UCC Governance
Overview
Nora Geary, October 2015
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Presentation
 UCC profile
 History and Background
 Governance and Management
 Statutory Framework
 Academic Governance
 Strategic Planning
 National Developments in HE
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UCC Profile
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20,400 registered students.
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13,500 undergraduates
3,300 postgraduates
1200 PhD students
2,300 adult and continuing education students
2,800 international students (14%)
International students from 105 countries
1629 academic and research staff
1114 administrative and support staff
Budget: Eur 256m
Estate: 240,000 sq.m; Insured Eur1.4bn
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Rankings
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UCC recognised as one of the leading universities worldwide for scientific
research in the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2015 (May 2015). UCC has topped
the ranking in Ireland, and now holds the 16th position in Europe and 52nd
worldwide.
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In the recent U-Multirank rankings (March 2015), UCC was the top
performing university internationally, based on obtaining the highest number
of ‘A’ scores – 21 out of 28.
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UCC’s performance in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (April
2015) has reinforced its position as a leading university internationally, with
13 subject areas featuring in the top tier globally and Pharmacy &
Pharmacology listed within the top 50 worldwide.
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UCC’s efforts in the area of sustainability resulted in the Universitas
Indonesia (UI) Greenmetric World University Ranking awarding a second in
the world ranking for the second year in a row (January 2015).
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UCC was also named ‘University of the Year’ in The Sunday Times Good
University Guide 2016, for the 4th time
The Irish Universities
Trinity College Dublin [TCD]
University College Cork
1592
[UCC]
1845
National University of Ireland, Galway[NUIG]
1845
University College Dublin (1854) [UCD]
1908
University of Limerick [UL]
1989
Dublin City University [DCU]
1989
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
1997
National University of Ireland
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UCC’s History
19th Century
1845 Queen’s College Cork – a constituent College of
the Queen’s University – became part of the Royal
University in 1879
20th Century
1908 University College Cork – a constituent College of
the National University of Ireland – received its Charter
as University College Cork
20th Century
1997 University College Cork –
National University of Ireland, Cork – a
constituent University of the National University of Ireland
Working Title – University College Cork
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20th Century Legislation – Universities Act, 1997
 Covers all 7 universities
 Full university status for UCC (and UCD, NUIG, NUIM)
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Governance and Management
 Governing Body
5 GB Committees
 Academic Structure
Academic Council
Academic Board
Colleges
 University Management Team
Operations
Strategy
 Administrative Structure
Central administration
College administration
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Structure
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Management Structure
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Colleges
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STATUTORY FRAMEWORK
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Governance Framework
Governance Framework
1. Legislation –
Universities Act 1997
2. Charter and
Statutes
3.Regulations/Rules
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Legislation – Membership of the University
 Members of Governing Body
 Members of Academic Council
 Employees
 Students
 Graduates
 Other persons appointed by Governing Body
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Legislation – Objects of a University
 To advance knowledge
 To promote learning
 To foster “independent critical thinking” amongst students
 To promote the official languages of the State (“special regard”
to Irish language)
 To support and contribute to the realisation of national economic
and social development
 To facilitate life-long learning
 To promote gender balance and equality of opportunity
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Legislation – Functions of a University
 provide courses of study, conduct examinations and award degrees and
other qualifications,
 promote and facilitate research,
 establish subsidiary companies
 may collaborate with educational, business, professional, trade union, Irish
language, cultural, artistic, community and other interests, both inside and
outside the State, to further the objects of the university,
 shall maintain, manage and administer, and may dispose of and invest, the
property, money, assets and rights of the university,
 may collaborate with graduates -both inside and outside the State,
 may purchase or otherwise acquire, hold and dispose of land or other
property, and
 may accept gifts of money, land or other property on the trusts and
conditions, if any, not in conflict with Universities Act, specified by the donor.
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Legislation – Powers of the Governing Body
“15.—(1) Subject to section 21 , each university shall have a
governing authority established in accordance with this Act
which shall be known by whatever name the governing
authority decides.
(2) Subject to this Act, the functions of a university shall be
performed by or on the directions of its governing authority.
(3) All acts and things done by a governing authority, or in
the name of or on behalf of the university with the express
or implied authority of the governing authority, shall be
deemed to have been done by the university.”
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Legislation – Functions of the Governing Body
 To control and administer the land and other property of
the University
 To appoint the President
 To appoint staff (may be delegated to President)
 To determine the membership of Governing Body
 To perform the requirements of 1997 Act, any other Act,
or Charter or Statute
 To delegate to committees (must include GB members)
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Governing Body - Membership
President
Chairperson
Officers
Professors/Associate Professors
Other full-time academic staff
Staff (full-time) other than academic staff
Students’ Union
Postgraduate Student
External nominees
Minister for Education & Science nominees
Graduates
Local authorities
National University of Ireland
Total
1
1
1
5
5
3
2
1
4
4
3
7
2
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Governing Body - Committees
Governing
Body
Students
Staff
Strategy
Finance
Audit
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Bicameral Governance
Governing Body
Academic Council
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Academic Council
“27.—(1) Each university shall have an academic council
which shall, subject to the financial constraints determined
by the governing authority and to review by that authority,
control the academic affairs of the university, including the
curriculum of, and instruction and education provided by,
the university.”
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Programmes of Study
Development of Research
Admission, retention, exclusion of students
Conduct of examinations (statute)
Examination appeals (statute)
Evaluation of academic progress (statute)
Fellowships, prizes, scholarships
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Academic Council - Membership
 Determined by Statute
 Majority academic staff
 Senior academic staff
 Range of levels of other academic staff
 Students
 President and Registrar, ex officio
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Academic Governance
Governing Body
Academic Council
+ Academic Board
College of Arts,
Celtic Studies and
Social Sciences
College of Science,
Engineering and
Food Science
College of
Medicine and
Health
College of
Business and Law
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Charter, Statutes, Regulations, Rules
 Charter 1908
 Principal Statute
 Governing Body Regulations
 College Rules
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Principal Statute
 The University
 Governing Body
 Academic Council
 The President and Senior Management
 Organisation of the University
 University Officers and Employees
 Tenure and Disciplinary Procedures
 Students
 External Bodies
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Other Aspects of University Governance
 Strategic Planning
 Quality Promotion
 Equality
 Risk Management
 Internal Audit – Internal Controls
 Signing and Approval Authority
 Health and Safety Compliance
 Information Compliance – FOI / DP
 Ethics in Public Office
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External Agencies
 Higher Education Authority
 Department of Education and Skills
 Irish Universities Association
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Strategic Plan 2013 - 2017
Strategic Goals:
1. Delivering research-inspired teaching and learning with
a world-class student experience
2. Being a premier European university for research,
discovery, innovation and commercialisation
3. Being pre-eminent in internationalisation, external
engagement and contribution to society
4. Applying best international practice to attract, develop
and retain staff of the highest quality and to enable all
staff to reach their full potential
5. Strengthening our infrastructure and resource base
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National Context and Developments
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CLUSTERING /COMPACT
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Universities Act - Amendment
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SFI CENTRES
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THANK YOU
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