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Quality Office

About

Mary Immaculate College is committed to ensuring the very highest standards of excellence in its teaching, learning and research activities. The Quality Office endeavours to promote and facilitate continuous quality improvement across all the College’s Academic and Professional Service units.

The Quality Office has responsibility for the establishment and implementation of procedures directed at maintaining and improving quality. To achieve this, the Quality Office will:

  • Support the development of College policy and procedures in relation to quality assurance and improvement in line with best international practice 
  • Develop, maintain and evaluate the College’s Academic and Professional Service review processes while promoting a sense of ownership by the individual department 
  • Provide the necessary help and support to all departments within the College in implementing the quality review process.
  • Assist Professional Services in the development of Quality Management Systems.
  • Gather stakeholder feedback through surveys, focus groups etc.
  • Facilitate MIC’s participation in national and international student and graduate surveys and ensure that stakeholder feedback is included in MIC’s quality assurance processes by collecting stakeholder feedback through surveys and focus groups.
  • Provide timely analysis of data for internal and external stakeholders.

The work of the Quality Office is guided by the Strategic Plan, the Quality Policy and statutory quality requirements enshrined in the 2012 Education & Training Act.

Contact
Director of Quality
Dr Deirdre Ryan
+353 61 774783

Staff

Dr Deirdre Ryan


Director of Quality
Quality Office
  • Phone: +353 61 774783
  • Email: Deirdre.Ryan@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: G31

Emma Barry


Assistant Director of Quality (Acting)
Quality Office
  • Email: Emma.Barry@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: G31

Blaž Podobnik


Data Analytics Manager
Quality Office
  • Phone: 4926
  • Email: Blaz.Podobnik@mic.ul.ie

Declan Tobin


Quality Systems Manager
Quality Office
  • Phone: +353 61 204921
  • Email: Declan.Tobin@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: G31

Caitríona McGrath


Institutional Data Analyst
Quality Office
  • Phone: +353 61 205103
  • Email: Caitriona.McGrath@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: G31

Janet Torley


Coordinator of Risk Management and Internal Audit
Quality Office
  • Phone: 061 775139
  • Email: Janet.Torley@mic.ul.ie
  • Location: 108

Quality Assurance

Background & Statutory Context

MIC is a linked provider of the University of Limerick as defined in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012. The University of Limerick (UL) is the designated awarding body (DAB) for all higher education programmes (NFQ Levels 6-10) at MIC, save where other arrangements are jointly agreed by UL and MIC. The terms of the linkage are set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between UL and MIC. As a linked provider of UL, MIC is subject to review and external quality assurance by UL or, if requested, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). MIC Quality Assurance Policies and Procedures as outlined in the MIC Quality Manual are underpinned by the following statutory guidelines:

Each year MIC submits to the University of Limerick an Annual Institutional Quality Assurance Report (AIQR). This report forms the basis of the Annual Dialogue Meeting (ADM) between MIC and UL. The AIQR is subseqently published on both UL and MIC's website.

Institutional Review

Institutional Review 2023-24

Every seven years, the University of Limerick conducts an Institutional Review to evaluate both the adequacy of MIC’s quality assurance procedures and the extent to which MIC is implementing the procedures effectively. The last review was held in 2016 and we have now entered the self-evaluation phase for the 2023-24 Institutional Review. The Terms of Reference for the current Institutional Review of MIC are available here.

In order to fulfil its obligations under the terms of the review, MIC must submit an Institutional Self-Evaluation Report to the University of Limerick in December 2023. An Institutional Self Evaluation Team (ISET), a small task and finish group, has been formed to assist in the development of the Institutional Self Evaluation Report. The Terms of Reference and membership of the ISET are available here.

Institutional Review 2016

An institutional review process was formally initiated at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in November 2015, when the University of Limerick wrote to QQI (Quality and Qualifications, Ireland), requesting it to undertake an institutional review of MIC.

The review was in six stages:

Stage/Process/Timeline
1. The Publication of Terms of Reference by QQI: February 2016
2. Development of an Institutional Self-Evaluation Review Report (ISER): February-September 2016 
3. An external assessment and site visit by a team of reviewers: September-November 2016
4. Publication of a Review Report (Summary Report / Full Report) including findings and recommendations: July 2017
5. Development and Adoption of an Institutional Review Implementation Plan (IRIP): March 2018
6. Follow up report by MIC to UL: October 2018

Quality Reviews

Internal Quality Reviews

The schedule for the current academic quality review cycle which runs from academic year (AY) 2018/19 until AY 2026/27, is presented below. The schedule was approved by the MIC Quality Committee and by the University of Limerick.

Academic Department Quality Review Schedule 2019-2027 
Revised Schedule - December 2023
2019
  • Psychology
  • Educational Psychology, Inclusive & Special Education
2020
  • English Language & Literature
  • History
2022
  • Arts Education & Physical Education
  • Media & Communication Studies
  • Music
2023
Roinn na Gaeilge
2024
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
  • Geography
  • Learning, Society & Religious Studies
  • Drama & Theatre Studies
2025
  • French Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Reflective Pedagogy & Early Childhood Studies
  • Theology & Religious Studies
2026
  • German Studies
  • Language & Literacy Education
  • Mathematics and Computer Studies
2027
School of Education Thurles, including Thurles Campus Office
Notes: The dates in this schedule indicate the year in which the quality process will commence.

Academic reviews will be conducted in accordance with the MIC Academic Quality Review Guidelines.

Déanfar athbhreithnithe acadúla de réir Threoirlínte CMgS um Athbhreithniú Cháilíocht Acadúla (leagan Gaeilge).

The schedule for the current professional service quality review cycle which runs from 2020 to 2026, is presented below. The schedule was approved by the MIC Quality Committee and by the University of Limerick.

Professional Services Quality Review Schedule 2020-2028
Revised Schedule - December 2023
2020
  • President's Office
  • Information Compliance Office
2022
  • Academic Learning Centre (ALC)
  • Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) Centre
2023
  • Counselling Service
  • Arts Office
  • Education Office
2024
  • Strategic Communications & Marketing
  • ICT Services
  • Buildings & Estates (incl. Student Accommodation and Health & Safety Office)
2025
  • International Office
  • Placement Office
  • Human Resources Office
2026
  • Quality Office
  • Library
  • MISU
2027
  • Finance Office
  • Research and Graduate School Office
  • Careers Service
  • Access
2028
Student Academic Administration (SAA) incl. Admissions & Exams functions
Notes: The dates in this schedule indicate the year in which the quality process will commence.

Professional Service reviews will be conducted in accordance with the MIC Professional Service Quality Review Guidelines.

The quality review process consists of three phases:

  • Self-Assessment
  • Peer Review
  • Quality Improvement

Surveys

HEA Graduate Outcomes Survey

The HEA Graduate Outcomes Survey is a national survey of graduates approximately nine months after completion of study.

The survey instrument is defined centrally by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and is administered locally by Higher Education Institutions to their graduates. The MIC graduate outcomes survey is administered by the MIC Quality Office.

The 2024 HEA GOS survey has closed. The 2025 survey will be administered to 2024 MIC graduates from April to August 2025.

StudentSurvey.ie

StudentSurvey.ie is an annual national student engagement survey that is open to First Year and Final Year Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate students in all Irish Higher Level Institutions. A review of StudentSurvey.ie is currently underway and the revised survey is due to run in the Spring of 2026.

PGRStudentSurvey.ie is a national biennial student engagement survey that is open to Research Postgraduate students in all Irish Higher Level Institutions. PGR StudentSurvey.ie will run again in the Spring of 2025.

The surveys asks students about their experiences of higher education. It is designed to inform developments within institutions while also providing a national set of data.

Further information is available at www.studentsurvey.ie.

Enquiries about these surveys should be sent to: Quality@mic.ul.ie

  • About
  • Staff
  • Quality Assurance
  • Quality Reviews
  • Surveys