quality promotion unit - Quality Legislation
Quality Legislation
Extracts from the Universities Act (1997)
Section 12 (h)
12. The objects of a university shall include ...
(h) to promote the highest standards in, and quality of, teaching and research.
Section 14. (1)
14. (1) A university, in performing its functions shall—
(a) have the right and responsibility to preserve and promote the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of its internal and external affairs, and
(b) be entitled to regulate its affairs in accordance with its independent ethos and traditions and the traditional principles of academic freedom, and in doing so it shall have regard to— ... .
(ii) the effective and efficient use of resources, and
(iii) its obligations as to public accountability ...
35. (1) A governing authority, in consultation with the academic council, shall, as soon as practicable after the governing authority is established under this Act and at such
other times as it thinks fit, require the chief officer to establish procedures for quality assurance aimed at improving the quality of education and related services provided by the university.
(2) The procedures shall include—
(a) the evaluation, at regular intervals and in any case not less than once in every 10 years or such longer period as may be determined by the university in agreement with An tÚdarás (the Higher Education Authority), of each department and, where appropriate, faculty of the university and any service provided by the university, by employees of the university in the first instance and by persons, other than employees, who are competent to make national and international comparisons on the quality of teaching and research and the provision of other services at university level, and
(b) assessment by those, including students, availing of the teaching, research and other services provided by the university,
and shall provide for the publication in such form and manner as the governing authority thinks fit of findings arising out of the application of those procedures.
(3) A governing authority shall implement any findings arising out of an evaluation carried out in accordance with procedures established under this section unless, having regard to the resources available to the university or for any other reason, it would, in the opinion of the governing authority, be impractical or unreasonable to do so.
(4) A governing authority shall, from time to time, and in any case at least every 15 years, having regard to the resources available to the university and having consulted with An tÚdarás, arrange for a review of the effectiveness of the procedures provided for by this section and the implementation of the findings arising out of the application of those procedures.
(5) A governing authority, in a report prepared in accordance with section 41, shall publish the results of a review conducted under subsection (4).
Section 49
49.—An tÚdarás, in furtherance of its general functions under section 3 of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, shall assist the universities in
achieving the objectives of Chapters IV, VII and VIII of Part III and may review ...
(b) the procedures established in accordance with section 35, ...
and may, following consultation with the universities, publish a report, in such form and manner as it thinks fit, on the outcome of any such review.
Extracts from the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act (1999)
Section 40 ...
(5) In performing its functions under section 35 and 49(b) of the Act of 1997, An tÚdarás shall consult with the (National Qualifications) Authority (of Ireland).