The number of faculties and departments at UCD is expected to be halved under radical reform plans being discussed by the Governing Authority.
The UCD president, Dr Hugh Brady, yesterday presented the authority with an outline of various plans designed to transform UCD into one of the top 30 colleges in the EU. At present, UCD is not ranked among the top 200 universities in the world.
It is expected the authority will next year back a plan that will see the number of faculties cut from 11 to six and the number of departments from 90 to about 40. This was among the proposals made in a discussion document circulated at a meeting of the authority in Dublin yesterday.
Last night, Dr Brady stressed that he was "not wedded" to any specific framework. But he said a workable model would "have to be ratified within a reasonable timeframe."
A large number of protesters, made up of academic and non-academic staff, protested outside yesterday's meeting at the lack of consultation with personnel. One senior academic said: "These plans, which will change the face of UCD, are being presented as a fait accompli. But there has been no real consultation and very little discussion".
This is robustly denied by UCD. One senior source stressed no decision on future structures would be taken without full consultation with staff. UCD hopes to have the new structures in place by August 2005.
In essence, the 32-page Strategic Plan, outlined by Dr Brady yesterday, says UCD has been under-performing in a number of key areas. It cites several external reviews that, it says, "indicate significant unrealised potential when measured against relevant international comparator institutions."
The plan claims that UCD could become a victim of a "brain-drain" in an increasingly competitive global environment.
"Ireland's best secondary school students are being courted as never before by leading universities abroad. Furthermore, a large number of PhD students are now opting to pursue their studies in the UK and internationally. Our leading scholars are being targeted by top international institutions."
The plan backs a fundamental change in UCD's attitude to its prospective students. "Simply put, a move from admissions to recruitment."
The plan says that the current division of UCD into "an excessively large number of faculties and departments" is a major impediment to academic collaboration, performance and progress. Such divisions, it says, prevent effective communication and decision-making.
The plan also envisages regular performance evaluation for all members of staff against what it calls "defined specific objectives. Career development and progression and the reward of excellence can only operate effectively and fairly in an environment where performance is measured and evaluated."
The plan is presented as a response to scathing criticism of UCD by various external reviews. But these criticisms are deeply resented by some academics, who say the college is performing well, given the poor level of funding when compared to similar-sized colleges elsewhere in the EU. Some staff say the reform plan is driven by a "pro-business" agenda, which gives little priority to arts and humanities. But UCD claims the primary objective of any change in structures is to deliver improvements in research, teaching, learning and student life.
