement with the Bologna reform agenda
Participation in the Bologna Process and implementation of related national policies
Demonstration of engagement with the Bologna reform agenda
- the provision of access, transfer and progression opportunities to learners
- increasing student and staff mobility
- the recognition of foreign qualifications for the purposes of further study

17. Membership of Institute Review Steering Group
Director of Academic Affairs (Chair) Michael Mulvey
Academic Registrar (Secretary) William Grimson
College Director Paul O’Sullivan (Business)
Student Clare Cullen (VP, DITSU)
College Administrator Elizabeth Heffernan (Sciences)
Head of School (Arts & Tourism) John O’Connor
Head of Department Maev Maguire (Sciences)
Lecturer/Academic Staff member (Arts & Tourism) Dominic Dillane
Lecturer (Eng & Built Environment) Stephen Best
Head of Learning Development (Eng & Built Environment) Brian Bowe
Research (DRE) Mary McNamara
Researcher (College of Business) Pamela Sharkey-Scott
Non-academic services Paul Flynn
Human Resources Phil Kenna

18. In attendance: Quality Assurance Officer Jan Cairns
Quality Assurance Officer Nicole O’Neill
Institutional Researcher Margaret Kilmartin
Director of Student Academic Affairs, DITSU Mary Scally
RPL Officer Anne Murphy 18

19. Staff Intranet Link to DIT Institutional Review: