University standards

Sir, – In relation to Ms Hooper’s letter ( December 5th), in which she asserts that what universities need is more rigorous, external examination, I wish to point out the following: As head of a department that will be examined on two occasions by an external professional body in 2015; will be assessed by an international quality review panel of experts from within and outwith the discipline in 2015 and that as part of normal external assessment will be reviewed by no less than a dozen externally appointed examiners, perhaps we should look to other issues that impact negatively on university performance. – Yours, etc,

DR PATRICK RYAN Director of Clinical Psychology University of Limerick