Candidate Brief for the position of: Executive Director DIT Foundation pot

Introduction Dublin Institute of Technology DIT has been an integral part of the Irish Higher Education system for more than a century.. Dublin Institute of Technology and the City of Du

Candidate Brief for the position of:

Executive Director

DIT Foundation

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Dublin Institute of Technology and the City of Dublin 2

Development of Technological University of Dublin 3

DIT at a glance 4

Civic and industry engagement 5

DIT Community 6

Campus life in DIT 6

Strategic Plan 7

The Challenges 8

About DIT Foundation 9

Mission 9

Goals 9

Activities 9

Board of Directors 10

Job Description - Executive Director 13

Organisational Status: 13

Working Relationships: 13

Roles & Responsibilities: 14

Decision Making: 15

Key Accountabilities: 15

Person Specification 16

Terms 17

How to Apply 17

Introduction

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has been an integral part of the Irish Higher Education system for more than a century In that time it has continued to adapt and expand its provision to reflect a changing society and the wider economic environment DIT is now one of Ireland’s largest and most innovative higher education institutions A comprehensive, dual-sector doctoral-awarding

institution, DIT combines the academic excellence of a traditional university with professional, career-oriented learning, preparing graduates for productive leadership roles The core values reflected in its mission emphasize student-centred learning, useful knowledge, rigorous processes of discovery and critical enquiry, and support for entrepreneurship and diversity

DIT educates some 9% of all higher education students in Ireland, with approximately 19,000

students and circa 2,500 staff Students are registered on programmes ranging from apprenticeship, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, to continuing professional development and bespoke programmes for industry DIT is one of four degree-awarding bodies in Ireland, and each year over 4,000 graduates are conferred with their Awards

Academic programmes in DIT are developed through our four Colleges - Arts and Tourism; Business; Engineering and Built Environment; and Sciences and Health – underpinned by a distinctive

approach to learning and teaching Colleagues are supported in their teaching practice by the

Learning and Teaching Technology Centre in DIT which offers a range of short courses as well as postgraduate programmes relevant to learning, teaching and assessment at third level All

members of the teaching staff in DIT are required to hold a qualification in third-level teaching, or must achieve qualification within their first year of employment

Research undertaken at Dublin Institute of Technology aims to be nationally relevant, internationally competitive and strategically important It is strongly focused on problem-solving, and on social and technological development, and on innovation that advances human knowledge and makes a real impact on people’s life experience A community of over 800 student and staff researchers are engaged in addressing 21st century challenges in these areas, ensuring that DIT plays a vital role in Ireland’s transition to a smart society

Dublin Institute of Technology and the City of Dublin

“Ireland’s capital city is our campus”

Dublin Institute of Technology has been a landmark in education in Dublin City for over a century, and continues to play an important part in the cultural, social and economic life of the city

Currently located in 39 buildings around Dublin City centre – from Rathmines on the southside to Grangegorman on the northside – the Government announced in July 2012 that after many years plans for the relocation of all activities on to one integrated campus at Grangegorman were to begin The flagship project for the government’s economic stimulus, it will combine with the new Luas BXD line in creating significant employment opportunities during its construction, and will make an

important contribution to urban regeneration in the north inner- city

The Grangegorman campus is located in an historic part of Dublin’s inner city, less than 1 kilometre from the Spire in O’Connell Street The 73 acre site is being developed as an education and health campus and will be at the heart of a new urban quarter In addition to bringing together all DIT provision in undergraduate, postgraduate and research in one location, the campus will also

incorporate primary care and mental health facilities for the HSE; a multi-denominational primary school; a public library, co-located with the DIT academic library; sports facilities for students, which will also become available to local schools and clubs; and exhibition and performance space for the creative arts within DIT and others

DIT has a strong record in developing access routes to education and for civic engagement The Access and Civic Engagement team are already located in the Grangegorman Planning Office While continuing to work with communities around the city, there is now an additional commitment to the communities in Dublin 7, adjacent to the new campus Working with a range of partners in

education, health and training, DIT has been instrumental in establishing the Grangegorman Labour and Learning Forum, with the objective of identifying education, training and skills gaps in the area and providing opportunities for up-skilling and routes back in to education

Throughout its history DIT has maintained close links with Dublin City Council The Council has been extremely supportive of the campus development at Grangegorman and DIT is working closely with the planners and engineers to optimise the development in terms of urban regeneration,

sustainability and accessibility

DIT is also close to industry, and delivers career-focused, professional education Industry

representatives are involved in programme boards; advisory boards; interview panels; and as

external examiners The DIT Corporate Partnership Network was established to facilitate

engagement between DIT and industry through one central portal This is particularly key in

establishing connections with enterprise in the Dublin region, and providing opportunities for

collaboration in research and technology transfer An example of that collaboration is The

Greenway – the cleantech corridor, of which DIT is a founding partner The corridor runs from Dublin Airport to Grangegorman and the partners include Dublin Airport Authority, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dublin City University and DIT

The DIT Technology Transfer service has also been very successful, in providing incubation

programmes for start-up businesses and helping students, graduates and members of staff who wish

to commercialise their research and establish businesses themselves or licence technologies to existing businesses

All of these activities are underpinned by a strong commitment to enhancing economic activity in the Dublin region, and nationally

Development of Technological University of Dublin

As Ireland’s only internationally competitive city region, Dublin’s continued development is critical to the performance of the country as a whole Higher Education, recognised as being pivotal in

rebuilding economic success and addressing societal issues, is a critical element in Dublin’s and Ireland’s development To be globally competitive, a new type of university graduate, with societal and professional parity of esteem with traditional university graduates, is required This graduate has core skills in their chosen area of study and is also innovative, creative and entrepreneurial, capable of making a real impact on the economic and social challenges facing Dublin and Ireland The formation of such graduates will take place in a new kind of institution, which has been

identified in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 as a Technological University (TU) DIT, Institute of Technology Tallaght and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown have come

together to form the TU Dublin Alliance, and have submitted a proposal to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to create TU Dublin, based on a shared vision and an agreed strategy for its

implementation Seizing an opportunity to make real change, the new TU Dublin will be a unitary institution, based on three campus locations

An autonomous degree-awarding university, it will have critical mass, and will be deeply embedded

in all aspects of Dublin life As a provider of third and fourth level technological education, TU Dublin will work closely with enterprise, community and other partners – interdependent with, rather than separate and aloof from its stakeholders

The future

DIT is committed to responding to the challenges and opportunities that have emerged in Irish higher education, engaging positively in institutional collaboration both nationally and

internationally, and in developing a strategy of widening participation and community engagement

We are now preparing for the next phase of our development with the relocation of all DIT activities

to an integrated, state-of-the-art campus in Dublin’s city centre, and to the development of TU Dublin

DIT at a glance

• A history in Dublin city, dating back to 1887

• Dublin Institute of Technology was formed in 1978 and established under legislation in 1992

• Currently 19,000 students – from apprentice to PhD – in 2012

• 20% of student population come from outside Ireland

• 15% of DIT students are mature learners

• Students registered on programmes in four Colleges – Arts and Tourism; Business;

Engineering and Built Environment; Sciences and Health

• Educating 9% of all higher education students in Ireland

• One of four degree-awarding bodies in Ireland

• Circa 2,500 staff members of academic, administrative and support staff

• 800 students and academic staff actively engaged in research

• Ranked in the top 3% of universities internationally by THES and QS

• 4,000+ graduates each year

• Active in civic and industry engagement

• Annual budget circa €185m

• Partnerships with universities across the world

• Full active member of the European University Association and the International Association

of Universities

• Located in Dublin City centre, on six main campus sites and developing an integrated

state-of-the-art campus at Grangegorman - a 73-acre site in the heart of the inner city

• First 1,000 students arrive on new campus in September 2014, growing to 10,000 students

by September 2017

Civic and industry engagement

Academics and students are committed to making a significant contribution to international

knowledge and enhancing Dublin’s role as Ireland’s global gate-way

Civic engagement and interaction with industry are emphasised both in the curriculum and in the overall student experience Collaboration with industry and professional bodies is embedded in many DIT programmes and is integral to how DIT continues to adapt to the ever-quickening pace of change globally Many DIT students have the opportunity, as part of their programme of study, to spend time in, or collaborate with, industry or community organisations These experiences are an important part of how their education at DIT prepares them for future careers It is also an

opportunity for partners in industry to better understand the curriculum and to see how DIT

graduates can benefit their organisations

Ranked in the top 3% of universities internationally by THES and QS, DIT is a full and active member

of the European University Association and the International Association of Universities

DIT Community

The spirit of the DIT community of academic and non-academic members of staff is something which defines the Institute and has been key to its successful development throughout its history Circa 2,500 people are employed in DIT in many different roles Although currently dispersed across so many locations around the city, there has been a concerted effort to develop a ‘One DIT’ approach

to delivery of teaching and support to students This is an important part of the planning process for the new campus where there will be even greater scope for collaboration between disciplines, creating synergies and opening up new opportunities

Campus life in DIT

Student life in DIT is vibrant and inclusive Students are actively encouraged to participate in all decision-making fora from Governing Body to individual programme committees, giving them a strong voice in shaping the student experience in DIT Student support services underpin that experience, delivering high quality, responsive and integrated support through the following:

• Careers Service

• Chaplaincy

• Counselling Service

• Disability Service

• Health Centre

• Mature Student Support

• Societies Office

• Sports and Recreation Service

• Access and Civic Engagement

The DIT Students’ Union (DITSU) also offers wide-ranging support to students, and plays a vital role

in representing the student voice at all levels in DIT

These, and other support services, aim to help students in achieving their academic goals, but also to allow them the scope to develop as well-rounded individuals

There are more than 80 student societies, established and run by students and reflecting their diverse interests from music to fashion, from political debate to design There are also 40 different sports clubs, including team sports and individual skills In addition to making the most of

opportunities for their own enjoyment and development, students in DIT are encouraged to

participate in a range of volunteer programmes that provide much needed assistance to community and non-profit organisations For information on campus life in DIT see www.dit.ie/campuslife

Strategic Plan

The 2011-2014 Strategic Plan continues to be built around the Institute’s three main strands of activity:

1 Learning and Teaching and the assimilation of knowledge;

2 Research and Scholarship and the creation of knowledge; and

3 Engagement with industry, community, academia and the public sector in the support of the

transfer of knowledge

Underpinning the core enterprise of the Institute are strands concerned with delivering excellence in Student Services, utilising the skills and knowledge of our people, the organisational development of DIT to ensure institutional effectiveness and that we are fully responsive to the needs of our key stakeholders and the need to operate efficiently and effectively within our financial resources

Vision

Recognised internationally, DIT will be the first choice in Ireland for people who seek professional, career-focused learning and discovery in a vibrant environment renowned for innovation, creativity, the application of research and engagement with the community

Mission

Located in the heart of Ireland’s capital city, DIT provides an innovative, responsive and caring learning environment for a diverse range and level of programmes to students of all ages and

backgrounds In doing so, DIT:

combines the academic quality of a traditional university with career-focussed learning, discovery and the application of knowledge

emphasises excellence in learning, teaching, scholarship, research and support for

entrepreneurship,

contributes to technological, economic, social and cultural progress, and

is engaged with and within our community

Values

Student-Centred - Students know what, when and how they will learn and be assessed on

each specific part of their programme with opportunity to provide timely feedback on programme content and delivery Library, ICT, social and specialist resources provide

environments for individual and group work that form integral parts of programmes

Administrative services and supports are of a quality to facilitate students to fully participate

in their programmes of study and are appropriately responsive to their needs

Useful - Preparing students for professional careers, including exposure to international

perspectives, emphasising the importance of integrity, responsibility and entrepreneurial skills alongside the utility of knowledge and contributions to economic social and cultural development

Challenging - Challenge orthodoxy via rigorous processes of discovery, critical enquiry and

innovation Making distinctive, relevant and timely research contributions to advance human knowledge

Inclusive - Striving to create a friendly, collaborative and trusting community, where

diversity is valued, individuals are treated with respect, encouraged to develop their

potential and make their contribution, and pride is shared in our collective identity

Open, honest, professional and accountable - Proactive sharing of information; acting in the

Institute’s best interests; with devolved authority and accountability for decisions and actions within a framework of regulations, policies and procedures

The vision and mission of the future Technological University (TU) of Dublin draws on the values of DIT and our partners in the TU Dublin Alliance, and will build on their strengths

The Challenges

Today DIT operates in an increasingly complex higher education landscape Changing student

patterns and demands; the increased focus on up skilling; lifelong learning and fourth level

provision; the shift in economic needs towards higher value added operations including increased marketing, internationalisation and R&D; a move to a new HEA funding model, along with pressures from stakeholders for efficiencies, the enhancement of practical skills and value for money, all contribute to the drive for DIT to review, develop and enhance its offerings and operations