Roy Ferguson
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
Thematic Quality Review of First Year Student Supports: Key Findings
This paper presents the findings of a thematic quality review of academic student supports at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland. The review focused on undergraduates, with a particular emphasis on new entrants. The review was intended to facilitate the investigation and implementation of an academic support structure, with a view to facilitating an informal approach on best practice for the provision of teaching and learning supports for students at UCD. The thematic review approach involved the preparation of a self-assessment report, a site visit by a Review Group (3 external experts and 2 internal experts) who prepared a Report with recommendations, and finally, an action plan prepared by the University in response to each recommendation. The main findings suggest, firstly, that as a review methodology, the thematic review approach was found to be a useful mechanism to address the area of academic student supports. Secondly, that academic supports for students provide the necessary structure required by all undergraduate students within which they may realise their full potential. As such, these supports cannot be seen as peripheral services. Further, these supports need to be co-ordinated and coherent. Thirdly, the importance of the academic community in supporting students through their studies and of guiding them to other relevant supports was highlighted. Fourthly, that critical student academic skills (essay writing, referencing etc) should be fully integrated into Year 1, Semester 1 curriculum and built on in subsequent stages of each programme in a discipline appropriate way. Finally, that the importance of family and friends was highlighted and how they can influence and support undergraduate’s is a finding that should be further explored and harnessed.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr Roy Ferguson has been Director of Quality at University College Dublin, Ireland since 2007. Prior to taking up this position he was Head of Academic & Student Affairs at Queen’s University Belfast (UK), and held several posts at the University of Ulster (UK). He has also held managerial positions in the North Eastern Education and Library Board (UK) and was Registrar of the Northern Regional College (Northern Ireland). He is currently Chairman of a project under the Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN), to develop National Guidelines for the Approval, Monitoring and Review of Collaborative and Transnational Provision, and was former Chair of the Irish Universities Association Quality Group. As Director of Quality, Dr Ferguson has participated in Quality Reviews at institutional and programme level in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka and across Ireland.
