Hugh Brady is the first UCD president to emerge from a genuinely open and international competition for the post, writes Seán Flynn
University College Dublin may have again awarded the post of president to one of its own, but in every other respect, the appointment represents a radical departure from the traditional UCD way of doing things.
Prof Hugh Brady is the first to be nominated under a radical new search-and-selection procedure. This was adopted after an internal report found the college's image may have been damaged by the impression that the old process was seen as a "closed shop" and "overly political".
The current widely respected president, Dr Art Cosgrove, like his predecessors, was elected by UCD's governing body. The process involved various UCD figures slugging it out against one another as they sought the vote of fellow academics and county councillors. Not surprisingly, few "outside" candidates bothered to enter the bear-pit.
Prof Brady is the first president to emerge from a genuinely open and international competition for the post. Ironically, he would probably have stood little chance if there was still an election for the post. One academic said: "Hugh never engaged in politicking at UCD. He left his work speak for itself."
Prof Brady secured the post because of his towering international reputation as a scholar and because of his clear ability to generate funding for the college. The ability of third-level colleges to generate research funding is the new litmus test for each of the colleges.
In recent years, UCD has trailed some way behind University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin.
The hope is that the appointment of Prof Brady - who has already generated millions in research income for the college - will change that. He also managed to raise the €17 million required to help develop UCD's new Centre for Undergraduate Medical Education at the Mater Hospital.
One UCD source said: "He will scare the living daylights out of the other colleges and help us to attract the best young researchers." Another said: "He brings great energy and zest to the table. He is a great leader but in a modern, less stuffy way."
According to another: "Hugh Brady could have opted to take a very senior position in Harvard. He could have worked as a consultant. Instead, he wants to modernise UCD and bring it to the next stage. That tells you something."