1. Optional Module 2 Issues related to the cascade from Strategic to Operational plans at Faculty level DIT case study – Faculty of Engineering

2. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 DIT – current context (Feb 09)  Planning & development office (approx 8 staff) in place since Nov ’07  Current (3 year) strategic plan approved by GB in Dec ’08  Faculties & schools required to produce annual operational plans  Strategic plan to be updated annually, but maintained as a 3 year plan  Overall aim is to integrate a range of current planning activities (Academic, operational, resource, IT, risk analysis etc.), to minimise duplication & strengthen outputs

3. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Broad approach (1): Note: significant time constraints due to Christmas break  Sub group formed to review ESTIP concepts & agree approach to be used  1 day Executive meeting to: –Review previous faculty strategic plan –Review current (new) DIT strategic plan  Identification of Faculty ‘themes’ from Strategic plan

4. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Broad approach (2)  Identification of approach & framework for second executive meeting  Significance of the operational plan template  Preparation of samples in Research & Teaching & learning

5. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Broad approach (3)  Second Executive workshop  Review of Research & T&L sample  Broadly, % changes specified in DIT Strategic plan adopted locally  Agreement of principles & guidelines to inform School level operational planning  Agreement of planning template

6. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 The template used Fac No DIT objective ref ObjectiveDeliverable/ outcomeMetric Target datesResourcesResponsible (Function and/or individual) EnablersInhibitors Notes on the template: 1.This is the minimum to be used at school level, to enable consistent roll up for faculty view 2.Schools are free to add extra columns where needed 3.Specific examples were used to explain the meaning of the headings

7. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Examples of principles discussed  Grow with the DIT institute plan, proportionately (% from the DIT plan)  Agreed that we need to increase our student numbers - % at school level to be decided  Target %'s to come from DIT strategic plan. Distribution across schools to be agreed within faculty: –Mature –International –Advanced entry

8. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Examples of principles discussed What distribution should apply over the different levels of programmes? –xx% growth of Level 9/10 students over 3 years –yy% growth of level 8 students over 3 years –zz% growth of level 7 students over 3 years

9. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Examples of principles discussed Building sustainable bridges from level 7 to 8  Every school to have a specific follow on option for progression for every level 7 graduate, irrespective of the grade of the award they get  Develop clear progression routes from every engineering apprentice trade programme to level 7/ 8 programmes  Every graduate should have an option to progress to a higher level programme within the faculty  Implement robust RPL procedures & supports  Modules should be available as CPD options for all students, particularly part time

10. © institutes of technology ireland 2008 Key issues to consider  Establishing relevance of specific Strategic plan themes & objectives to Faculty & School level plans  Determining principles to guide specific outputs required from individual schools  Synchronising with PMDS TDPs & aligning outputs to avoid duplication  Preparing a framework/ template for operational plans  Ensuring template enables roll up to create a clear & consistent Faculty view

11. Discussion & questions