ENSURING THE survival of the National University of Ireland (NUI) would be the essential and only task facing its next chancellor, one of the candidates for the role has said.
“A hostility towards the NUI has developed,” explained Maurice Manning, currently a member of the NUI senate and president of the Irish Human Rights Commission at a hustings for the candidates last night. Some see the NUI as “a desirable cutback”, he added.
The NUI is the federal body for four universities, including University College Dublin, and some other colleges. It receives €44 for each student under the NUI.
In 1997, universities were given control of their own affairs, power formerly held by the NUI. It retains responsibility for entrance to its universities and for degree standards.
Mr Manning said there was “a crowding out of the NUI” since the 1997 changes and said some universities were “anxious to promote their autonomy”.
“The NUI is seen by some as an obstacle in the way of their ambitions and an extra burden,” he said.
Mr Mannning said the last few years had been difficult for the body, as it “fought battles over its new and diminished role”.
Fees should not be introduced for any undergraduates, said other candidate Prof James Heffron, of the University College Cork biochemistry department last night.
Mr Heffron said the role of the chancellor should involve promoting the NUI to help source philanthropic funding for the universities.
Retraining was not the function of the universities, he said, adding there were State bodies which were funded for this but which did not have a good track record.
Former taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald is stepping down as chancellor of the NUI. His predecessors include Éamon de Valera and TK Whitaker.
Voting in the election of the chancellor on March 12th is open to all NUI graduates. They can apply for ballot papers before March 4th at www.nui.ie or elections@nui.ie.
