The National University of Ireland (NUI) is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997. The constituent universities are for all essential purposes independent universities, except that the degrees and diplomas are those of the National University of Ireland. The current chancellor of the university is Garret FitzGerald.

Associated institutions

The constituent universities are:

• University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork
• University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin
• National University of Ireland, Galway
• National University of Ireland, Maynooth

The recognised colleges are:

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• National College of Art and Design
• Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy
• Shannon College of Hotel Management
• Institute of Public Administration

Former recognised colleges, and their years of recognition, are:

• Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick (1975 - 1994)
• National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick (1976 -1977)
• Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort (1975 - 1988)
• St. Angela's College, Sligo (1978 - 2005)†
• St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra (1975 - 1995)
• St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (1910 - 1997)ǂ
• Thomond College of Education, Limerick (1976 - 1977)

† St. Angela's College maintains its links to the National University of Ireland by being "A College of the National University of Ireland, Galway" from January 2006. This in effect means that students of the college are registered as students of the National University of Ireland, Galway — the National University of Ireland continues to grant degrees and diplomas of such students when they graduate.

ǂ In accordance with the Universities Act 1997 (Section 48) graduates of the recognised college of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth who received a degree of the National University of Ireland before the commencement of the act are now legally considered as graduates of the constituent university the National University of Ireland, Maynooth under the provisions of that act.

History

The 1845 the Queen's Colleges at Belfast, Cork, and Galway were established, in 1849 teaching commenced and a year later they were united under the Queen's University of Ireland. The Catholic University of Ireland was created as an independent university in Dublin in 1854 for the education of Catholics, this university however was neither a recognised university nor offered recognised degrees. In 1880 the Royal University of Ireland took over the degree awarding functions of the two former universities and offered recognised degrees to the graduates of the new University College Dublin, previously awarded under the Catholic University.

The 1908 reforms dissolved the Royal University and created the current National University of Ireland and a separate Queen's University of Belfast. The 1997 reforms restructured the National University of Ireland, and an additional university at Maynooth was created from certain faculties of the previous recognised college, St Patrick's College, Maynooth. Also the prohibitions on theology where removed, which had also been a characteristic of the predecessor universities.

Legislative constituency

Since 1918 the university's graduates have formed a constituency in parliamentary elections. In 1918 it was formed as a constituency for the UK House of Commons. After the first election Eoin MacNeill abstained from Westminster and sat in the first Dail. The NUI graduates elected four TDs from 1921 until 1934 when the university constituencies were abolished by Fianna Fáil. Under the Constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, the graduates of the university elect three members of Seanad Éireann (the senate).

The most recent election in 2002, of the 22nd Seanad, resulted in the election of Joe O'Toole (Independent), Feargal Quinn (Independent) and Brendan Ryan (Labour Party). All graduates that are Irish citizens (regardless of living in the state or not) are entitled to vote if on the university's register of electors. The election is conducted by postal vote.

Current issues

Within the university there is a common faculty structure in operation in the constituent universities. These ten faculties are: Agriculture; Arts; Celtic Studies; Commerce; Engineering & Architecture; Food Science & Technology; Law; Medicine & Health Sciences; Philosophy & Sociology; Science; and Veterinary Medicine. Current issues within the National University include reform of the departmental structures of the two largest constituent universities, at Cork and Dublin, which have been criticised for being bureaucratic and cumbersome. This has caused some controversy at national level: the presidents of the constituent universities have heavily promoted the idea of reform whilst rank-and-file academic staff have resisted.

See also

• Education in the Republic of Ireland
• List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
• Postgraduate Applications Centre

External link

• Official site - National University of Ireland

Educational institutions established in 1908 | National University of Ireland | Universities and colleges in Ireland