Oifig an Rúnaí

An Dr. Séamus Mac Mathúna

Oifig an Rúnaí2 Meán Fómhair, 2008

Historical sketchLegal frameworkGovernance structure

Údarás na hOllscoile

Academic Council and Colleges

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge

University Management Team

HEA and IUA

Historical Sketch

1592 Trinity College, Dublin1845 Queen’s Colleges

Belfast Cork Galway

1850 Queen’s University (till 1882)

1854 Catholic University of Ireland (1883 – University College, Dublin)

1880 Royal University of Ireland (Examining and Degree Authority – till 1909 – for all except TCD)

1908 National University of Ireland

Constituent Colleges University College, Dublin University College, Galway University College, Cork

1908 Queen’s University Belfast

1972 National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick

1980 National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin

1989 University of Limerick

1989 Dublin City University1997 4 Constituent Universities of NUI:

UCD NUI Dublin

UCC NUI Cork

UCG NUI Galway

St Patrick’s College, Maynooth NUI Maynooth

LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE

STATE LEGISLATION

Act of Parliament(pre-1922)

Act of OireachtasÉireann

Charter/Letters Patent

INTERNAL LEGISLATION

Statutes (Pre-1997)

Regulations

Legal Basis of NUI Galway Queens College (Ireland) Act, 1845

- Royal Charter, 1845 establishing Queen’s College, Galway Irish Universities Act, 1908

- New Royal Charter, 1908, renaming College as University College Galway, to be a Constituent College of the new federal University, the National University of Ireland

University College Galway Act, 1929/ Acht Choláiste Phríomh-Scoile na Gaillimhe, 1929

- Providing for Irish-language mission for College, including factoring Irish into recruitment

University College Galway (Amendment) Act 2006/Acht an Choláiste Ollscoile, Gaillimh (Leasú) 2006

- Education trí Ghaeilge – one of main strategic aims to be implemented, but

removal of blanket requirement re Irish in recruitment.

Universities Act, 1997

PROVIDED FOR

Virtual autonomy for the major component institutions of the NUI, while retaining federal NUI structure

Constituent University status for Constituent Colleges and Maynooth- National University of Ireland, Galway/Dublin/Cork/Maynooth- Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh/Baile Átha Cliath/Corcaigh/Má Nuad

Reconstitution of Governing Body and Academic Council – wider membership

A new set of policy, operational and report controls.

Role of NUI (since 1997)

Sets basic Matriculation requirements for all NUI

Appoints Extern examiners (but on recd. of constituent Universities)

Possible review of courses

Degrees etc. still NUI Degrees etc.

Background to 1997 Act Origin: NUI restructuring Government Agenda: greater State control

Objects Functions Academic Freedom Governance Structures Operational Controls

Budgeting Borrowing Remuneration Superannuation Staff Grades and Nos

Internal Budget AllocationNew Requirements

Strategic Development Plan Quality Assurance Procedures Equality (incl. Access) Policy

Sanctions Inspection (Visitation)Suspension of Governing Authority

Internal Legal Framework

CHARTER (1908) New Charter under Irish Universities Act Amended in some respects by

UCG Act 1929 (re appointments) Universities Act, 1997 (e.g. status, name, composition of Governing Body, Academic Council, obligations etc.)

STATUTES/REACHTANNA Provisional adoption by Údarás na hOllscoile Referred to Academic Council Confirmation within 3 months Govern various operational matters

Appointment Procedures Establishing Offices, Professorships and Lectureships Structures (e.g. College and School Structures) Election Procedures etc.

Internal Legal Framework (cont.)

REGULATIONS/RIALACHÁIN Subsidiary Legislation (e.g. spelling out the details of policy legislation set out in Statutes – such as specific College affiliation of individual College Lecturers Pre-1997, Statutes were subject to (passive) ratification by Oireachtas Éireann whereas Regulations were purely internal in their legislative basis. Since 1997, there is no practical difference, as they both go through the same adoption process.

Údarás na hOllscoile 1/2/2005 – 31/1/2009 External Cathaoirleach (Dr Noel Dorr) President Registrar and Deputy-President 5 Professors/Associate Professors 5 Other Academic (Permanent/fulltime) 3 Other Employees (Permanent/fulltime) 3 Student (2 Students’ Union Officers and 1 Postgraduate) 4 Graduates 2 NUI Nominees 7 Local Authorities (Connacht & Clare) 3 Aire Oideachais Nominees 3 Nominees of External Organisations (Údarás na Gaeltachta, IBEC, INOU) 1 Artistic and cultural interests 1 President of St. Angela’s College, SligoTOTAL: 40 Members

Údarás na hOllscoile(The University Governing Authority)

MAJOR COMMITTEES

Standing and Strategic Planning Finance/Resource Academic Planning and Resources Human Resources Physical Resources Student Services Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Bord na Gaeilge Coiste Feabhais (Quality) Research

Údarás na hOllscoile meets c. 6 times p.a.Committees meet at 6-8 week intervals

Academic Council/An Chomhairle Acadúil

c. 120 members Meets bimonthly Overall academic authority

STANDING COMMITTEE (handles most routine business of AC) President Registrar and Deputy-President Deans 8 others from Colleges 4 others nominated by President Student

Academic Structure COLLEGES

Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies (4 Schools + 1 Division comprising 2 Schools)

Business, Public Policy and Law (2 Schools)

Engineering and Informatics (1 School)

Science (2 Schools + 1 Division comprising 2 Schools)

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

(3 Schools)

Academic Council President Registrar and Deputy-President Heads of Department/School/discipline Established Professors/Professors Personal/Associate Professors Previous coopted Senior Lecturers/Lecturers 5 Senior Lecturers/Lecturers 10 Lecturers/College Lecturers/Junior Lecturers Certain Adjunct Professors 5 Students elected by them (UG 3 PG 2) Librarian Director of Adult and Continuing Education Príomhfheidhmeannach Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge Director of CELT Education Officer, Students’ Union

Council of Deans Coordinates general academic policy

Chaired by Registrar and Deputy-President

Dean of College Responsible for academic and administration affairs of College Selection (vice election) process 4-year term

Head of School Academic leadership of School (incl. Planning, budget, HR etc.) Selection process; 4-year term School Board and School Executive Committee

New University StructuresÚdarás

Academic Council Registrar

College Meeting Deans

School Board Heads of School

*Policy Formation

*Council of Deans:

*Standing Committee:

*Executive Planning Accountability Compliance

Executive Arm of Academic Council, acting across theColleges and coordinating through the University

Processes the business of Academic Council

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge

Ceannródaíocht agus Forbairt (Leadership and Development)

Cúrsaí, taighde, seribhísí trí Ghaeilge (Course, research, services through Irish)

Bord Stiúrtha

Bord Acadúil

Comhairle Bainistíochta

President 10-year term, subject to retirement at 65

Registrar and Deputy-President Prof./Assoc. Prof./Senior L./L. above bar Nominated by Academic Council for 4-year term, renewable once

Vice-Presidents Physical Resources Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Student Services and Human Resources

Appointed by Údarás na hOllscoile on recommendation of President (but in one case on nomination of Academic Council made on recommendation of President and following consultation between President and Registrar and Deputy-President) Term of up to 4 years, renewable once; max. 8 years.

Research Appointed by open competition internally Term as above

University Management Team (UMT)

Registrar and Deputy-President

Academic Administration Admissions Examinations Student and Graduate records Academic Council and College administration

Academic Planning and Policy

Academic Resources

Library

Academic Computer Services

Academic Staff

Vice-Presidents Vice-President for Physical Resources

Estate maintenance and development Quality (with Registrar) Safety Arts

Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs Strategic initiatives External affairs (incl. International links, EU programmes, Summer Schools) Adult and Continuing Education (with Registrar) Alumni Official publications and information and PR Industrial Liaison (incl. Careers and placement) External R & D contracts External endowment (incl. GUF)

Vice-President for Student Services and Human Resources Student extra-curricular activities and facilities Staff Personnel policies Equality

Vice-President for Research Research Policy formulation (with Registrar) and implementation Research infrastructure and promotion Generation of external funding Research Centres/Institutes/Units Research grant applications Commercial exploitation

BURSAR Budget Financial management Mgt. Info. Systems (Admin) General Services (incl. Secretarial Services, Catering)

SECRETARY Secretary to Údarás na hOllscoile Committee Documentation Corporate Legal Issues (incl. Statutes) Governance (incl. Elections) Compliance (FOI, Data Protection, etc.) Polasaí Gaeilge agus Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Higher Education Authority (HEA)/AntÚdarás um Ardoideachas

Buffer between State and Universities re funding and policy

Allocation of State grants

Third-level development

Soon to become Tertiary Education Authority (including ITs etc. within remit)

Irish Universities Association (IUA) Voice of the University sector on various issues of policy (e.g. University funding, tuition fees, research, accounting structures, strategic planning, quality, access). As such, lobbies the HEA and relevant Government Departments/agencies.

IUA Council Presidents and Provost

IUA Registrars IUA Chief Finance Officers

(UCFOG) – Bursars and equivalent IUA Secretaries

Central Secretariat Cathaoirleach rotates annually Quarterly meetings (rotating)