NUI Galway appoints vice president for equality and diversity

NUI Galway (NUIG) has appointed a vice-president for equality and diversity, saying it is the first appointment of its kind in an Irish university.

Prof Anne Scott, who is executive dean of the education, health and community faculty in Liverpool John Moores University, has been appointed to the post by NUIG president Dr Jim Browne.

Prof Scott has worked as an academic in the Scottish and Irish higher education systems, having formerly been deputy president and registrar at Dublin City University.

The new post was established by NUIG's task force on gender equality, set up a year ago in the wake of an Equality Tribunal ruling in November 2014. The ruling found Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington had been discriminated against in being passed over for promotion by the university.

The creation of the post now held by Prof Scottwas one of four major recommendations made by the task force, led by former Trinity College Dublin vice provost Prof Jane Grimson. NUIG says all four recommendations have nowbeen implemented.