AC Quality Enhancement Committee

ACQEC Meeting Schedule 2023/2024

• ‌Contact the UCD Quality Office at +353 (0)1 716 1036 or qualityoffice@ucd.ie for further information.

• ACQEC Submission Form

ACQEC Membership 2023-2024

Chair (appointed by President) 
Prof. Aoife Ahern

Acting Registrar, Deputy President (or nominee)
Dr Vincent Hargaden

Director of Quality
Bronwyn Molony

One College Principal elected by College Principals
Prof. Aoife Ahern

Vice Principal for R&I elected by V-Principals for R&I
Prof. Peter Doran

Vice Principal for T&L elected by V-Principals for T&L
Dr. Graham Finlay

Head of School elected by Heads of Schools
Dr Jessica Whelan 

Programme Dean/Associate Deans for Programmes
Assoc. Prof. Tara McMorrow

Graduate Research Board member nominated by Dean of Graduate
Studies
Assoc. Prof. Nicolae-Viorel Buchete

Nominated by CP – Arts & Humanities, appointed by AC
Dr Edward Coleman 

Nominated by CP – Social Sciences & Law, appointed by AC
Dr Tobias Theiler

Nominated by CP – Business, appointed by AC
Dr Orla Byrne

Nominated by CP – Health & Agricultural Sciences, appointed by AC
Assoc. Prof. Theo de Waal

Nominated by CP – Science, appointed by AC
Dr Gavin Stewart

Nominated by CP – Engineering & Architecture, appointed by AC
Assoc. Prof. Susan McDonnell

Senior Administrative staff nominated by President
Mr Eamonn O'Neill

Senior Administrative staff nominated by President
Maura McGinn

Nominated by Director of Human Resources 
Susan Caffrey

Member of Academic Council elected by AC
Professor Deirdre Campion

Member of Academic Council elected by AC
Prof. Niall English 

Technical Officer Representative
Dr Jimmy Muldoon

Students’ Union President
Martha Ní Riada

Students’ Union Education Officer
Sarah McGrath

Students' Union Graduate Officer
Marc Matouc

ACQEC Summary Report 8 October 2020

ACQEC Summary Report 19 November 2020

ACQEC Summary Report 28 January 2021

ACQEC Summary Report 29 April 2021

ACQEC Summary Report 6 June 2021

ACQEC Summary Report 2 February 2022

ACQEC Summary Report 28 April 2022

ACQEC Summary Note 11 October 2022

ACQEC Summary Note 12 December 2022

ACQEC Summary Note 1 February 2023

The terms of reference of the Academic Council Quality Enhancement Committee are:

 1. Governance

• The Committee will act with authority delegated by Academic Council, in order to make decisions in the area of quality assurance and standards.
• The Committee shall liaise with relevant Academic Council Committees and with specific University Officers, managers and offices in respect of issues or instances where matters of quality assurance intersect with management issues.
• In taking forward its remit, the Committee will seek consistency and common approaches where these are in the best interests of students and staff, while supporting diversity and variety where this is beneficial to stakeholders.
• The Committee will report to Academic Council; Governing Authority; and UMT as necessary, but at least once a year.

 2. Strategic Planning

• The Committee will approve institutional quality assurance developments which articulate with University Strategy or policy and/or with external Quality Assurance requirements.
• The Committee will provide strategic direction to relevant University staff and committees on institutional and national quality assurance developments.

 3. Quality Assurance and Standards

The Committee will oversee the delivery of the University Quality Assurance Framework within its remit, by receiving and considering relevant reports, identifying trends/issues and recommending appropriate action, as required.  Reports will include:

• Periodic internal unit reviews.
• Annual reporting from relevant collaborative and transnational programme/campus teams.
• Reports on the approval of UCD Recognised Colleges (and other UCD Linked Providers) Quality assurance Procedures and the periodic quality review of these institutions.
• External reports on academic provision and professional services, such as Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Reports; internal process reviews (e.g. curriculum review).

4. Strategic Enhancement relating to the Quality Assurance Framework

The Committee will lead strategic enhancement activities relating to the University’s Quality Assurance Framework, including:

• Disseminating positive practice as identified through the work of the Committee.
• Overseeing and monitoring the effective implementation of review recommendations and the dissemination of enhancements identified in reviews.
• Identifying and promoting enhancement developments relating to academic provision and its supporting processes and of student support provision, arising from its quality assurance oversight and monitoring.
• Identifying trends and recommending actions aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan, national and international Quality Assurance Frameworks (e.g. QQI; ESG).

5. Engagement and Compliance with Legislation and External Quality Assurance Frameworks

The Committee will lead the University’s engagement as appropriate with external Quality Assurance Frameworks, and ensure appropriate compliance with such Frameworks, including:

• The University’s engagement with periodic QQI Institutional review, including monitoring the effective implementation of review recommendations.
• University compliance with the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; QQI Core Statutory Quality Assurance Guidelines; annual reporting requirements; and ongoing mapping of activity, as required by QQI.
• Ensuring, through the engagement of its members with external quality related consultation documents and other activities, that the University plays a constructive role in developing national HE Quality Assurance Frameworks.

• ACQEC Terms of Reference