1. Annual Report 2011 Quality Promotion Committee Dr. Norma Ryan Director Quality Promotion Unit April 2012

2. 2 Universities Act 1997  Section 35: Quality Assurance  A governing authority, in consultation with the academic council, shall, as soon as practicable after the governing authority is established under this Act and at such other times as it thinks fit, require the chief officer to establish procedures for quality assurance aimed at improving the quality of education and related services provided by the university.

3. 3 Section 35 (3)  A governing authority shall implement any findings arising out of an evaluation carried out in accordance with procedures established under this section unless, having regard to the resources available to the university or for any other reason, it would, in the opinion of the governing authority, be impractical or unreasonable to do so.

4. 4 Quality Reviews  In 2010/11 8 quality reviews of academic and administrative units were conducted and concluded. –Computer Science, Food Business & Development, Physics, Music, Sociology & Philosophy, Scoil Leann na Gaeilge, Buildings & Estates, Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha  All detailed in Part B of Report  These have been reported to the IUQB and published on UCC web site

5. 5 Follow-Up Reviews  Follow-up reviews of implementation of actions arising from quality reviews in 2009/10 –Chemistry, Clinical Therapies, English, Food & Nutritional Sciences, History, Pharmacy, Office of Corporate & Legal Affairs, College of Medicine and Health  Part C of the Annual Report details actions arising from development and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans

6. 6 Key Issues

7. 7  School structures, governance and management  Resources –Financial –Physical - space –Human  Staff issues/concerns  Student issues/concerns

8. 8 Learning & Teaching  Regular evaluation by students  Feedback to students on actions taken  Timeliness of feedback on continuous / formative assessments

9. 9 Staff concerns  Academic Workloads –Increase in –Lack of University Model  Mentoring and support for early career staff  Performance management reviews  Sabbatical leave  Replacement of key staff

10. 10 Bologna Process  European Higher Education Area  Primary focus is on QA as cornerstone of Process –Mobility –Recognition of qualifications –Lifelong learning –Access to education by all  Focus has shifted to include QI as part of QA

11. 11 International Projects  Tempus IV developmental Projects  Erasmus Life Long Learning Project  Other International projects, for example –DAAD –Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education –QA in East Africa Catholic Universities

12. 12 Tempus IV  QC@UP: Development of Quality Culture at the University of Prishtina  CUBRIK: Strengthening QA system in Western Balkan HEIs  QA@PHEPs: Developing QA systems in Private HE Providers in Kosova  SHEQA: Strategic Management of HEIs based on Integrated QA system  EDUCA: Quality assurance and enhancement in T&L in central Asia

13. 13 Erasmus LLL Project  QACEP: Development of a QA Framework for Continuing Education Programmes

14. 14 Funding –UCC Core Budget - staffing –Plus ~€3 million to date from HEA Quality Assurance Programme* HEA Training of Trainers * Funded under the National Development Plans 2000-2006 and 2007 – 2012 International projects All funding for QA in universities now mainstreamed in core budget

15. 15 Plans for 2012/13  Preparation for UCC institutional review by IUQB  10 Quality Reviews  Follow-up on reviews 2010/2011  Continuation of existing international links and development of new collaborations

16. 16 UCC Institutional Review  Managed by IUQB  Involves all stakeholders  Self-Assessment  Peer review  Report and Follow-up  GB SWOT Analysis Tuesday 24 April 2012

17. 17 Recommendations to GB  That the GB approve this report and its publication  That the GB send the report to University Management Team, Academic Council and all academic bodies for information, comment and consideration of further actions  That the GB approve the schedule for reviews 2012/13 onwards

18. 18 Web site http://www.ucc.ie/quality Email n.ryan@ucc.ie Q+A