The research carried out by the UCD Teaching Fellows (2007-2009) has recently been published internationally in: Higher Education and Teaching in Higher Education.  This work has demonstrated a scholarly approach to teaching and learning, whilst also identifying practical and accessible recommendations relevant to UCD staff and programmes. 

Funded by the HEA's Strategic Innovation Fund, two strategic themes were addressed:

• First Year Experience and
• Electives and Student Engagement.

First Year Experience investigated the gap between students’ expectations of university at the outset and their subsequent experiences once at UCD with a view to understanding the implications of the attitudes of first year students making the transition to university.  It identified a range of approaches to enhancing the quality of support for students during this key transition. 

Electives and Student Engagement examined the motivations of students for choosing elective modules outside their programme, their learning experience and the staff teaching experience on these modules. This significant aspect of modularized degrees had not been studied previously. The research addressed the implications of student choice and classroom diversity for teaching and assessment in modular systems.  The findings of both projects are at: UCD Teaching and Learning.

The current cohort of Fellows (2009-2011) has built on this work and is researching:

• Critical thinking skills, and
• Elective provision.

Recommendations from these projects will be reported over the coming months.  A further call for Fellows (2011-2013) will be issued in mid-February and I would encourage staff interested in strategic teaching and learning issues to apply.

The UCD Access Centre presented over 100 UCD students with certificates for their voluntary contribution to the voluntary student tutoring scheme which  is run during Semester 1 in six second level schools in Crumlin and Ballyfermot.  The ceremony also marked 11 years of UCD student volunteering in the scheme.

In the run up to the closing date of 1st February 2011, promotion of the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) and HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) schemes has been active.  On Saturday 22nd January 2011, UCD Access Centre joined 15 other HEI’s nationwide to support applicants at the DARE and HEAR Application Advice Clinics.  UCD also held an Application Advice Clinic in Wexford on Thursday 20th January 2011 for parents and school pupils from the area.  Over 600 leaving certificate students and their parents/guardians attended the locations throughout the country to meet with representatives of the schemes and talk to them one-to-one about their applications.

Notable recent staff successes in the Access & Lifelong Learning unit include a UCD Teaching and Learning Award for Supporting Student Learning for the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme, a HEA SIF funded initiative. The Adult Education Centre’s collaborative initiative with the National Library was selected for presentation at a “Beacons for Public Engagement” conference, Museums, Researchers and Engagement, on January 25th at University College London.  The case study, entitled Accessing our National Heritage, will now be included on a database of models of university public engagement good practice on the Beacons for Public Engagement website http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/.

Some major revisions to the University’s regulations and procedures relating to assessment appeals were approved by Academic Council, 8 December 2010: check here.

Amendments include the following:

• Schools must meet students to explain examination results in the first instance before a student can lodge an appeal.
• The grounds for appeal have changed, in particular appeals based on the late submission of extenuating circumstances.
• The appeal system no longer has a ‘recheck of examination results’ remit, as Schools should carry out this function without involvement from the Appeals Office. 

Further information and guidance on the new assessment appeals process can be found here.

The Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) will conduct an external quality review of UCD in spring 2011.  The Institutional Review of Irish Universities aims to provide robust external assurance of the effectiveness of the internal quality assurance procedures established by each institution, to sustain and enhance further, the quality of their teaching, learning, research and support services.  As part of the quality review process, an Institutional Self Assessment Report (ISAR) has been prepared and is available on the staff intranet http://intranet.ucd.ie/president(UCD Connect Username and password required).  Please note that the ISAR is confidential to UCD. 

The main site visit, by the external review team, will take place between 28th February and 3rd March 2011. The members of the Quality Review Team are:

• International (Chair) - Prof Geoffrey Boulton, Vice Principal & Regius Professor of Geology, Edinburgh University, UK
• International - Prof Kerstin Sahlin, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Management, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Irish - Prof Iognáid G. Ó Muircheartaigh, President Emeritus, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
• Student - Mr Ben Gray, Student Liaison Officer, University of Wales, UK
• External Stakeholder - Ms Anne Butler, Director, Bize Consulting Ltd (Environmental Consultant), Ireland
• Co-ordinating Reviewer – Dr Andrée Sursock, Deputy Secretary General, European University Association, Belgium

 If you require any further information, please contact the UCD Quality Office at ext. 2039 or by email to elaine.hickey@ucd.ie.

With support from UCD Administration and in consultation with the UCD Students Union, UCD Libraries has extended opening hours during Semester 2: from 17 January to the end of the semester, the James Joyce Library will extend opening hours to Sunday.

The UCD Awards for Supporting Student Learning scheme, launched for the first time in 2010, recognised seven UCD Librarians in a special award category. Librarians Ms Julia Barrett, Ms Jane Nolan, Ms Maeve Tannam, Ms Lorna Dodd, Ms Evelyn Flanagan, Mr Mark Tynan and Ms Ursula Byrne were recognised for their role in three educational projects that are sponsored by UCD Library. Congratulations to colleagues.

The Library has recently concluded its strategic planning process, a highly consultative exercise that seeks to bring Library programmes into tighter alignment with UCD strategy in general. The plan, soon to be published, articulates a new mission and vision for the future of Library services and describes an exciting but challenging agenda for the period 2010-2014.

The Career Development Centre is responding to the economic situation by developing relevant events and services to be delivered during the semester.  A wide range of activities and events are planned, including:

Careers Week 08/02/11-10/02/11- Employer-led talks on a range of graduate careers and professions designed to get students thinking about their career. Internships and Volunteering Fair, 16/02/11- an excellent opportunity for students to find out about local, national and international opportunities and to network with potential employers. Graduate Study Week 22/02/11-24/02/11- Lectures and events designed to showcase graduate study at UCD and resulting benefits.

Our searchable vacancy databases connect students to local, national and international opportunities. Details of all activities and events are available on the Centre website. 

The Centre is pleased to launch a NEW Certificate in Career Management Skills (Non-Credit bearing).  The Centre has teamed up with Deloitte to deliver high quality skills training workshops for students in areas such as emotional intelligence, leadership and teamwork in the workplace, effective networking and much more.