REPORT ON PROGRAMME VALIDATION/REVIEW

Q3

[Prepared by the Validation/Review Panel and forwarded by the Quality Assurance Officer to the College Director] Part 1

Programme details

Proposed titles

BSc (Hons) in Energy & Environmental Physics**

Nature and duration of programme

Full-time 4 years

DIT awards sought

BSc (Honours) Energy & Environmental Physics**

Classifications of award

BSc (Hons) First Class Honours, Second Class Honours, 1st Division, Second Class Honours, 2nd Division and Pass

Parallel award sought

N/A

Professional accrediting body

Accreditation by the Institute of Physics will be sought

** See condition Background The report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (Forfas) reported in November 2010 on needs for the Green Economy in Ireland. They report the need for 3,300 scientists and engineers to service this sector by 2015, in order for potential to be realised. The programme proposed aims to produce graduates who have a solid foundation in physics but who have also had an extra dimension on renewable energy, sustainable technology, and environmental physics), a seven-month industrial work placement and a research project. Overall programme aims and learning outcomes Programme Aims The aims of this programme are to equip graduate students with scientific and analytical skills as well as practical problem solving ability. Strong emphasis is placed on developing transferable skills and qualities sought by industry, such as computer literacy, ability to work in teams, interpersonal skills and adaptability. Practical and project work is given special consideration in recognition of their central role in developing these skills. Programme Learning Outcomes On completion of this programme the graduate will: Have detailed knowledge and understanding of a wide range of core topics in physics, including mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, modern and nuclear physics, quantum physics, thermal physics and physics of materials.

Have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the applications of physics in the areas of renewable energy technologies, environmental physics and environmental measurement, with some of this knowledge at the current boundaries of the fields. Have a particular knowledge and understanding of the relevance of physics to key areas of application such as communications, optics, medical physics and materials technologies, with some of this knowledge at the current boundaries of the various fields. Have knowledge of mathematics and chemistry appropriate for a physical scientist and appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of modern science and technology. Have demonstrated confidence and skill in conducting a wide range of scientific experiments, involving a wide range of instrumentation and apparatus, recording, analysis and critical interpretation of data. Have demonstrated the ability to design a scientific experiment to achieve specific objectives, and to apply scientific knowledge to solve a non-routine problem in the field of physics. Have IT and computing skills. Have demonstrated the ability to carry out an individual scientific research project under supervision, involving the description of the problem, the formulation and implementation of solutions, an appreciation of the significance of the project outcomes and effective communication of the outcomes. Have demonstrated the ability to participate as a member of a team in the solution of a problem, both as team-leader and as team member, to identify the knowledge required to solve the problem, and to critically evaluate their own contribution to the work of the team. Have developed a view of the relevance of their field of study to industry and society at large, including exposure to the key topics of innovation and entrepreneurship and the skills associated with intellectual property and patenting. Programme structure The Programme extends over four academic years each of two semesters for the Level 8 240 ECTS Credit Award and is delivered in a modular format in accordance with DIT policy. In stage 3 of the programme, there is a 30 ECTS Industrial Work Placement. Entry requirements Selection of applicants is made on the basis of Leaving Certificate points. Applicants must hold a Leaving Certificate with a minimum of six (6) subjects which must include a Higher Level C3 (or better) in two subjects and at least and ordinary level C3 in English/Irish and an ordinary level B3 in Mathematics. The six subjects referred to above must include a minimum of C3 at Higher Level in any other of the following Leaving subjects: Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science, Engineering, Technical Drawing, Technology or Design and Communication Graphics. Student assessment

In accordance with the General Assessment Regulations (June 2009). All modules must be passed in order to progress to the next stage of the programme. Compensation may be applied at the discretion of the progression board in accordance with the regulations. For modules CHEM1305 and CHEM1306 compensation may be applied at the discretion of the Programme boards, where the examination mark in either module is not lower than 30%, when a candidate’s combined weighted average examination mark for these modules is equal to or exceeds 40%. Module PDEP 2802 may be passed by compensation from another module but not vice versa. No compensation is available for the project module. Credit may be given for missed elements of CA. Credit for missed continuous assessments is not considered in the absence of supporting documentation. Derogations, if any, sought from the General Assessment Regulations A mark for a module will be computed only when both the Written Element and Laboratory Element have been passed.

Part 2

Validation/review dates

Validation Panel Internal Members Martin Rogers (Chair)

School of Civil and Building Services Engineering, DIT Bolton Street.

Celine Herra

School of Biological Sciences, DIT Kevin Street

Conor Horan

School of Marketing, DIT Aungier Street

External Members Dr Louise Bradley

School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin

Mr Mazhar Bari

Solar Print Ltd., Sandyford Dublin 18

Officer Ms Nicole O’Neill

Quality Assurance Officer,

Agenda Monday 12th December 2011 Venue: Boardroom, DIT Kevin St.

09.30 hrs

Refreshments (tea/coffee) served. Introductory meeting between Panel and Head of School and staff from the School of Physics and brief presentation regarding proposed programme.

10.00 hrs

Private meeting of Panel to discuss agenda.

10.30 hrs

Meeting of Panel with Head of School, Chairperson and appropriate members of the Programme Committee to discuss specific issues raised by the Panel.

11.30 hrs

Refreshments (tea/coffee) served. Meeting of Panel with staff teaching on the programmes to discuss such matters as syllabi, teaching methods and assessment issues.

13.00 hrs

Lunch

14.00 hrs

Panel visits facilities available to the programme at Kevin Street.

14.30 hrs

Private meeting of Panel to consider draft report.

16.00 hrs

Final meeting of Panel with Head of School and appropriate staff from the School of Physics.

Part 3

Comments on documentation and arrangements for event

Documentation provided The documentation provided for the Validation Panel included Part A, Background Information and Part B, the Programme Document. Briefing notes provided Extracts from the Handbook for Academic Quality Enhancement setting out procedures and other matters associated with the validation of programmes.

Part 4 Findings and Recommendations The panel would like to commend the staff from the Schools on their well thought out and comprehensive programme documentation and for offering the students an additional opportunity to apply their physics knowledge in the workplace. The Panel is pleased to recommend to Academic Council approval of the BSc Physics with Energy and the Environment**, at level 8 within the National Framework of Qualifications, subject to one condition and with some recommendations: Condition **The programme should be re-titled to more appropriately reflect the core physics content of the programme with a specialism, e.g. BSc Physics with Energy & the Environment. Recommendations The School needs to articulate the exploitation of the relevant research in the area of Energy and Environmental Physics, in particular with a view to providing meaningful research projects in the absence of available work placements in industry. In addition the school should consider further alignment with the research centres and Institutes available to it. The stage 4 modules on energy and the environment could be amended to include core topics such as risk assessment, renewable energy systems and an increasing emphasis on environmental law. The programme committee should continue to review on an ongoing basis the programme content and ensure that important aspects of material science are adequately included. The School should identify more clearly the contribution of internal and external field experts to the development of the programme, including the Dublin Energy Lab and other research centres. The panel commends the introduction of the work placement module however the panel recommends that the programme committees revisit the learning outcomes of the work placement module in order to link the business and technical aspects of the programme together. Both programme aims and programme learning outcomes should be revisited to further reflect the focus of the programme. These programme learning outcomes could be mapped into the level 8 degree award descriptor template. The module learning outcomes for stage 4 modules should be more informed by Bloom’s taxonomy. The programme committee should review the consistency of module descriptors with a particular view to reducing the number of module learning outcomes to a more realistic number. For the module Electromagnetism / Statistical Physics the contact hours could be increased to reflect the 10 ECTS awarded to it. Further market research should be undertaken to inform the ongoing development of the programme which incorporates appropriate feedback from students and employers.

In light of the stronger links the school will be developing with potential employers through the work placement, the School should use this opportunity to obtain industrial feedback on the programme in both a formal and informal capacity. The school could consider linking the Entrepreneurial Studies module and Innovation Module to the work placement. These could be used to reflect on the learning outcomes of the work placement. The school could consider the inclusion of environmental physiochemical processes within the programme. Observation The panel commends the school for seeking Institute of Physics Accreditation.

Part 5

Signatures of members of panel

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Signature

.................................................................. Chairperson of Panel

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