Academic Quality Assurance & Governance (AQAG)
Overview
Reporting to the Academic Secretary, the unit is led by the Head of Academic Quality Assurance & Governance (AQAG). Led by the Academic Secretary, the Academic Secretariat AQAG supports the Vice-President for Academic Affairs/Registrar in discharging her remit specifically in relation to matters of academic quality assurance and governance.
Members of the team provide high-level secretariat support to Academic Council and its sub-committees, support the development of academic policies, regulations and procedures, enable and implement academic quality assurance initiatives across DCU, manage DCU’s curriculum approval process, and oversee the University’s examination appeals process. The unit AQAG also coordinates multiple academic-related functions across the University including the university schedule of meetings, the Student Recognition Framework, and external examiner appointments for taught programmes.
The Academic Secretariat AQAG also discharges a strategic project brief and members of the team provide leadership, expert input into, and project management support for key strategic initiatives and projects that lie within the remit of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs/Registrar.
Ms Goretti Daughton
Ms Gráinne Curran
Gráinne is a senior secretarial assistant in the OVPAA. Her responsibilities include financial administration for the Academic Quality Assurance & Governance (AQAG) unit, Academic Systems Unit and in support of senior OVPAA team members, assisting with the Examination Appeals process. Gráinne also supports the publication of papers for the Graduate Research Studies Board and Education Committee, oversees meeting logistics and provides PA support as required.
Ms Megan Howell
Megan is an administrative assistant for the OVPAA. She joined the Academic Quality Assurance & Governance (AQAG) unit in 2023 and is providing administrative and secretarial support to the Quality Review Committee, Academic Council and University Standards Committee. She also assists with the Examination Appeals Board. Before working with DCU, Megan held roles in journalism and publishing, specialising in marine science, agriculture and sustainable food systems.
Dr David McCarthy
David has worked in the higher education sector for the last ten years and has held roles as a researcher, associate lecturer, programme administrator and quality assurance officer in the UK and Ireland. David joined the Academic Quality Assurance & Governance (AQAG) unit in 2021 and is currently responsible for coordinating the business of and providing secretariat support to Academic Council and the Graduate Research Studies Board. David is also involved in supporting the approval process for new programmes of study and in the development and ongoing review of policies and procedures related directly to academic affairs.
Prior to joining DCU, David worked in National College of Ireland, where he was the quality assurance and enhancement specialist and was responsible for the lifecycle management of academic programmes. David has also worked extensively with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on a wide range of programme and provider quality reviews and has worked as an external advisor for a number of private higher education providers seeking to improve their academic governance structures and programme development processes in line with statutory quality assurance guidelines.
Ms Aedín Whelan