TU4Dublin
Opportunities to Contribute
NOTICE TEMPLATE
OPPORTUNITY No: 1:
Working group on governance and related matters in our TU
Foundation Theme: Converging for Designation
Publication date: Tuesday 13th May 2014
Closing Date: Wednesday 21s May 2014
Number of opportunities available: 4
(please note the first meeting of this working group is scheduled for Monday 26th May in DIT
Aungier Street at 11am)
Description

The purpose of the foundation theme “Converging for Designation” is to design a new
governance structure and associated processes that will enable TU4Dublin to realise its
mission, vision and values. The primary impetus of this foundation theme is the convergence
of three separate institutions into a single unitary organisation, which will subsequently be
designated as a technological university. The full activity of this foundation theme comprises
two stages. The first stage is a transition activity involving the convergence of DIT, ITB and
ITT into a single legal entity with unitary governance. This stage comprises the design and
implementation of interim structures for the Governing Authority, Academic Senate and the
Senior Leadership Executive. The second stage comprises the activities involved in applying
for and executing Technological University designation as set out by the HEA, and
subsequent development as a Technological University.

This particular opportunity relates to participating in a working group that will specifically
consider matters relating to Governance of our new TU, and the interim merged stage. This
specific working group will have a Steering Group sponsor, a number of members of the
TU4Dublin implementation team, a number of members invited by virtue of their current
roles, a student representative and a number of members participating by volunteering
through this Opportunities Market process.
What is involved

This working group will work as a self-directed team to achieve its goals. It will consider
essential components necessary to establish a single Governing Authority for our TU and
prior to that for the merged DIT, and prepare first drafts of documentation for consideration
by a new Governing Authority at their first meeting. The broad principles relating to this
issue have been developed in the TU4Dublin Implementation Plan to be submitted to the
HEA in April 2014, and in the General Scheme Technological Universities Bill published in
January 2014. To minimise the time involvement of participants of this working group,
material to be considered by this working group will initially be prepared by a smaller
separate drafting group. The output of this working group will be presented to the Steering
Group for sign-off.

Indicative issues to be addressed include
o
Finalise number and roles of Governing Authority members in TU and merged DIT
o
Develop competency framework for roles of individual GA members and
Chairperson
o
Develop search mechanism for external GA members, and process for recruitment
of GA members, including variant to be used in the first instance
o
Consider mode of appointment of internal individuals.
o
Draft first draft of essential Orders and Statutes for new GA, including roles and
responsibilities of subcommittees of GA
o
Draft schedule of events to allow appointment of new Governing Authority in a
timely manner
o
Identify essential Institute policies needed in first instance for new GA and draft first
draft of each
o
Consider issues to be communicated to Governing Bodies from May 2014
Indicative strengths desired*

Positive: You always see the best in every situation and, even then things are difficult,
believe that things will work out well.

Drive and initiative: You are self-motivated and push yourself to achieve more, moving to
the next task as soon as the first one is finished

Creative, Innovative: You have a desire to create things that are better than what has
been done before.

Decisive: You can rapidly weigh up a set of facts and make decisions easily and quickly

Strategist: You keep your eye on the big picture and always interested in understanding
the wider world that you could impact upon you.

Action: You want to act, to act now and decisively. You love to move forward.

Adherence: You get pleasure out of following guidelines, procedures and instructions. You
like to know the steps and follow them.

Writer: You love to write, to play with words and find great joy in language.

Detail: You can focus on the smallest details, quickly notice inaccuracies and mistakes.

Adventurer: You love the risk of the new, untried and unusual, whatever takes you out of
your comfort zone.

Change: You get a buzz from change and relish the opportunity to be involved in
implementing the new.

Problem anticipator: You love to look ahead and anticipate problems before they occur.

Open-mindedness: You love to keep an open mind about things, to see multiples
perspectives and possibilities.
*By strengths we mean the things that energise you, that you get a buzz from, that you’re good at.
Those listed are indicative only and there is no requirement to have all of these. Rather we are seeking
to bring together a group of people who collectively have these strengths.
Areas of interest

University governance processes

Corporate Governance

Social responsibility

Governing Authority effectiveness

Quality assurance

Audit

Business strategy

Work environment
Contribution Required

1% of an individual’s time over a three month period (approximately one half day per two
weeks, with some separate preparation time), commencing April 2014, which may be
renewed by agreement for a further two, three month periods.

In addition the individual will be required to participate in a one day TU4Dublin induction
process for the group. This is scheduled to take place in June2014.