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Ministers invite expressions of interest for a number of vacancies to governing authorities of higher education institutions

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. and the Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today invited expressions of interest for a number of vacancies to governing authorities of higher education institutions.

 

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for consideration for nomination as ministerial appointees to:

  • the governing authorities of University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Maynooth University and University College Dublin and also to Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann (the Folklore Council of Ireland)
  • the chair of the council of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, chairperson of the governing board of one of the institute’s three constituent schools, or members of the governing boards of the institute’s three constituent schools.

Minister McHugh said: “A strongly governed and supported higher education system is key to Ireland’s future. Governing authorities play a pivotal role in driving forward the strategic direction of an institution as a whole as well as ensuring transparency and accountability in achieving those strategic objectives.”

 

Minister Mitchell O’Connor said: “The higher education system in Ireland is currently at a crucial and exciting phase and these positions provide an opportunity for individuals to become involved in a meaningful way and bring their experiences and expertise to these bodies.”

Appointments to the governing authorities of higher education institutions

The process of filling these vacancies is being managed by the Department of Education and Skills. The expressions of interest received will be assessed and a shortlist of candidates, who are deemed to be suitable for nomination as ministerial appointees to the university governing authorities and as members of Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann, will be provided to the Minister from which the Minister will make a selection.

 

A detailed information booklet and application form can be found at https://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Higher-Education/Ministerial-Board-Appointments/candidate-information.pdf

 

Expressions of interest may be made by submitting the application form, a curriculum vitae and detailed cover letter to boardvacancies@education.gov.ie.

 

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 21st February 2020.

 

Appointments to the council and governing board of Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

 

The process of filling these vacancies is being managed by the Department of Education and Skills. The expressions of interest received will be assessed and a shortlist of candidates, who are deemed to be suitable for appointment to the council or the schools’ governing body, will be provided to the Minister from which the Minister will make a selection.

 

A detailed information booklet can be found at https://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Higher-Education/Ministerial-Board-Appointments/dias-appointment-2020-candidate-informtion-booklet.pdf

 

Expressions of interest may be made by submitting a curriculum vitae and detailed cover letter to diasboardvacancies@education.gov.ie

 

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 7th February 2020.

 

ENDS 

Notes for Editor 

University College Cork

 

The term of office for the governing authority of University College Cork is for a 5 year period.

 

More information on UCC is available on their website, www.ucc.ie

 

Trinity College Dublin

 

The term of office for the governing authority of Trinity College Dublin is for a 5 year period.

 

More information on TCD is available on their website, www.tcd.ie

 

Maynooth University

 

The term of office for the governing authority of Maynooth University is for a period of 5 years.

 

More information on MU is available on their website, www.maynoothuniversity.ie.

 

University College Dublin

 

The term of office for the governing authority of University College Dublin is for a period of 4 years.

 

More information on UCD is available on their website, www.ucd.ie.

 

Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann

Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann (The Folklore of Ireland Council) serves as an advisory body to the National Folklore Collection, UCD, and has three main functions. They are:

 

  • arranging for the cataloguing, editing and publication of material from the collection of books, manuscripts, other documents and recordings relating to folklore deposited, or to be deposited, in the National Folklore Collection.
  • arranging for the appropriate access to, and use of, this material.
  • administering the funds which the Department of Education has made, and will make, available towards the cost of cataloguing, editing and publishing Irish Folklore and studies relating thereto.

 

Chomhairle consists of ten members, appointed by the President of University College Dublin including not more than four persons to be nominated by the Minister for Education. Each member holds office for a term of three years, renewable at the discretion of the President of University College Dublin and of the Minister for Education in the case of the members nominated by them.

 

More information regarding Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann is available on their website, www.comhairlebheal.ie

 

Payments to Board Members

Members of the governing authorities of the Universities and the Board of An Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann are not remunerated. Travel and subsistence expenses will be paid in respect of journeys undertaken to attend meetings of the authority/board and to transact its business. All expenses are paid in accordance with approved public sector rates or in line with University policy for external members of the governing authority.

 

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is an independent organisation for research in basic disciplines which is, in part, funded by the Department of Education and Skills. 

 

The institute is a statutory corporation which was established under the Institute for Advanced Studies Act 1940. 

 

The institute, through the constituent schools, pursues fundamental research in specialised branches of knowledge. The institute is an academic publisher of monographs, books, and journals in celtic studies and on advanced scientific subjects.

 

The institute has three constituent schools:

 

  • the School of Celtic Studies is concerned with the furtherance of the study of the Celtic languages and literature through a programme of investigation, editing and publication;

 

  • the School of Theoretical Physics investigates the mathematical principles of the laws of nature;

 

  • the School of Cosmic Physics undertakes theoretical, computational and observational studies in astronomy, astrophysics and geophysics to advance  the understanding of the Cosmos

 

All schools train and mentor scholars and fellows to contribute to the pool of expertise, human capital and specialist skills in Ireland.

 

Each school has an independent governing board with responsibility for the research direction and academic affairs of the school.

 

The term of the governing boards of the three constituent schools will run from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025.

 

DIAS Council

 

The Council is responsible for the general governance of the administrative affairs of the Institute (including financial, risk management, fulfilment of statutory requirements and overseeing best practice). The membership of the Council is set out in the 1940 Act and comprises a non-executive Chair appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of Government, three ex-officio members (the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, the President of University College Dublin and the President of the Royal Irish Academy) and six members appointed by the governing boards of the three schools.

 

The term of the Council will run from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025

 

Fees payable to board members

Members of the institute’s council or school boards are not remunerated.  Travel and subsistence allowances will be paid in respect of journeys undertaken to attend meetings of the council and governing boards or to transact its business.