Vice President for Equality & Diversity

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Vice President for Equality & Diversity

The post of Vice President for Equality and Diversity is a new and exciting opportunity in NUI Galway. Responsible to the President, the Vice President for Equality & Diversity will be a member of the University Management Team (UMT) with responsibility for advancing equality-related outcomes across the university. There will be a particular focus on gender-equality initially.

The university is committed to effecting cultural and systemic change to ensure that 1. The contribution of all staff to the University is recognised and valued; and2. All staff are equally supported in their work to achieve their full potential.

The ideal candidate will be a graduate, with a higher degree will have significant experience of academic leadership will be passionate about equality will have demonstrated experience of strategic planning, policy formulation, leadership

development and advancement of gender equality based on international best practice will have demonstrable expertise in gender equality will have an in-depth knowledge of the policy and legal framework supporting gender

equality and diversity in employment will have a good understanding of the Higher Education sector in Ireland will have the capacity to create trust, listen, and facilitate a positive working environment will have excellent inter-personal skills will have excellent communication skills both verbal and written will demonstrate commitment to the ethos and vision of the University

The post will be for a period of eight years initially with a commitment to the post-holder to move to an appropriate post on completion of contract.

Salary: €106,515.68 - €136,275.84 p.a.

Candidates who wish to discuss the post should contact the office of the University Secretary at +353 (0)91-492220.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 17.00 (Irish Time) on 29th October 2015.

Please Note Garda Vetting may applyFor more information and Application Form please see website: http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/jobs/ Applications should be submitted online.

Please note that appointment to posts advertised will be dependent upon University approval, together with the terms of the Employment Control Framework for the higher education sector.

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National University of Ireland Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

JOB DESCRIPTIONVICE-PRESIDENT FOR EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

Background to the Role

This new position has been established by the University in recognition of the fact that women have not enjoyed equal participation across the sector generally and in NUI Galway specifically. It follows the establishment of a Task Force on Gender Equality by the University’s Governing Body with the remit “To consider the University’s present gender mix among staff, including academic and support staff, and advise the University what measures it should take and over what timescale to develop effective gender equality”This new post reflects the University’s commitment to transformational change (see http://www.nuigalway.ie/genderequality/). The Vice President with the support of dedicated resources will lead this change to ensure that equality of opportunity is provided to every member of staff as well as developing and implementing a strategy that establishes the University as an exemplar of best practice in the area.

Key Responsibilities

i. Develop and implement a University wide Strategy on Equality and Diversity.ii. Lead a programme of change management across the University to eliminate bias and

remove barriers to equality of opportunity in employment.iii. Develop targets and timetables in relation to the delivery of equality of opportunity.iv. Develop best practice policies and procedures to support equality & diversity. v. In conjunction with the relevant offices, ensure that education and training supports are

available to all staff of the University and that staff involved in key decision making committees, recruitment selection / promotion decisions receive appropriate training in equality and diversity.

vi. Lead the implementation of the recommendations from the Task Force on Gender Equality. vii. Lead the University’s participation in the Athena SWAN Charter. NUI Galway became a

member of the Athena SWAN charter in 2014. The attainment of an Athena SWAN Institution award has been identified as a key performance indicator in the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020.

viii. Oversee the University's engagement with sectoral programmes and reviews of gender equality

Key Working Relationships

The Vice-President will report to the President.

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The VP will be a member of the University Management Team (UMT) and will work collaboratively with colleagues of UMT, Vice-Presidents, Deans, Heads of Schools and Administrative Units, staff and Trade Unions.

Requirements for the Post

The ideal candidate will be a graduate, with a higher degree will have significant experience of academic leadership will be passionate about equality will have demonstrated experience of strategic planning, policy formulation, leadership

development and advancement of gender equality based on international best practice will have demonstrable expertise in gender equality will have an in-depth knowledge of the policy and legal framework supporting gender

equality and diversity in employment will have a good understanding of the Higher Education sector in Ireland will have the capacity to create trust, listen, and facilitate a positive working environment will have excellent inter-personal skills will have excellent communication skills both verbal and written will demonstrate commitment to the ethos and vision of the University

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APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES

1. Application

A. Current NUI Galway employeesIf you are a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway Employee Self Service (ESS) portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the ESS portal:

http://ess.nuigalway.ie

The following is a link to a User Guide for ESS:

www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/internal/nuig_user_guide_support_internal.pdf

Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post and allow sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing date.

Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error

Late applications will not be accepted

Non NUI Galway employeesIf you are not a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway online recruitment portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the online recruitment portal:

http://erecruit.nuigalway.ie

The following is a link to a User Guide for the online recruitment portal:

www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/nuig_user_guide_support_external.pdf

Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post and allow sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing date.

Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error

Late applications will not be accepted.

Please submit the following documents under the Applicant CV section of the online form:

a. A cover letter/personal statement outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the post of ‘Vice-President of Equality and Diversity’ ’.

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b. A comprehensive CV clearly showing your relevant achievements and experience in your career to date.

The completed application document must be submitted online to reach the Human Resources Office no later than 5.00 p.m. (GMT) on Thursday, 29th October 2015. Please note that an application will ONLY be considered if documents a to b above are fully completed and received by the closing date.

B. All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of application. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application or if you have any other queries regarding the application process please contact recruit@nuigalway.ie

or telephone 091-492151.

C. Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

D. Pension Entitlements:This is a pensionable position. Details of the applicable Pension Scheme will be provided to the successful candidate. The Pension element of this appointment is subject to the terms and conditions of the Pension scheme currently in force within the University. This Scheme may be amended or revised by the Irish Government or its agents at any time. The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 set a minimum retirement age of 65 and removed the upper compulsory retirement age for certain New Entrants to the Public Sector on or after 1 April 2004. Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks.Retirement age set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028. Compulsory retirement age will be 70.

E. Declaration:Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

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F. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants :

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the public service by any public service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. Thereafter the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any public service body.

G. Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010)

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

H. Declaration

Applicants will be required to confirm whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement and/or the collective agreement outlined above. The above represents the main schemes and agreements restricting a candidate’s right to be re-employed in the public service. However it is not intended to be an exhaustive list and candidates should declare details of any other exit mechanism they have availed of which restricts their right to be re-employed in the public service. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

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I. Work Permits:Work permits are permits which are granted to non-EU/EEA Citizens to allow them to work in Ireland legally. It's an illegal offense to work in Ireland without a work permit and both the employer and the employee are held responsible.For more information on work permits and for future updates, visit the Enterprise, Trade and Employment website www.entemp.ie

2. Assessment Procedure

(a)Board of Assessors Applications will be considered by a Board of Assessors, which will shortlist and interview candidates and report to the University Appointing Authority.Where a specific Irish Language competence is set out as an essential criterion for a post, candidates will be required to sit an Irish Oral and Written Examination at the initial stage of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates that successfully complete this initial stage will be considered by a Board of Assessors, which will shortlist and interview candidates and report to the University Appointing Authority.All applications and other materials submitted by applicants will be treated in strict confidence by all panel members and others involved in the administration of the recruitment. No information about the identity of applicants, or details of their applications, will be released to others, except where it is necessary as part of the selection process.

(b)Presentation & Interview DatesCandidates will be advised of arrangements in due course. We endeavour to give as much notice as possible for interview dates etc., candidates should make themselves available for interview and presentation on the date(s) specified by the University. Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by the University or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as the University requires in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

(c) ExpensesExpenses are paid to candidates invited to the Assessors’ Interview (see (a) above). For further information see the University policies on expenses at the following link http://www.nuigalway.ie/financial_accounting/policies_procedures.html

(d) RefereesReferees listed on the application form of the successful candidate will be contacted following interview.

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(e) OfferAll candidates will in due course be notified of the outcome of their application. The Human Resources Office will offer the post to the candidate appointed once the appointment has been made by the University Appointing Authority.

The successful candidate will be required to submit evidence of age, original qualifications and may be required to complete a medical examination. Once a conditional job offer has been made, the candidate will be asked to complete a pre-employment health questionnaire that the University’s Occupational Health Service will use in order to assess medical fitness to undertake the duties of the post.The information provided on the questionnaire will be used (i) to assess the candidates medical capability to do the job applied for; (ii) to determine whether any reasonable adjustments may be required to accommodate any disability or impairment which the candidate may have; and (iii) to ensure that none of the requirements of the job for which the candidate applied would adversely affect any pre-existing health conditions the candidate may have.

Human Resources Office September 2015

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Ollscoil na hÉireann, GaillimhNational University of Ireland, Galway

PROFILE OF THE UNIVERSITY

1. CONSTITUTIONNational University of Ireland Galway was established in 1845 as Queen’s College Galway by Charter under the Queen’s Colleges (Ireland) Act. Under the Irish Universities Act 1908, it became a Constituent College of the National University of Ireland established under that Act, and a new Charter was issued, changing its name to University College Galway.

Under the Universities Act, 1997, the College (together with the other Constituent Colleges) was reconstituted as a University and its title was changed to National University of Ireland Galway/ Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh. It is at the same time a Constituent University of the National University of Ireland, almost all of whose functions were transferred under the Act to the Constituent Universities.

The legal standing of the University derives from the Irish Universities Act 1908, its Charter issued under that Act, the University College Galway Acts, 1929 and 2006, and the Universities Act 1997. The provisions of these instruments are further developed in Statutes and Regulations, made in accordance with those Acts and Charter.

The University’s general relationships with the State are mainly conducted through the Higher Education Authority.

2. AUTHORITIESThe Charter and relevant legislation provide for two authorities, Údarás na hOllscoile (The University Governing Authority) and the Academic Council.

Subject to the provisions of the relevant Acts and Charter, Údarás na hOllscoile is empowered to manage and control all the affairs of the University. Its membership (40) for the three-year period 1 February 2013 – 31 January 2016 is as follows: an external Cathaoirleach (Chairman), the President, the Registrar and Deputy President, 5 Professors/Personal Professors, 5 other academic staff, 3 other employees, 2 elected officers of the Students’ Union, 1 postgraduate student, 4 graduates, 7 elected by the local authorities of the region, 2 nominees of the NUI, 3 nominees from selected external organisations (including business and industry), the President of St. Angela’s College, Sligo, a member drawn from artistic and cultural interests, and 3 nominees of the Minister for Education and Skills.

Under the Universities Act 1997, the question as to whether the President, or another person (not an employee of the University or a member of Údarás na hOllscoile), is to be Cathaoirleach of Údarás na hOllscoile is a matter for decision by Údarás na hOllscoile at its first meeting and from time to time thereafter.

The Academic Council is the chief academic authority and, subject to review by Údarás na hOllscoile, controls the academic affairs of the University, including the curriculum, instruction and education provided by the University. Its members are the President, the Registrar and Deputy President, the Vice-Presidents, the Deans of Colleges, Heads of Schools, the Professors (including Personal Professors), the other Heads of discipline and other

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members drawn from the other academic staff grades and the student body, the Librarian, Director of Information Solutions and Services, Director of Lifelong Learning, the Príomhfheidhmeannach of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, the Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching; its present total membership is about 150. The President is entitled to preside at all meetings of the Council.

3. THE PRESIDENTUnder the Universities Act, the President is responsible to Údarás na hOllscoile (The University Governing Authority) for the efficient and effective management of the University and for the due performance of his/her functions, and is subject to such policies as may be determined from time to time by it. S/he shall, subject to the Act, manage and direct the University in its academic, administrative, financial, personnel and other activities and for those purposes has such powers as are necessary or expedient.

4. THE UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT TEAMThe University Management Team comprises:

The President The Registrar and Deputy President The Vice-President for Innovation and Performance The Executive Director of Operations The Bursar The Secretary/An Rúnaí

The President is the head and chief officer of the University and is appointed for a 10-year period, subject to retirement at 65 (for those already employed in the public sector in Ireland). The Vice-Presidents are initially appointed for a four-year period and are eligible for reappointment for one further four-year term. Acting under the President, the various members of the UMT each have specific policy and line-management responsibilities and functions. These responsibilities and functions will be reviewed from time to time. The Vice-President for the Student Experience and the Vice-President for Research will be full members of the UMT from 2016.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2020In March 2015, following widespread consultation, the University published Vision 2020, the NUI Galway Strategic Plan 2015-2020. The University’s mission is to foster a vibrant community of students and staff, where distinguished learning, impactful research, and creative thinking are shared with the world; and Vision 2020 lays out a five-year strategy to fulfil this mission and face the future with ambition. It includes key actions and targets across a range of topics broadly divided into three themes:

Teaching and Learning Research and Innovation NUI Galway and the World Our Communities: including our students, staff, alumni and community partners,

among others

Some highlights from Vision 2020 include:

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a rise in global rankings into the Top 200 an increase in annual research income to €60 million growing the share of postgraduate students and international students increasing opportunities for work-based learning experience across our

undergraduate programmes building new student accommodation integrating the Shannon College of Hotel Management and St Angela’s College, Sligo

into the University and fostering a transformed organisational culture of gender equality

A copy of the Strategic Plan is available online:www.nuigalway.ie/vision2020

6. STUDENT SERVICESNUI Galway has historically provided a variety support services for students. Up to the 1970s this was through Deans of Residence (the Chaplain and Lady Superintendent) and directly by academic staff. Since then, as the University expanded, a more structured approach was adopted, including setting up a Student Services Committee and hiring of specialist staff (Student Services Administrator, Accommodation Office, Counsellor, Sports Officer and Careers Officer). In 2004, the first Vice-President for Student Services was appointed, reflecting the vision of the University to be student-centred. In the intervening period, the Vice-President post has been refocused and renamed as Vice-President for the Student Experience. In 2013 a Director of Student Services was appointed to provide leadership in the integration of the student services functions and for the provision of high quality and comprehensive non-academic support and wellbeing services for students. Student Services currently encompasses the following areas: Access including mature students; Accommodation; Counselling; Chaplaincy; Disability; Medical Unit; Societies; Sports (Clubs & Participation); and Welfare including Financial Aid, Health Promotion and Mentoring. The total staff complement is shown under Organisation and Management (Appendix 1).

The Student Services team are core to the personal and academic development of students. This is embodied in our vision and mission statements and the University’s strategic plan. The shared vision of Student Services which inspires its actions is:‘Every NUI Galway student will be supported to actively engage with the University experience to maximise their potential for learning and leadership for life and work’

The achievement of this vision is through our mission:‘Student Services will provide students with integrated and prioritised personal, high quality services, appropriate to their developmental and support needs, to promote student engagement.’

7. COLLEGES AND SCHOOLSIn 2008, the University re-organised how it conducts its academic affairs and now is grouped into the following five Colleges:

Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic StudiesScienceMedicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

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Engineering and InformaticsBusiness, Public Policy and Law

Each College has the right to take into consideration all matters bearing upon the studies within its scope and, subject to review by Údarás na hOllscoile and the Academic Council, is responsible for the transaction of all academic business pertaining to it. A copy of the structures of the Colleges and Schools/Disciplines is enclosed.

8. ACADEMIC PROGRAMMESThe University provides teaching in those five Colleges, up to PhD level, for primary and postgraduate degrees and for a wide variety of Diplomas and Certificates and, in conjunction with Extern Examiners, conducts examinations and confers awards (under the 1997 Act, all degrees and other qualifications are technically NUI degrees and qualifications, although awarded by the individual Constituent University). 56 separate programmes of study are offered for undergraduate students, and over 150 taught programmes at Postgraduate level and about 140 research programmes.The University has displayed considerable dynamism in the development of programmes to meet the evolving needs of society.

The University also provides a programme of Lifelong Learning and conducts a number of Summer Schools.

The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) plays a central role in relation to academic staff development, audiovisual services, learning technologies, language laboratories, teaching and learning policy, and (through the Community Knowledge Initiative) civic engagement and service learning.

9. STUDENT BODYThe total student enrolment stands at approximately 17,000 (14,000 fulltime, 3,000 part-time). Postgraduates accounted for 22% of enrolment. Overall, 57% of enrolment is female. In 2014/15 were 2,675 overseas students (including ERASMUS), from a total of 110 countries.

Find out more about our student body in the Essential Guide at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/who-we-are/about-the-university.html

10. RESEARCHNUI Galway has developed a distinguished reputation for its integrated approach to teaching and research. It has over 1,200 students undertaking post-graduate degrees through research, and has an external research income of over €52 million annually.

The overarching objective of NUI Galway’s Strategy for Research and Innovation (215-2020) is to produce research that is recognised as being excellent, transformative, and relevant to societal and economic needs, while we train the next generation of researchers. NUI Galway is a research-led University with global impact. Our research community is adaptive and agile, and is collaborating and competing on a world stage. Their success is reflected in quantifiable measures. Between 20015-2015 the number of indexed publications tripled, the

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number of citations quadrupled, and the number of invention disclosures made annually rose from ten to forty.

Research PrioritiesThe University has prioritised five cross-disciplinary research themes, building on our international success to date. These are:

Applied Social Sciences and Public Policy Biomedical Science and Engineering Environment, Marine and Energy Humanities in Context, including Digital Humanities Informatics, Data Analytics, Physical and Computational Sciences

These thematic research priorities transcend School and College boundaries, are intimately linked to staffing and other resources, and are integrated within the overall framework of University strategy. NUI Galway places significant emphasis on inter-disciplinary research programmes, and the development and expansion of collaboration and research alliances with economic, social and cultural partners, in areas of regional and national strategic importance. This strategy has resulted in the creation of research clusters in themes that are academically challenging, economically viable, and regionally and nationally relevant.

11. STAFFThe University employs 2,458 staff, including fulltime and part-time. The academic complement is 1,051 staff, and a further 489 staff are employed as researchers. Additionally, 918 staff work in an administrative or support capacity, including technical officers and library staff.

Human Resource issues are managed within the Human Resources Office, under the direction of the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, working with the Executive Director of Operations and with appropriate liaison with the Registrar and Deputy President, who has a special responsibility for academic staff.

12. FINANCESThe University is its own financial authority and has an annual income, for recurrent purposes, of about €215m, including contract research income of approximately €52m. The sources of income (excluding contract research income) are State Grants (25%), Student Fees (65%) and Miscellaneous (10%).

13. THE UNIVERSITY AND THE IRISH LANGUAGEThe University has a special obligation, and a policy, to promote the use of Irish in its teaching and administration. The original legislative mandate was set out in the University College Galway Act 1929. Under an amendment to that Act in 2006, made at the University’s request, the obligation that competency to carry out the duties of the post through Irish constitute a factor (and in certain circumstances a decisive factor) in all appointments was removed; in its stead, the Act now provides a re-statement of the University’s unique strategic commitment to Irish by requiring that the provision of education through Irish shall be one of the principal aims of each strategic development plan. In line with other

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organisations in the public sector, the University also has a Scéim Teanga in operation under the Official Languages Act 2003/Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003.

Under the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020, a number of specific measures are aimed at fulfilling our unique commitment to higher level education through Irish. The include important commitments to increasing the number of Irish language-based modules available, making NUI Galway the national leader in providing initial teacher education training in Irish, and rolling out structured study and work placement programmes in the Gaeltacht to our students.

In addition to Áras na Gaeilge (the centre for Irish-language activities on the main campus), the University, with support from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Údarás na Gaeltachta, operates three Gaeltacht centres – Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain in An Cheathrú Rua, Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim in Carna and Ionad an Acadaimh in Gaoth Dobhair – which, aside from tailored language courses for students, staff and outside organisations, provide Diploma, Degree, Higher Diploma and Master programmes and research services, with a view to the sustainable development of the Gaeltacht and the Irish language nationally. Language courses are also offered in some 20 other locations outside the Gaeltacht.

14. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE REGIONNUI Galway is strongly committed to the principle of expanding social and geographic access to its programmes and to forging and maintaining links with the communities of its region, through a variety of educational, community service and social inclusion initiatives. Our Strategic Plan commits us further to expanding our dynamic network of partners to develop strong, mutually-beneficial relationships that extend our influence and reach.

Examples of our community partnership include:

The ALIVE programme, which sees thousands of students gaining valuable experience volunteering with civic and community organisations each year, and which contributes at least €1 million in work hours annually

Our Regional Medical Academies, which enables our medical students to gain valuable hands-on experience in hospitals in Letterkenny, Sligo, Castlebar and Ballinasloe

The Youth Academy, which welcomes hundreds of gifted primary school children to experience a range of academic programmes on campus delivered by our teaching and research staff

The EXPLORE initative, which funds staff-student partnerships to develop a range of innovative social projects and enterprises

The University will continue to play a leading role in our city and region, serving and engaging with our diverse communities.

15. RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRYThe University has a longstanding involvement in the promotion of indigenous enterprise and the direct provision of services to locally-based industry. The first incubator centre on an Irish university campus was set up here in 1984 and a significant number of campus companies have been established as a direct result.

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The Technology Transfer Office is a high-performance team that guides breakthrough NUI Galway research to business reality through comprehensive support services. Its Business Innovation Centre provides an environment for entrepreneurship and new business growth, with incubation units that offer the necessary infrastructure to support biomedical and biotechnology start-up companies and with priority given to companies spinning off from campus research. The Office also provides expert Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property support.

The University is consistently one of the most productive in Ireland in terms of commercial research outputs. Growing our research commercialisation further is a key target in Vision 2020, with a commitment to produce 30 new spin out companies, 75 new licences and 40 new patents over the lifetime of the Strategic Plan.

16. LINKS WITH OTHER THIRD-LEVEL INSTITUTIONSIn addition to a wide range of international links, the University has a longstanding relationship with a number of Colleges in our region.

Shannon College of Hotel Management: The Shannon College of Hotel Management was formally integrated into NUI Galway in August 2015, with staff and students of the College becoming staff and students of the University. Shannon College is a constituent of the University's College of Business, Public Policy and Law, and the integration saw all academic and administrative systems aligned across the two institutions. For more information on the integration, visit: www.nuigalway.ie/shannonintegration

Burren College of Art: Also in Co. Clare, the University has a strong partnership with the Burren College of Art since 2003, offering a postgraduate programme leading to the award by NUI Galway of the Master of Fine Arts degree. A PhD research programme in the College in Studio Art has also been approved by the University.

St Angela’s College, Sligo: Work is well underway to integrate St Angela’s College, Sligo, into the University, and this is a key commitment in Vision 2020, the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020. The two institutions have a history of working closely together, originating in its becoming a Recognised College of the NUI in 1978 under the supervision of NUI Galway. The integration will see staff and students of St Angela’s College becoming staff and students of the University, with a closer alignment of programme delivery and shared administrative systems.

University of Limerick: In 2010, the University launched a Strategic Alliance with the University of Limerick, across all key areas of activity, in support of the social and economic development of our wider region. By combining the strengths of the two universities, we are working to enhance the services we provide to our students and to the community, while being responsive to the needs of our industry and business partners. The Alliance has an international dimension, through a partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. The Institute will work with the Alliance to establish a translational research institute to focus on technology commercialisation with industry partners.

17. THE CAMPUSThe main University Campus, with an area of some 105 hectares in the heart of the city of Galway, is attractively situated on the west bank of the River Corrib, and stretches from

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Nuns’ Island in the south to the Sports Grounds in Dangan to the north. Other facilities are located at An Cheathrú Rua (Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge), Carna (Marine Science Research Facility, and Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim), Mace Head, Carna (Atmospheric Research Station) – all in Co. Galway – as well as Carron and Finnevara in Co. Clare (Natural Sciences Field Stations), and Ionad an Acadaimh in Gaoth Dobhair in Co. Donegal. The oldest building on the main campus, the original Quadrangle building, of limestone in a Tudor style, dates from 1849. The Clinical Science Institute and the Lambe Institute are located on the Galway University Hospital site beside the main campus.

The following construction projects have been completed in recent years: Marine Science Buildings at Carna and the Main Campus Student facilities, including a new Sports Complex, a refurbished Cultural Centre

(Áras na Mac Léinn) and a refurbished restaurant (An Bhialann) Nursing Library Award-winning Engineering Building Park & Ride facility The O’Shaughnessy Bridge (in conjunction with Galway City Council) Hardiman Research Building Biosciences Building Lifecourse Institute Clinical/Translational Research Building

The University is continuing its major campus development programme under the Strategic Plan 2015-2020 including a Human Biology Building and a new Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance due for completion in 2016. Other upcoming construction projects include new student residences on campus and new sports facilities, including a water sports centre.

18. THE JAMES HARDIMAN LIBRARYThe James Hardiman Library is the main Library for the University and is located at the heart of the campus. There is also a separate Medical Library located in the Clinical Sciences Institute at University College Hospital.

The Library contains approximately 510,000 printed books, with the total library stock, including bound periodicals, being nearer to 700,000 volumes. There is a strong emphasis on electronic access and NUI Galway is a member of IReL (the Irish Research eLibrary), a nationally-funded programme to acquire electronic content on a consortium basis. The Library provides access to over 35,000 electronic journal titles in full text, along with 350,000 electronic books. Full details of all holdings are available through the Library website.

Archives are vital to the academic mission of the University. Holdings include the Douglas Hyde manuscripts, Galway’s municipal records dating from 1484, the literary archive of John McGahern, and a wealth of material in theatre, film and the performing arts, with a particular focus on companies such as the Druid Theatre, Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe and the Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast. A major project to digitise the archive of the Abbey Theatre is currently in progress. Complementing the archives are special collections, whose particular strengths include folklore, Irish-language materials and travel literature relating to Ireland.

Library services to academic staff include information skills training, notably a researcher-specific workshop series, online courseware and advisory services on effective literature

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searching, using reference management software, getting published, disseminating research and measuring its impact. A team of subject librarians and a Research Services Librarian provide these and other services, including course reading list support. The Library also manages the ARAN service, which provides open access to the full text of University research publications, and the Academic Writing Centre.

Full details of all Library services are available at: http://www.library.nuigalway.ie

19. COMPUTER FACILITIESThe University’s ICT services are provided by Information Solutions and Services (ISS). ISS reports to the Executive Director of Operations and has a staff of 50 FTEs.

There is a high-speed campus network and internet connection provided by HEAnet, the Irish national research and education network. This is complemented by an extensive wireless network. High-speed network links are also being provided to outlying research stations at Carna, Mace Head and Carron, and to the Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge locations at Gaeltacht sites in An Cheathrú Rua, Carna and Gaoth Dobhair.

University-wide email services are provided to staff and students. A University-wide directory service with associated file storage and print services has been implemented.

The main ICT resources for teaching and learning are the eResources provided by the James Hardiman Library, the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and about 150 specialist software packages. Delivery of the VLE is led by CELT. A range of specialist software packages are currently hosted on some 1,800 computers distributed across the campus in about 60 computer suites. About half these computers are available for general student use; the other half are restricted to use by students in specific academic units. There is also some specialised local ICT provision for student use in areas such as Engineering and Informatics and language learning.

ISS manages the University’s analogue and VOIP telephone networks and supports a range of enterprise applications (Student Records, Finance, HR/Payroll and Estates Management) to support the administration of the University.

20. QUALITYQuality Assurance of research, teaching and support services is the responsibility of all staff across the University. All staff are responsible for the effective implementation of the University’s various Policies and Procedures and also for continuously seeking ways to improve quality and efficiency. All units are also responsible for assuring quality through their Operational Planning and Performance Measurement process that encourages changes and ideas that are innovative and will increase value for the University’s various stakeholders including students. The Quality Office is primarily responsible for managing the peer review element of Quality Assurance. Expert reviewers and external examiners are retained by the Quality Office to provide recommendations for improving research, teaching and support services based on their experience at leading Universities around the world. Quality Reviews mainly focus on the operational plans and improvement initiatives within units and on ways to enhance this change management process. Quality reviews can also be thematic, focusing on such issues as student feedback, internationalisation and research outputs. A recent quality review focused on research performance across all Schools. This initiative and others

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will be developed and improved in coming years with the aim of maintaining the University’s standing as a leading University in research and teaching.

STRUCTURES OF THE COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS

COLLEGE SCHOOL

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND CELTIC STUDIES

School of Geography and ArchaeologySchool of HumanitiesSchool of Languages, Literatures and CulturesSchool of EducationSchool of PsychologySchool of Political Science and Sociology

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, PUBLICPOLICY AND LAW

JE Cairnes School of Business and EconomicsSchool of Law

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATICS

School of Engineering and Informatics

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, NURSINGAND HEALTH SCIENCES

School of MedicineSchool of Nursing and MidwiferySchool of Health Sciences

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied MathematicsSchool of Natural SciencesSchool of ChemistrySchool of Physics

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