DIT Review 2010-2011
Review of the Effectiveness of the Quality Assurance Arrangements of the
Dublin Institute of Technology
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) was established as an autonomous institution under the DIT Act in 1992. In 1998, it was granted degree awarding powers by the Irish state, and makes awards at Levels 6 to 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). As a statutory awarding body and provider of higher education and training, and in line with national and international practice, the primary responsibility for the quality assurance of the educational provision and awards made by DIT resides with the Institute itself.
The DIT is also subject to external quality assurance, as set out in the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. Section 39(4) of the Qualifications Act requires the National Qualifications Authority (NQAI), in consultation with the DIT, to review the effectiveness of the Institute’s quality assurance procedures ‘not more than once in every three years and not less than once in every seven years’. In fulfilment of this requirement, in 2005-06 a review was undertaken by the European University Association, on behalf of the Authority, of the effectiveness of its quality assurance procedures.
The Authority decided in May 2010 that a second review should take place in the academic year 2010-11. It agreed the terms of reference for the review and appointed a review panel of national and international experts to undertake the review on its behalf. The review process, including the preparation of a self-evaluation report by the DIT, a site visit to the DIT by the review panel, the completion of a report by the review panel and the preparation of an institutional response to that report by the DIT, was completed in June 2011.
The Authority considered the external review panel’s report and the Institute’s response at its meeting in June 2011. It supported the findings of the panel, namely that the quality assurance procedures of the DIT are effective, that they meet the relevant European Standards and Guidelines and that they are informed by national guidelines and good practice. It commends the DIT as a quality-oriented institution. It finds that it has a comprehensive set of procedures, dedicated staff and a strong commitment to maintaining and improving quality in a very challenging environment. It is student-centred, and is open and highly responsive to its external environment.
The Authority endorses the overall thrust of the recommendations of the review panel that the DIT, at this stage in the development of its quality assurance system, should provide strengthened overall direction and greater strategic leadership to that system. This underpins many of the 30 recommendations in the report which require reflection, consultation and debate. In this context, the relationships between the many processes, procedures and decision-making instances for quality assurance and enhancement and between the quality assurance system and the overall strategic management of the Institute require consideration. The Authority welcomes the DIT’s commitment to responding to this challenge and to implementing the review panel’s recommendations.
As a next step, the Authority has requested that the Institute prepare a quality enhancement plan which will set out the proposed actions and timelines in relation to implementing the recommendations in the review panel’s report. This should be submitted to the Authority by early December 2011. This report will form the basis of an annual dialogue meeting on quality assurance and quality enhancement with the Authority. The first such meeting will take place early in 2012.
Key documents:
Institutional response by the DIT, June 2011 
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