Apply to be a member of the Senate of the National University of Ireland

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 a member to the Senate of the National University of Ireland (NUI).

Expressions of interest are sought by the Minister from suitably qualified candidates for consideration to be nominated by the Government as a member of the Senate of the NUI and whose term of office will be for a five year period. Expressions of interest are now invited from suitably qualified applicants with the capacity to contribute to the further development of NUI.

The Minister intends making one appointment to fill a current ordinary member vacancy which has arisen under Section 45 (5) (1) (b) of the Universities Act 1997, which states: ”four persons nominated by the Government, two of whom shall be women and two men”.

Expressions of interest are invited from applicants who consider they possess the knowledge, skills and experience necessary in one or more of the following areas.

Knowledge and Experience Relevant to Higher Education

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of and experience at a senior level in, or relevant to, higher education, an understanding of the role of the university in the life of Ireland – educationally, economically, socially and culturally and an appreciation of the specific context in which NUI operates.

The environment within which the higher education sector operates is continually evolving and NUI seeks to remain responsive to those changes. Applicants should therefore have an understanding of the potential impact the changing nature of Irish society, work and industry has on educational needs going forward. Knowledge of flexible modes of delivery and alternative ways of learning would be desirable.

Recent graduates of an Irish higher education institution, with experience of university education and the demands of post-graduation environments would be welcome, as would candidates with an understanding of the wider role of higher education in Irish society, the changing environment in higher education, particularly with regard to sustainability and inclusion.

Management and Corporate Governance Experience

Applicants should have an interest and appropriate experience in the areas of management and corporate governance, in either the public or private sector, to support NUI in maintaining excellent standards of management and governance.

Student Representation

NUI are keen to reflect the positive recent developments in student partnership and engagement across the federation. Students are key stakeholders in higher education and accordingly should be involved in the governance of the University.

Applicants should have experience of representing students and engagement in governance processes in a higher education institution and should ideally have completed National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) training for Students Participating in Institutional Reviews / Quality Assurance Processes. Students / recent graduates are welcome to apply.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement

NUI is empowered under its charter to recognise higher education institutions and make its degrees and other qualifications available in those institutions. As mentioned above, NUI is also a designated awarding body under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 with quality assurance responsibilities in relation to higher education institutions where it makes awards. To support the organisation in fulfilling its role in higher education assurance and enhancement, candidates should have an interest and experience in these areas.

Marketing, Public Relations, Communications

With a view to supporting NUI towards achieving greater public visibility and heightened public profile for its range of activities, applicants should have significant expertise and experience in marketing, public relations or communications. Applicants with experience of social media platforms and brand development would be particularly welcome.

Change management

NUI is currently engaged in preparing a new strategic plan to guide the organisation over the next five years. In implementing this plan, NUI will seek to respond to the changing needs and expectations of its member institutions and to changes in the higher education environment and in society. To support the organisation in renewing itself creatively and innovatively in a fast-changing environment, candidates should have experience in organisational development and/or the management of organisational change.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate a capacity to contribute to the strategic direction of NUI and the achievement of its mission. It would be desirable that they be in a position to support NUI in promoting linkages beyond higher education with other sectors of civic society, both public and private.

Under the Universities Act 1997, appointments to the Senate by the Government are for a term not exceeding five years. A member whose term expires may be eligible for reappointment.

Positions on the Senate are unpaid. 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 and NUI’s travel and subsistence policy, which aims to minimise the environmental impact of NUI activities.

Members are required to devote as much time to duties of the Senate as is necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of their duties.

The Senate convenes for three meetings per annum, of approximately 2 hours in duration. Preparation time required in advance of meetings is approximately 2 hours. Meetings are held virtually with occasional meetings taking place in-person in NUI’s offices at 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

Members of Senate may be nominated to serve on sub-committees of the Board, such as the Audit and Risk Committee or the Education and Society Committee, but participation is voluntary.

To be considered for nomination as a member of the Senate, please submit by email a completed application form (see below), a cover letter and a curriculum vitae, no later than 3pm on 23 November 2022, to boardvacancies@dfheris.gov.ie.

Applicants will receive an acknowledgement on receipt of their application. Any applicants who do not receive an acknowledgement with regard to their application should contact boardvacancies@dfheris.gov.ie.

Important points

Shortlisting

The selection process may include a shortlisting process dependent on the numbers of applications received.

Specifying background and experience

Please take care when submitting your expression of interest as the Assessment Panel will make its recommendation(s) to the Minister based on consideration of the documentation which you submit. It is therefore most important that you ensure your cover letter (and supporting CV) clearly specifies how your particular background and experience meets the requirements of the position as specified in this booklet. This will help ensure that the Assessment Panel is as informed as possible as to the basis and suitability of your candidature.

Conflicts of interest

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 Senate. You must also confirm that you can make yourself available to attend meetings of the Senate.

Nominees outside this process

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.

Gender balance

The Minister shall have regard to the desirability for gender balance on the Senate as the Minister considers appropriate and determines from time to time when making appointments.

The NUI is a federal university comprising four autonomous constituent universities – University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Galway and Maynooth University. A number of other higher education institutions including the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Institute of Public Administration, the Institute of Banking and National College of Art & Design are also members of the federal university.

As a unique and significant focal point in Irish higher education, NUI serves the interests of the member institutions, provides services to them and manages the central registers and archives of the University. NUI also undertakes a wide range of activities related to scholarship, the advancement of higher education, and the cultural and intellectual life of Ireland. Further information is available on the NUI website.

Functions of the NUI Senate

The NUI Senate acts as a central forum for the member institutions, fulfils a small number of statutory functions, notably in relation to NUI matriculation, and oversees the activities of NUI and the schemes it administers. Much of the work of the Senate is done through committees, which can include members of Senate, members nominated by the constituent universities and other external members appointed for their specific expertise, as appropriate.

Under the Universities Act, 1997, the NUI Senate has functions and responsibilities in relation to the following:

• Determining basic matriculation requirements
• Reviewing the content and teaching of courses
• Appointing external examiners
• Awarding degrees and other qualifications

The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, which came into effect in November 2012, defines the University as a “designated awarding body”. As such, the Act requires the University to establish quality assurance arrangements in respect of “linked providers” that deliver educational programmes leading to awards of the University. The Act also provides for periodic review of the University’s quality assurance procedures by Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the Authority established under the Act to oversee quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland.

Composition of the NUI Senate

The composition of the Senate is set out in the Universities Act 1997. It has a membership of 38, headed by the Chancellor and with the Presidents of the constituent universities and the NUI Registrar as ex officio members. The Senate includes other members elected by the governing authorities of the constituent universities, members elected by the graduates of the University, up to four co-opted members and

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 Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to protecting your personal data and takes the security of your information very seriously, adhering to the principles of transparency, accountability and security of the General Data Protection Regulation.

The main purpose for which the Department requires the personal data provided by you is to consider your Expression of Interest in the context of the qualifying criteria set out in this Booklet and your suitability for the position advertised.

The personal data provided as part of this recruitment campaign will be exchanged with other persons involved in the appointment process only as required, including with officials in the Department, NUI, any other relevant person who will assist in the appointment process and the Minister.

If your application is assessed and you are considered to be suitable for consideration for appointment your curriculum vitae and cover letter, (and any supplementary information requested as part of the application process), will be retained for up to one year following the appointments. In the event that you are not successful on this occasion, your data may be retained for a period of up to one year and used in considering your suitability for other similar vacancies/roles that may arise within that period.

Read our data protection notice or find out how to request access to your data (subject access request).