Report of the External Panel Evaluation
of the Stage 1
Programmatic Review
in the
Department of Computing
Date of External Panel Review: Thursday May 30th 2013.
The Panel Comprised:
Dr. Gertie Taggart, Head of School Letterkenny Institute of Technology (Chairperson)
Professor Mike Scott, School of Computing, DCU
Tim Horgan, Lecturer, CIT.
Aidan Connolly, CEO, IDIRO.
Michael Meagher, academic engagement Advisor, Microsoft Ireland.
Keith McManus, Head of Department of Computing, IT Sligo
The Panel’s Agenda for the evaluation can be summarised as follows:
Fulltime programmes
09.30-10.00
Private Meeting of External Panel
10:00-10.30
Panel meeting with:
Head of School of Science & Computing Dr. Mike Ahern
Head of Department of Computing, Dr. Barry Feeney
10.30-11.45
Meeting with staff delivering on the BSc (Hons) Computing and BSc (Hons) IT
Management and associated minor/embedded awards
1
11.45 – 12.45
Meeting with staff delivering on the MSc (Hons) Computing and MSc (Hons) IT
Management and associated minor/embedded awards
12.45 – 1.15
Private meeting of Panel
1.15 – 1.30
Panel Feedback
The complete list of programmes under review by the Panel are listed at the end of this report.
2
Introduction:
The Programmatic Reviews in IT Tallaght have been broken down into two separate
components, namely a Stage One and a Stage Two. The Stage One seeks to validate and accredit
the suite of programmes presented for the next 5 year term. The Stage Two seeks to validate the
strategy for the School going forward taking into account an environmental analysis both
national and international, Teaching and Learning strategies, the Institute’s Strategic Plan, the
Institute’s Risk Register, Government Policy, HEA funding model and employment control
framework, etc. In relation to Stage One, the Panel were advised that the documentation it
received has resulted from an Internal Stage One process as part of the Institute's quality
assurance procedures. Each programme has been presented to the Panel in the same format,
namely, Programme Aims, Programme Objectives, Program Learning outcomes, Demand for
program which for fulltime programs looks at CAO data, Industry consultation, Old course
schedule, Rationale for change, New course schedule, Book of Modules.
The Panel wish to congratulate the staff of the Computing Department (management, academic,
administrative and technical) on the production of a very coherent set of programmes in which
the views of stakeholders have been included. The set of documentation was clear and extremely
well produced. The engagement, commitment and general morale of the team was evident on
the day.
Having considered the documentation provided and discussed it with the programme
development teams, the validation panel recommends the following comments which are
not of a mandatory nature (the Recommendations).
The Panel agree to approve the programmes listed in the Appendix for the period of five
years (i.e. up to and including 2019) subject to the following recommendations being
broadly implemented.
3
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
The learning outcomes should not mention specific Technologies.
Recommendation 2
The number of Learning Outcomes attached to each modules should be consistent and in line
with norms for a ‘5’ and ‘10’ credit module. The language of the Learning Outcomes should be
appropriate to the Level of the award with utilisation of ‘Blooms Taxonomy’.
Recommendation 3
Review contact hours in regards to workload and independent learning. Some modules are
missing these figures.
Recommendation 4
Relook at implementing some form of a placement into the level 8 BSc (hons) in Computing
programme to give the student an exposure to the ‘real world of work’. This might be in the form
of a Minor purpose award.
Recommendation 5
To review the necessity to indicate the percentage breakdown allocated to sections on syllabi.
Recommendation 6
Incorporate indicative content in the module Software QA and Testing.
Recommendation 7
Review the re-allocation of retention monies that is made available to IT Tallaght to ensure that
some of this is directed to the Department of Computing
Recommendation 8
4
To increase overall student numbers within the Institute the panel would recommend staff
recruitment in a growth area such as Computing.
Recommendation 9
Review and monitor high credits awarded to the module Research Methods on the two MSc
programmes.
Recommendation 10
The Department should endeavour to reference the reasons surrounding ‘student drop out’ in
year 1 computing programmes and try to intervene by introducing or discussing these reasons as
part of the new Learning to Learn module in year 1.
5
APPENDIX
Suite of Programmes for which Accreditation is sought
Named Award
Higher Certificate
Programme Title
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Higher Certificate in Computing
Major
Major
6
Fulltime
May 30th 2013
60
Named Award
Bachelor of Science
Programme Title
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Bachelor of Science in IT Management
Major
Major
7
Fulltime
May 30th 2013
180
Embedded Award
Higher Certificate in Computing after 2 years
Note
6
Named Award
Bachelor of Science
Programme Title
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Bachelor of Science in Computing
Major
Major
7
Fulltime
May 30th 2013
180
Embedded Award
Higher Certificate in Computing after 2 years
Note
Named Award
Bachelor of Science Honours
Programme Title
Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in IT
Management
Major Award
Major Award
8
Fulltime
May 30th 2013
240
Embedded Awards
Higher Certificate in Computing after 2 years
Bachelor of Science in IT Management after 3
years.
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Note
Named Award
Bachelor of Science Honours
Programme Title
Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in
Computing
Major Award
Major Award
8
Fulltime
May 30th 2013
240
Embedded Awards
Higher Certificate in Computing after 2 years
Bachelor of Science in Computing after 3 years.
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Note
7
Named Award
Master of Science Honours
Programme Title
Master of Science Honours in Distributed and
Mobile Computing
Major Award
Major Award
9
Part-time
May 30th 2013
90
Embedded Award
Postgraduate Diploma in Distributed and Mobile
Computing (60 credits)
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Note
Named Award
Master of Science Honours
Programme Title
Award Type
Award Class
Level
Delivery
Review date
ECTS/ACCS Credits
Master of Science Honours in IT Management
Major Award
Major Award
9
Part-time
May 30th 2013
90
Embedded Award
Postgraduate Diploma in IT Management (60
credits)
Note
8