Technological Universities Act 2018

Membership of governing body of technological university

12. (1) A governing body, where the technological university concerned was established by an order under section 36 on an application by not more than 3 applicant institutes, shall have not fewer than 14 and not more than 22 members and shall consist of—

(a) the president,

(b) a chairperson (in this section and Schedule 1 referred to as the “chairperson”) who shall be an external member, appointed by the governing body,

(c) at least one but not more than 3 members of the academic staff of the technological university, the number of whom shall be determined, and who shall be elected, by the academic staff of the technological university,

(d) one member of the non-academic staff of the technological university, elected by the non-academic staff of the technological university,

(e) one member of the academic or non-academic staff of the technological university, elected by the academic and non-academic staff of the technological university,

(f) at least one but not more than 2 undergraduate students of the technological university, the number of whom shall be determined, and who shall be nominated, by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,

(g) one post-graduate student of the technological university, nominated by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,

(h) at least 3 but not more than 8 external members, at least one of whom has expertise in standards and practice in higher education outside the State, nominated by a committee of the governing body comprising the chairperson and 2 other external members of the governing body formed for that purpose,

(i) 3 external members nominated by the Minister, and

(j) one external member nominated, in accordance with its or their own procedures, by the education and training board or boards in whose education and training board area the campuses of the technological university are located.

(2) A governing body, where the technological university concerned was established by an order under section 36 on an application by not fewer than 4 applicant institutes, shall have not fewer than 15 and not more than 26 members and shall consist of—

(a) the president,

(b) a chairperson, (in this section and Schedule 1 referred to as the “chairperson”) who shall be an external member, appointed by the governing body,

(c) at least one but not more than 3 members of the academic staff of the technological university, the number of whom shall be determined, and who shall be elected, by the academic staff of the technological university,

(d) one member of the non-academic staff of the technological university, elected by the non-academic staff of the technological university,

(e) at least one but not more than 3 members of the academic or non-academic staff of the technological university, the number of whom shall be determined, and who shall be elected, by the academic and non-academic staff of the technological university,

(f) at least one but not more than 2 undergraduate students of the technological university, the number of whom shall be determined, and who shall be nominated, by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,

(g) one post-graduate student of the technological university, nominated by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,

(h) at least 3 but not more than 9 external members, at least one of whom has expertise in standards and practice in higher education outside the State, nominated by a committee of the governing body comprising the chairperson and 2 other external members of the governing body formed for that purpose,

(i) 4 external members nominated by the Minister, and

(j) one external member nominated, in accordance with its or their own procedures, by the education and training board or boards in whose education and training board areas the campuses of the technological university are located.

(3) (a) The term of office of a member of the governing body, other than the president, shall not exceed 4 years and such a member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms of office.

(b) A member of the governing body who is a student at the technological university shall hold office for such period, not exceeding one year, as the governing body may determine but may be re-appointed for a further period not exceeding one year.

(4) Before appointing members under subsection (1)(h) or (2)(h) the governing body shall agree with An tÚdarás the competencies required of such members relating to areas such as business, enterprise, finance, law, corporate governance, human resources, community organisation or other areas relevant to the functions of the technological university.

(5) (a) The governing body shall, for the purposes of this section, make regulations of a technological university relating to conduct of elections, seeking of nominations for appointment and appointment of members to the governing body.

(b) In making regulations of a technological university under paragraph (a) the technological university shall have regard to the objective that at least 40 per cent of members of the governing body shall be women and at least 40 per cent shall be men.

(6) In this section, “external member” in relation to a technological university means a person who is not—

(a) the president,

(b) a member of the academic council,

(c) a member of staff of the technological university, or

(d) a student of the technological university.