NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND

NUI, National University of Ireland, is a federal university comprising the largest element of the Irish university system at the present time. The continuing mission for NUI in modern Ireland is to provide a supportive framework for its confederate institutions, to promote the objects of the University, thus contributing to educational, cultural, social and economic advancement. 'National University of Ireland' currently comprises four Constituent Universities, five Recognised Colleges and one College of a Constituent University. Each institution within the NUI federation has its own Governing Authority; the overall Governing Authority of the university is the NUI Senate and its Chief is the Chancellor. The current Chancellor is Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, elected by Convocation in 1997. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view documents in pdf format. Top of Page History of the University 1845-1908 Queen's University of Ireland In 1845 the Queen's College Act established three: Queen's College Cork, Queen's College Galway and Queen's College Belfast. These Colleges were opened for teaching in 1849, and in 1850 were linked together under the umbrella of the Queen's University of Ireland, established by Royal Charter. Catholic University of Ireland A Papal rescript issued in 1847 condemned the Queen's Colleges as "detrimental to religion", and proposed to the Irish bishops the foundation of a Catholic University, modeled on Louvain. A decree of the Synod of Thurles in 1850 accepted the proposal. On November 12th, 1851, John Henry Newman was appointed first Rector of the Catholic University, an institution founded and funded independently of the State. The Catholic University was formally opened in November, 1854. The Royal University The University Education (Ireland) Act, 1879 provided for the formation of a new University in Ireland, afterwards styled the Royal University of Ireland, whose examinations were open to all candidates, whether they had attended College lectures or not. The Charter of the Royal University was granted on 27 April, 1880 and the Queen's University was dissolved on the 3 February, 1882. The foundation of the Royal University gave an opportunity to improve the position of the Catholic University students, to whom recognised University degrees had not hitherto been available. St Patrick's House (now Newman House, St Stephen's Green) changed its title to University College, Dublin, and took over, under the control of the Jesuit Fathers, all the work of the Catholic University, except the teaching of medicine, which continued in Cecilia Street, under the title of the Catholic University Medical School. The Queen's Colleges in Cork, Galway and Belfast continued to exist as constituted by the Act of 1845, but had no special status in relation to the Royal University, nor any effective share in framing its policy or drawing up its courses. History of the University 1908 -1997 The Irish Universities Act, 1908 established two new Universities - the National University of Ireland and the Queen's University of Belfast and dissolved the Royal University on 31 October, 1909. Under this Act, the National University became a federal University with its seat in Dublin and with three Constituent Colleges established by Charter: University College, Dublin; University College, Cork; and University College, Galway. The Queen's Colleges in Cork and Galway were given an entirely new status and title. The Jesuit University College, Dublin, was given a new constitution and the Catholic University Medical School was merged in it. Power was given by the Act to the University Senate to recognise courses of study in other institutions for the purpose of degrees, and the following institutions were granted the status Recognised Colleges of the National University: 1910 to 1997: St Patrick's College, Maynooth 1975 to 1995: St Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra, Dublin 1975 to 1988: Our Lady of Mercy College, (Carysfort) Dublin 1975 to 1994: Mary Immaculate College, Limerick 1976 to 1977: The National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick 1976 to 1977: Thomond College of Education, Limerick 1977: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 1978 to 2005: St Angela's College of Education, Sligo 1996: National College of Art and Design, Dublin 2002: Shannon College of Hotel Management 2002: Institute of Public Administration 2005: Milltown Institute Current Institutions Constituent Universities University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin Ollscoil na heireann, Baile Atha Cliath (www.ucd.ie) University College, Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork Ollscoil na heireann, Corcaigh (www.ucc.ie) National University of Ireland, Galway Ollscoil na hereann, Gaillimh (www.nuigalway.ie) National University of Ireland, Maynooth Ollscoil na heireann, Ma Nuad (www.nuim.ie) ecognised Colleges Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Colaiste Rioga Mainlianna na heireann (www.rcsi.ie) National College of Art and Design Colaiste Naisiunta Ealaine is Deartha (www.ncad.ie) Shannon College of Hotel Management Colaiste Osta na Sionna (www.shannoncollege.com) Institute of Public Administration An Foras Riarachin (www.ipa.ie) Milltown Institute Institiuid Bhaile an Mhuilinn (www.milltown-institute.ie) College of a Constituent University St. Angela`s College of Education, Sligo, was granted the status of Recognised College of the NUI in 1978, and retained that status until the end of 2005. In a historic Agreement between the College and NUI, Galway, the re-styled 'St. Angela's College, Sligo' became a College of NUI, Galway as of 1 January 2006. St Angela`s College, Sligo Coliste San Aingeal, Sligeach (www.stangelas.com) (A College of NUI, Galway/Coliste d'Ollscoil na hireann, Gaillimh) The Universities Act, 1997 The Universities Act, 1997, which came into effect on 16 June, 1997, redefined the nature and role of the National University of Ireland. It reconstituted the Senate, which is the Governing Body of the University, with a membership of thirty-eight, as follows: The Chancellor The Chief Officers of the Constituent Universities The Registrar of the University Four members nominated by the Government (two men and two women) Four persons elected by each of the Constituent Universities Eight members elected by Convocation (four men and four women) Four co-opted members Under the Act, the Senate of the National University of Ireland has functions and responsibilities in relation to the following: determining basic matriculation requirements; reviewing the content and teaching of courses; appointing external examiners; awarding degrees and other qualifications. The Act 1997 also reconstituted the three Constituent Colleges of the National University of Ireland, and the Recognised College, St Patrick's College, Maynooth as Constituent Universities. Academic Dress The wearing of academic dress at conferring ceremonies symbolises the continuity of the role of universities as centres for the advancement of learning. For the National University of Ireland, as Ireland's only federal university, with campuses located in three provinces, the distinctive academic dress worn throughout the Constituent Universities and Recognised Colleges is a powerful expression of the identity of the University and the shared history and tradition of its institutions. The NUI Senate has revised the Academic Dress Code to take account of the increase in the range and diversity of NUI degrees, and to make appropriate provision for NUI Higher Diplomas, Diplomas and Certificates. For full information, see NUI Academic Dress (3.7mb (pdf format)), published by NUI in January 2006.