UCC advertises internationally for new president

UNIVERSITY College Cork (UCC) aims to rise in the ranks of the world’s third-level colleges when it fills the vacancy in the president’s office, after advertising the job in the international press this week.

The position is being vacated by Professor Gerry Wrixon next January, eight years into his term which he was allowed to extend beyond the age of 65 by the Government last year. In an advert placed in newspapers in Ireland and Britain, the university seeks candidates with a proven record of delivery, although it does not specifically state the type of background required.

“The next president will be an exceptional academic leader with the energy, vision and presence to lead UCC to a world ranking while demonstrating a passion for UCC’s role in the region and nationally,” the ad states. “He or she will have a proven record of successful delivery and the aspiration, imagination, drive and ability to build on UCC’s achievements to date and thereby to take the institution to the next level of success.”

Prospective applicants are being referred to an English recruitment consultancy, for details on the selection criteria and the role itself.

The successful candidate will qualify for a salary of more than €190,000 and be responsible for administration of the college, which currently has 15,000 full-time students and more than 2,500 staff.

UCC is considered one of the country’s leading research institutions and recently signed a research collaboration agreement with Trinity College Dublin in the areas of science and technology. This will strengthen its case for a slice of the first portion of investment from the Government’s Strategic Innovation Fund, geared to improve joint research and programmes between third level institutions and to raise Ireland’s global reputation for graduates, particularly at doctoral level.

UCC has also been named Sunday Times University of the Year twice in the last three years and just last month announced an investment of €14 million in gastro-intestinal research at its Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre by global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Despite the successes of the college under Prof Wrixon’s tenure, it has also accumulated massive debts of up to €40 million. Much of these arise from investment in UCC’s capital infrastructure, which has seen a major expansion of the city centre campus in the past decade.