Publication
Apply to be Chairperson to the Board of the Higher Education Authority
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for consideration for appointment as Chairperson to the Board of the Higher Education Authority.
The Minister intends making the appointment to fill the current vacancy, which has arisen under Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022.
Candidate’s attention is drawn to the general details of the role of Chairperson as set out on page 19 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies which can be found here . The Principle states:
The Chairperson is responsible for setting the Board’s agenda in consultation with the CEO, and ensuring that adequate time is available for discussion of all items, in particular for strategic issues. The Chairperson should promote a culture of openness and debate by facilitating the effective contribution of ordinary members in particular and ensuring constructive relations between the executive and members. The Chairperson shall possess the leadership experience required to ensure that the Board guides, challenges and supports the Chief Executive and the executive team whilst holding them to account in doing so.
The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring that members receive accurate, timely and clear information. The Chairperson should ensure there is effective communications with stakeholders.
The same responsibilities of all board members also apply to the Chairperson. These include a responsibility to:
Expressions of interest are now invited from suitably qualified applicants with the capacity to demonstrate in their application evidence at an appropriately senior level in the following areas:
Essential
Desirable
An understanding of the public sector environment, in particular funding, regulatory processes and reporting requirements, accountability structures, and current public sector reform initiatives.
The Minister encourages applications from diverse, qualified candidates to ensure the Board is a true reflection of Irish society and shall have regard to the desirability for gender balance, diversity and inclusion on the Board as the Minister considers appropriate and determines from time to time when making appointments, in line with the updated Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016.
Appointments to the Board will be for an initial period of 4 years. A Board member, including the Chairperson, may be reappointed after the first term ends but may not be appointed for more than two consecutive terms and may not serve as a member for a period of more than 8 years.
The remuneration for the position of Chairperson is €11,970 per annum.
It should be noted that in line with the ‘One Person One Salary’ principle, no public servant will be entitled to receive remuneration in the form of board fees, save for situations that are statutorily provided for e.g. Worker Directors.
Travel and subsistence allowances will be paid in respect of journeys undertaken to attend meetings of the Board or to transact its business. Payments will be made in accordance with approved public sector rates.
The Chairperson is required to devote as much time to duties of the Governing Board as is necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of their duties.
The Governing Board convenes for 2 – 2.5 days per month per annum, of approximately 2.5 hours in duration. Preparation time will be required in advance of meetings.
As an indication of time commitment, (including preparation time), it is estimated that between 25 and 30 days a year will be necessary.
Meetings are held at the HEA offices located in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 but meetings may take place 1/2 times per annum in one of the Higher Education Institutions.
To be considered for appointment as Chairperson to the HEA Governing Board, your submission should be made via the following link , together with your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter (see Appendix 1 of the Candidate Information Booklet for help with the online process).
The closing date for the campaign is no later than 3pm on 18 October 2024
If you have any questions regarding the application process please email stateboards@publicjobs.ie .
The selection process may include a shortlisting process dependent on the numbers of applications received.
Please take care when submitting your expression of interest. As the Assessment Panel will generally make its recommendation(s) based on consideration of the documentation which you submit, it is most important that you do the following:
1. Ensure your Cover Letter (and supporting CV) clearly specifies how your particular background and experience meets the requirements of the Board position(s) specified in this booklet, and
2. That you fully answer any supplementary questions which are presented to you as part of our online application process.
This will help ensure that the Assessment Panel is as informed as possible as to the basis and suitability of your candidature.
You must also confirm that you do not have any conflicts of interest or legal impediment which would be likely to interfere with your ability to play a full part on the Governing Board of the HEA. You must also confirm that you can make yourself available to attend meetings of the Governing Board of the HEA.
In making nominations, and in line with best practice as set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, it should be noted that it is open to the Minister to consider suitable nominees other than those identified through this process, provided their preferred nominee meets the specified criteria.
The Minister shall have regard to the desirability for gender balance on the Governing Board of the HEA as the Minister considers appropriate and determines from time to time when making appointments.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory agency responsible for higher education (including higher education research) in Ireland to ensure that a high- quality higher education and research system is in place which meets the needs of students and contributes to social, economic, cultural and sustainable development. The HEA is also the statutory funding authority for the universities, technological universities, institutes of technology and other higher education providers and is the advisory body to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) in relation to the higher education sector. The HEA also has responsibility for the oversight of higher education institutions and the higher education system. As such the HEA is the lead organisation for the development of a higher education and research system that meets the needs of Irish society and the Irish economy and is accountable to the Minister for that leadership. The HEA and DFHERIS agree an annual service level agreement.
A key aim of the HEA is to create a higher education system that maximises opportunities and ensures a high - quality experience for students.
The HEA was established in 1972 by the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 replaced the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 and the new Act provides for a more detailed list of functions and objectives, which reflects the expanded role of the HEA since its establishment.
The Objects which the HEA is required to have regard to when performing its functions are set out in Section 8 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 and include:
The functions of the HEA are set out in section 9 of the Higher Education Authority Act, 2022
The key themes from the 2022 Act include:
Further details on the HEA may be obtained from the HEA website.
The composition of the HEA Governing Board is set out in Section 16 of the Higher Education Authority Act, 2022. The Board consists of eleven ordinary members and a Chairperson, appointed by the Minister.
Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts, 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence. All enquires, applications and all aspects of the proceedings are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone, outside those directly involved in that aspect of the process.
Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, may be extracted from computer records for general statistical purposes.
The Data Protection Act 2018 provides that the processing of personal data shall be lawful where such processing is necessary for the performance of a statutory function of a controller. PAS is mandated by statute under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 to act as the centralised assessment and selection body for the civil service and to carry out all the procedures necessary to undertake the recruitment, assessment and selection of suitable candidates for appointment. By submitting your personal data (including your name, address, contact details and details of your education and work history contained in your curriculum vitae and cover letter) via publicjobs.ie, you acknowledge that such data may be used by the Public Appointments Service and disclosed to and used by client departments, in connection with its statutory roles to assist and advise relevant Ministers in relation to appointments to the boards of State bodies. The information contained in your publicjobs profile is yours to manage, amend, update or delete as appropriate. For more detailed information on our Data Protection Policy, please see our Code of Practice for the Protection of Personal Data in the Public Appointments Service.
If your application is assessed and you are considered to be suitable for appointment your c.v. and cover letter (and any additional supplementary information requested as part of the application process), will be forwarded to the State Board Liaison Officer in the relevant Department. Once it obtains your personal data, the Department will act as data controller of such data and will retain it for up to one year following the appointment/s. Unless you request the withdrawal of your application such data may be used in considering your suitability for other similar vacancies/roles that arise for a period of up to one year for this Board.