Coláiste Uí Gríofa
Faculty of Law
Special Purpose Certificate in Mediation
Draft Report of Expert Panel
March 2014
Part 1
1.1
General Information
Details of the Validation Event
Provider
Griffith College Dublin
Date of Evaluation
24th March 2014
1
Programme Evaluated
Certificate in Mediation
Panel of Experts
Mr Stephen McManus
Former Registrar Dundalk Institute of
Technology
Dr Deirdre Curran
NUI Galway
MS Treasa Kenny
NUI Maynooth
Dr John O Dowd
Consultant Mediator
Rapporteur:
Ms Treasa Dempsey, Griffith College
1.2
Summary
The Expert Panel, having reviewed the documentation presented by Griffith
College (GC) and considered the responses of the programme team during the
course of the evaluation meeting, are recommending approval to QQI of the
proposed Special Purpose Certificate in Mediation for delivery in Dublin, Cork
and Limerick. The Panel has set one condition.
Part 2
2.1
Report of the Expert Panel
Introduction
Griffith College (GC) is an independent provider of higher education and
professional training. Its academic programmes are validated by QQI and
Nottingham Trent University. It also provides a range of programmes leading
to the examinations of professional bodies, including those in Accountancy and
in Law. The College has campuses in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Griffith
College has been providing programmes in a number of faculties since the late
1990s and currently provides programmes from Level 6 to Level 9 on the
National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
2.2
Background to the Programme Submission
The Law Faculty have brought forward the proposal for Special Purpose
Certificate in Mediation at level 8 on the NFQ. A similar programme was
proposed by the team in 2013 and evaluated by the current panel. That
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proposal was for an award at level 9 on the NFQ and for reasons set out in our
report at that time the panel did not recommend validation. The panel set out
its reasons and gave guidance as to the issues that needed to be addressed
for a successful proposal.
The programme team have reflected on the guidance and have submitted the
current proposal to the same panel. This proposal was discussed within the
faculty and approved for submission by the College’s Academic and
Professional Council (APC).
2.3
Examination of the Programme
Having received documentation prior to the panel visit to GC, the Panel met
with the staff of GC involved in the design of the proposed programme to
examine the submission against the criteria for the validation of programmes as
stipulated by the Council. The visit took place on Tuesday 24th March 2014.
During the visit the panel met with the Programme Director and programme
team. The programme director set out the changes made since the last
submission. These included changes to Programme and Module learning
outcomes, content and NFQ level.
The team also explained the supports in place for learners in between sessions,
online and by direct contact. The question of delivery at different campuses
was addressed and the panel were assured that the same learner experience
would be delivered at each campus, including Moodle access to notes and the
same assessments at each campus.
The question of mandatory attendance was raised and the team stated that this
was not currently a requirement on the programme.
2.4
RECOMMENDATION / COMMENT
FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE
2.4.1
Special Purpose Award
The panel of experts are recommending the validation of the following
programme for delivery at Griffith College Dublin, Cork and Limerick.:
NFQ Level
Level 8
Programme
Certificate in Mediation
ECTS
20 ECTS
3
2.4.2 Commendations
1. The panel wish to commend the programme team for listening to and
acting upon the feedback from the meeting in May 2013. The panel
noted that the team robustly defended the programme in-depth and
clearly mapped out the connection between the learning outcomes and
assessment.
2.4.3 Conditions
The panel is setting the following condition to its recommendation:
1. Attendance at the module sessions should be compulsory. Where a
learner is absent for reasons outside of their control, the College will
require them to repeat the module session at a following iteration of the
programme. Alternatively, the College may put in place an equivalent
learning experience which as far as possible replicates the elements of
engagement, involvement and reflection, which constitute the delivered
experience. In the latter case the extern examiner should be informed
of the arrangements.
2.4.4 Recommendations
1. That the College seeks to achieve certification of the programme with
relevant professional bodies
Appendix 1
College Staff met during the evaluation meeting
Mr Eamonn Nolan, Head of Academic Programmes
Ms Ailish Finucane, Head of Academic Administration
Ms Fiona O Riordan, Head of Centre for Promoting Academic Excellence
Mr Rob McKenna, College Librarian
Ms Siobhan Leonard, Head of Faculty of Law
Ms Cliodhna Dineen, Faculty of Law, Cork
Mr Paul Pierse, Faculty of Law, Cork
Ms Mary Lou Kennedy, Faculty of Law, Cork
Ms Gerry O Sullivan, Faculty of Law, Cork
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Proposed Programme Schedule
Name of Provider
Griffith College
Programme Title
Certificate in Mediation
Award Title
Special Purpose Award
Stage Exit Award Title
Modes of Delivery (FT/PT):
Certificate in Mediation
PT / ACCS / Block
Stage
Stage
NFQ
Level
Award
Class
Special
Purpose
Award
NFQ level
Award
EQF level
8
6
1
8
Module
Module Title
Introduction to
Mediation & Conflict
Mediation Ethics &
Legislative Framework
Mediation in Practice
Semester
Sta NFQ
tus Level
ECTS
Credits
Stage
EQF
Level
Stage Credits
6
20
Total Student Effort Module
(hours)
Total
Hours
Contact
Hour
Independent
Hours
s
Work
Date Effective
ISCED Subject
Code
September
2014
380
Allocation of Marks
C.A.
%
n/a
M
8
5
100
14
86
100
n/a
M
8
5
100
14
86
100
n/a
M
8
10
200
35
165
100
Proj.
%
Prac.
%
Final.
%
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