Institute of Technology Tallaght Self-Evaluation Report Application to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council for Delegation of Authority to Make Awards: Research Degrees Level 9 and 10 Contents 2 Application to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council for Delegation of Authority to Make Awards: Research Degrees Level 9 and 10 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 13 1.1 Foreword 14 1.2 Rationale for the Pursuit of Research 15 1.2.1 National Context 15 1.2.2 Institute Development 19 1.3 Delegated Authority for Research Degrees 21 1.3.1 Context and Justification for the Institute’s Application 21 1.3.2 Selection of Areas for the Delegated Authority Application 22 1.4 The Submission Document 23 1.5 The Self-Evaluation Process 26 PART ONE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT 29 CHAPTER 2 INSTITUTE MISSION AND PROFILE 31 2.1 Mission and Purpose 32 2.2 Values and Objectives 32 2.3 Context and History 34 2.4 Regional Profile 34 2.5 Growth and Development of the Institute 35 2.6 Evolution of Research 37 2.6.1 Establishment of Research (1992 -1997) 41 2.6.2 Research Prioritisation and Strategic Development (1998 – 2001) 41 2.6.3 A Period of Rapid Development for Research (2002-2007) 41 2.6.4 Significant Research Milestones 42 CHAPTER 3 GOVERNANCE, ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION 47 3.1 Legislative Framework 48 3.1.1 Regional Technical Colleges Acts 48 3.1.2 Institutes of Technology Act 2006 49 3.1.3 The Higher Education Authority 49 3.2 Corporate Governance 50 3.3 Institutional Governance 51 3.3.1 Governing Body 51 3.3.2 Academic Council 52 3.4 Institute Management Structure 57 3.5 Management Groups 59 3.5.1 Senior Management Team 59 3.5.2 Total Management Team 60 3.5.3 General Committees 60 3.6 Research Management & Organisational Structure 61 3.6.1 Research and Development sub-Committee 62 3.6.2 Postgraduate Policy sub-Committee 62 3 Contents 3.6.3 Ethics sub-Committee 62 3.6.4 Academic Management of Research 63 3.6.5 Operational Management of Research 63 3.7 Academic Administration Organisation 64 3.7.1 Administrative Support for Research in the Office of the Registrar 65 3.7.2 Administrative Support for Research in the Development & External Services Office 65 3.7.3 Administrative Support for Research in the Finance Department 66 3.8 Audits and Reviews of Management and Administrative Operations 66 3.8.1 Internal Audits by Consultant Auditors 67 3.8.2 Periodic Institutional Audits 68 3.8.3 Audit of the Comptroller & Auditor General 68 3.8.4 Internal Audit Sub-Committee of Governing Body 68 3.8.5 Management Quality Review Group 69 3.8.6 Internal Peer Audit 69 3.9 Management and Governance National Context 69 3.10 Future Directions on Management Capacity in the Institute Sector 70 CHAPTER 4 PLANNING AND EVALUATION 73 4.1 Strategic Planning in Higher Education 74 4.2 Institute Planning Processes 75 4.3 Development of the Institute Strategic Plan 76 4.4 Strategic Plan Implementation and Evaluation 78 4.5 Research Planning and Development of an Institute Research Strategy 81 4.6 Research Strategy 2008 – 2013 82 4.6.1 Research Mission 82 4.6.2 Research Prioritisation 82 4.6.3 Future Strategy for Research Programmes 83 4.6.4 Innovation and Enterprise Support 84 4.6.5 Technology Transfer 84 4.6.6 Broadening Strategic Alliances 85 4.6.7 The Research – Teaching Linkage 85 4.6.8 Strategic Goals 86 CHAPTER 5 ACADEMIC AND STAFF POLICIES 95 5.1 Policy Framework 96 5.2 Academic Policies 96 5.2.1 Institute Admissions Policy 97 5.2.2 Transfer and Progression Arrangements 97 5.2.3 Exemptions Policy for Accredited Prior Certified Learning 98 5.2.4 Continuous Assessment Policy 99 5.2.5 External Examiners 99 5.3 Guidelines on the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity 99 5.4 Access Policy 100 5.5 Provision for the Protection of Learners 100 5.6 Staff and General Operational Policies 101 5.7 Development of Policies for Research 102 4 Application to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council for Delegation of Authority to Make Awards: Research Degrees Level 9 and 10 5.7.1 Institute Research Policy Statement 102 5.7.2 Intellectual Property Policy 102 5.7.3 Ethics Policy 102 5.8 Adult and Continuing Education Policy 103 5.9 Communications Processes and Institute Policies on Consultation and Co-Operation 104 5.9.1 Communications Processes 104 5.9.2 Institute-wide Consultation and Co-Operation 105 5.9.3 External Consultation and Co-Operation 106 5.10 Staff Training and Development Policies and Overview 107 5.10.1 Management of Training and Development 107 5.10.2 Staff Training & Development: Teaching & Learning 108 5.10.3 Staff Training & Development: Research 109 5.10.4 Institute Support for Staff Conducting Postgraduate Studies 110 5.10.5 Other Staff Training & Development 110 CHAPTER 6 FACILITIES AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH 113 6.1 Campus Environment 114 6.2 Campus Development Plans 115 6.3 Research Facilities and Resources 116 6.3.1 Current Research Facilities by Department 117 6.3.2 Centre of Applied Science for Health 119 6.3.3 Future Plans for Additional Research Facilities 121 6.4 Library and Information Resources 122 6.4.1 Library Organisation and Staff 123 6.4.2 Library Collection Profile 124 6.4.3 Dedicated Library Facilities and Information Resources for Researchers 125 6.4.4 Library Committee 127 6.4.5 Links with Other Libraries 127 6.4.6 Irish Research eLibrary (IReL) 127 6.5 Information Technology Facilities and Resources 128 6.5.1 Staffing 129 6.5.2 Network Infrastructure 129 6.5.3 Security 130 6.5.4 Other IT Resources 131 6.5.5 Management Information Systems (MIS) 132 6.5.6 Recent Developments in Computing Services 134 6.5.7 Student Support Service 134 6.5.8 Additional Information Technology Services for Postgraduate Researchers 135 6.5.9 Printing & Copying Services for Postgraduate Researchers 136 6.6 Financial Resources and Management 136 6.6.1 Services Provided by the Finance Office 137 6.6.2 Finance Staff 137 6.6.3 Institute Finances 138 6.6.4 Financial Returns 138 6.6.5 Internal and External Audits 139 5 Contents 6.6.6 Research Support 139 CHAPTER 7 LEARNER SUPPORTS AND SERVICES 141 7.1 Learner Supports 143 7.1.1 Mentorlink 144 7.1.2 FLASHE 145 7.1.3 MAP 145 7.1.4 One Step Up 145 7.1.5 Centre for Learning and Teaching (CeLT) 146 7.1.6 E-Learning Supports 148 7.1.7 Collaborative Network for Innovation in Teaching and Inclusive Education 149 7.1.8 Department of Lifelong Learning and Student Support Services 151 7.2 Learner Services 154 7.3 Additional Researcher Supports and Services 157 7.3.1 Postgraduate Scholarships 157 7.3.2 Statistics Support 158 7.3.3 Career Planning Workshop for Postgraduate Students 159 7.3.4 Academic English Support for Postgraduate Researchers 159 7.4 Strategic Innovation Funded Projects 160 7.5 Researcher Training & Skills Development 161 7.5.1 Induction Training 163 7.5.2 Generic & Discipline Specific Training 165 7.5.3 Future Plans for Training of Postgraduate Researchers 169 7.5.4 4th Level Education Provision 170 7.6 Innovation and Enterprise Support 174 7.6.1 Synergy Centre 175 7.6.2 The M50 Enterprise Platform Programme 178 7.7 New Initiatives for Graduate Education and Institute-wide Research Support 178 7.7.1 Addressing the Needs of the Knowledge Economy 178 7.7.2 The Dublin Region Higher Education Alliance. (DRHEA) 179 CHAPTER 8 PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY 185 8.1 Financial Reports and Accounts 186 8.2 The Towards 2016 Partnership Process and Interactive Governance 186 8.3 Communications and Publications 187 8.4 Marketing and Public Affairs Office 187 8.4.1 Public Affairs Section 187 8.4.2 Marketing Section 188 8.5 Freedom of Information 191 8.5.1 Institute Obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 191 8.5.2 Freedom of Information Requests 192 8.5.3 Role of Information Officer 192 8.5.4 Development of Standard Operating Procedures 193 8.5.5 Freedom of Information Training 193 8.6 Health, Safety & Welfare 194 8.7 Promotion of Research 195 6 Application to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council for Delegation of Authority to Make Awards: Research Degrees Level 9 and 10 8.7.1 Research Awareness 195 8.7.2 Promotion of Research 196 8.7.3 Research Dissemination 196 PART TWO EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES 199 CHAPTER 9 TAUGHT PROGRAMME PROFILE 201 9.1 Introduction 202 9.2 Disciplines of Study and Programme Portfolio 202 9.3 Programme Structure 208 9.3.1 Routes to Award 209 9.3.2 Collaborative Programmes 210 9.4 Student Numbers and Demographics 211 9.5 Learner Diversity 215 9.6 Student Recruitment 216 9.7 Transfer and Progression 221 9.7.1 Transfer Arrangements: Taught Programmes 221 9.7.2 Progression Arrangements 221 9.8 Completion Rates 222 CHAPTER 10 RESEARCH DEGREE ENROLMENTS AND GRADUATES 225 10.1 Postgraduate Enrolments 226 10.1.1 Historical Information 227 10.1.2 Current Live Register 231 10.1.3 New Enrolments and Future Trends 232 10.1.4 Non-Completion 232 10.1.5 Student Demographics on Entry to Research Programmes 233 10.1.6 Numbers of Research Active Staff/Supervisors 235 10.2 Graduation Numbers 238 10.2.1 Graduation Statistics and Analysis 1996 – 2007 238 10.2.2 Submissions for 2008 Graduation 241 10.2.3 Destination of Graduates 1996 – 2007 241 10.3 Impact of Research on Teaching and Learning 242 10.3.1 Research in the Teaching and Learning 243 10.3.2 Impact of Research on Undergraduate Programmes 244 CHAPTER 11 RESEARCH FUNDING AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE 247 11.1 Sources of Funding for Research 248 11.1.1 External Funding 248 11.1.2 Internal Research Funding 257 11.2 Performance Indicators 258 11.3 Institute Designated Research Centres 260 11.3.1