Dr. Bryan Maguire:

The primary legislation for the universities, technological universities and, since the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Act 2019, the institutes of technology, guarantees the independence of academic councils or boards from the overall governing boards, so there is a clear distinction between the overall corporate accountability for the institution as a whole and the performance of its academic functions. The academic standards are not compromised by the need to graduate a certain number of students to meet a funding target or things like that. The academic council is at one side and is independent in the performance of its functions and is accountable through the external quality assurance mechanisms QQI has, whereas the main board or governing authority is accountable to the HEA, as the legislation sets out. That is the basic division of labour that goes on. That is not reflected afresh in this legislation but the legislation does not intrude on the provisions for academic autonomy that already exist in the primary legislation.