Prometric Chair in Assessment

JOB DESCRIPTION

Prometric Chair in Assessment
School of Policy and Practice DCU Institute of Education
Dublin City University
Permanent Contract

Dublin City University

Dublin City University www.DCU.ie is a young, ambitious and vibrant University, with a mission ‘to transform lives and societies through education, research, innovation and engagement’. Known as Ireland’s ‘University of Enterprise and Transformation’, it is committed to the development of talent, and the discovery and translation of knowledge that advances society and the economy. DCU was the Sunday Times Irish University of the Year 2021.

The University is based on three academic campuses in the Glasnevin-Drumcondra region of north Dublin. It currently has more than 18,000 students enrolled across five faculties – Science and Health, DCU Business School, Computing and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences and DCU Institute of Education. DCU is committed to excellence across all its activities. This is demonstrated by its world-class research initiatives, its cutting-edge approach to teaching and learning, its focus on creating a transformative student experience, and its positive social and economic impact. This exceptional commitment on the part of its staff and students has led to DCU’s ranking among the top 2% of universities globally. It also consistently features in the world’s Top 100 Young Universities (currently in QS Top 70 Under 50, Times Higher Top 150 Under 100).

DCU is placed 84th in the world, in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings – measuring higher education institutions’ contributions towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Over the past decade, DCU has also been the leading Irish university in the area of technology transfer, as reflected by licensing of intellectual property. It ranks first in Ireland for graduate employment.

The University has launched a search to fill the Prometric Chair in Assessment recently vacated by Professor Michael O’Leary. The Chair is in the Institute of Education.

DCU Institute of Education

The DCU Institute of Education is the newest faculty of Dublin City University. It is based in a €70 million purpose built facility on the DCU St Patrick’s Campus in Drumcondra in Dublin. Established in 2016 as Ireland’s first University faculty of Education, it has a staff of more than 140 full-time academics and a student body in excess of 4,000. The Institute brings together students of education across all sectors from early childhood, to primary and post-primary and further and higher education. As well as providing a range of undergraduate programmes in education, the Institute offers a rich menu of taught and research-based postgraduate programmes, at doctoral, masters, diploma and certificate levels. As a centre of expertise and excellence in teacher education and education more generally, the Institute hosts a range of research centres in key areas of priority and has an ambitious and growing programme of research. The Dean of the faculty, Prof Anne Looney describes the Institute and the key contribution of research centres here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEME0ULymoqimLblo1XdbgCaI-XEVIGp/view?usp=sharing

With internationally-recognised experts in education policy, inclusive and special education, curriculum and pedagogy, assessment, literacy, evaluation and teacher education, the Institute provides a dynamic learning and working environment. Staff can expect to encounter opportunities for multi-disciplinary work, not just in the Institute, but also across the University. As one of the world’s leading young Universities, DCU has established its fifth and newest faculty out of a conviction that studies and research in education and the preparation and support of teachers are central to the transformation of lives and communities. Committed to academic excellence and innovation, the DCU Institute of Education is confident its students and staff, and its graduates can flourish and lead in the challenging and complex contexts of 21st century education.

Overview of the department

The School of Policy and Practice is one of the six schools within the DCU Institute of Education. The School represents a unique and innovative departure within the Irish educational landscape. Bringing together academics whose expertise extends through primary, post-primary and further education and training, the School’s range of experience and engagement spans all levels of educational provision creating an innovative and research-driven community. Members of the school have worked as academics in higher education institutions across the world and many have leading roles in professional associations and networks.

The Prometric Chair and the Centre for Assessment Research in Policy and Practice in Education (CARPE)

Prometric is a provider of technology-enabled assessment solutions to licensing and certification organisations, academic institutions, and government agencies. The company assists more than 7 million test takers annually at its testing locations in more than 180 countries around the world. Based in Baltimore in the US, the company has a significant presence in Dundalk and is well known as the provider of the driving licence theory test on behalf of the Road Safety Authority.

Prometric has supported this Chair since its establishment in DCU in 2015. Since that time, Prometric and Carpe personnel have collaborated on a range of assessment-related research initiatives focusing on current issues such as the use of live remote proctoring, situational judgements tests, and animations in assessment, computer-based testing in education and credentialing.

CARPE was established to enhance the practice of assessment across all levels of the educational system, from early childhood to fourth level and beyond. Some notable research achievements for the centre have been the completion of a number of policy-relevant projects focused on the use of Calculated and Accredited grades following the cancellation of the LC examinations, digital formative assessment of transversal skills in STEM, e-portfolios, and the assessment of critical thinking in higher education. Two CARPE PhD students have been awarded IRC scholarships. The Prometric Chair acts as the director of the CARPE centre.

Role Profile

The inaugural Prometric Chair, Professor Michael O’Leary, recently retired, has developed a national profile in the field of educational assessment and notably played a key role in the development of calculated grades for Leaving Certificate 2020. He was regularly called on for media commentary on issues relating to educational assessment in Ireland. Professor O’Leary describes his work here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXS7vj4IZhmn3ZIaVJCaltPPoUws2P_E/view?usp=sharing

The Centre is the only one of its kind on the island, and under the current Chair has built a strong foundation for further development. The most recent annual report here shows the breadth and significance of its current range of research work. Notable is the research on assessment for licensing and certification - an area of research new to the University that draws strongly from the field of educational measurement and testing. The international advisory board is active and engaged, supporting the Centre and adding further to its profile and reputation.

The new Chair, with a track record in the field of assessment, will consolidate the achievements of the outgoing chair to-date and lead CARPE in the next phase of its development towards recognition as a global centre of expertise in educational assessment in particular, and in the field of assessment more broadly. Already at or close to professorial level, the person appointed to the role will have demonstrated success in competitive grants, PhD supervision to completion (where relevant), supporting the development of early and mid-career researchers and hold significant and impactful record in publication across a range of formats. Experience of working in teacher education will be an advantage.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not restricted to, the following:

Research and Scholarship

The successful candidate will be dedicated to high-quality research and publication in the field of educational assessment. They will be expected to:

• Develop and support research initiatives across the Institute of Education, publish articles in leading peer-review journals as sole author and as co-author with colleagues
• Apply for national and international grants as PI, or as part of consortia and lead successful projects to completion
• Disseminate research findings for practitioner, policy and scholarly audiences
• Attract, source funding for, and supervise high-calibre PhD students
• Further develop the reputation and profile of CARPE in national, European and global network

Teaching and Learning

The successful candidate will be required to contribute to the development, teaching, assessment, and administration of modules across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including

• The design, teaching and assessment of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels,
• Contributing to the design, development, and management of future programmes and other developments in the field of educational assessment
• Supervising undergraduate and postgraduate theses
• Contribute to the wider teaching of the School of Policy and Practice and the Faculty

Service and Contribution to University and Society

Activities taken on the successful candidate’s own initiative, or allocated by the Head of School, may include:

• Supporting and sustaining funder relationships through the DCU Educational Trust
• Engaging with policy-makers and the media
• Contributing proactively to relevant School and University committees, working groups and meetings
• Representing the School in marketing and the recruitment of students
• Developing relationships with stakeholders within and outside the University.
• Supporting the reputation of the DCU Institute of Education through engagement in, and leadership of, external academic, professional, public sector and community activities

Leadership

• Leadership and development of the CARPE centre towards global recognition
• Leadership of, and/or participation in, programme/discipline and School accreditation activities
• Contributing proactively to relevant School and University committees, working groups and meetings
• Mentoring and supporting new academic and research colleagues
• Leading and participating in alumni and stakeholder relationship activities
• Enhancing the reputation and impact of the Institute of Education through leadership and engagement in external academic, business, professional, public sector and community activities (approved by the Executive Dean, where appropriate)

Qualifications and Experience

She/he will have a doctoral level qualification in educational assessment or a related field and already hold an associate professor/ professor or equivalent level post in their current institution or centre.

As a Chair, the appointed candidate will be expected to make a significant leadership contribution in the School and the Institute more broadly. In particular, the successful candidate will present:

• Evidence of delivering exceptional contribution to national and/or international networks.
• Evidence of an exceptional engagement with and commitment to innovation in the field of educational assessment.
• A record of engagement with and influence of education policy.

An exceptional and sustained record of publication in leading international journals and conferences and in peer-reviewed book chapters/books from leading publishers.