In accordance with the Royal Military College (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), the Department of Defence Studies submitted a self-study in 2016. For the program under review, Master in Defence Studies (MDS), it contained the degree level expectations (DLEs), course outlines, Learning Outcomes (LOs), program-related data and survey data from the Office of Quality Assurance as well as appendices with sample examinations and CVs of faculty members.
Two arm’s length external reviewers (Dr. B.L. Job, University of British Columbia, and Dr. J.W. Yaeger, National Defence University) were selected from a list of possible reviewers and approved by the Deans of Social Sciences and Humanities and Graduate Studies. An internal reviewer, Dr. M. Hefnawi of RMC’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, was also selected for participation on the External Review Committee (ERC). They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a site visit to the Canadian Forces College (CFC) on 30 May to 1 June 2017. During the site visit, the ERC met with the CFC Commandant, BGen Kevin Cotton; Vice-Principal, Academic, Dr. Phil Bates; the Vice-Principal, Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Pat Heffernan; the Deputy CFC Commandant, Col Nishika Jardine; the CFC Corporate Secretariat, LCdr Joel Kam; the Head of Defence Studies, Dr. Eric Ouellet; the Chair of MDS, Dr. Christopher Spearin; the CFC Heads of Curriculum Departments; the Chief Librarian, Ms. Cathy Murphy; and held a roundtable with MDS professors. The ERC also had the opportunity to meet with several students currently enrolled in the program. The ERC subsequently produced a report (Sept, 2017) based on the Self-Study and site visit. The report was circulated to department members and discussed at a departmental meeting.
In their report, the ERC found that the MDS program was consistent with the standards, educational goals and learning objectives/outcomes of the graduate degree offered and consistent with the RMC and CFC missions. While it found the requirements well laid out in course outlines and rubrics, it found, however, that the Graduate Degree Level Expectations (GDLEs) were not developed and mapped to specific Learning Outcomes contained within the various rubrics. The ERC identified strengths/exceptional achievements, as well as areas that presented opportunity to enhance the program.
The Program Chair, after consultation with faculty and staff in the programmes, submitted a response to the Reviewers’ Report in March, 2018. The Dean of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with the Dean of Social Science and Humanities, and in consultation with the Vice-Principal, Academic, and the Deputy Commandant of CFC prepared this Final Assessment Report in January, 2019, in which specific recommendations were discussed, and follow-up actions and timelines provided. These were approved by the College Senate on 7 Nov 2019. The MDS program has been approved to continue and is scheduled for its next review in 2023-24.