Professor Kerstin Mey:

I am grateful for the committee's invitation to attend today. I acknowledge the work many members have already committed in support of our endeavours at the University of Limerick. Although the role of the committee is to challenge, we have been fortunate also to receive its support.

I am happy to tell the committee that since I last addressed it, the University of Limerick is a much-changed institution. The implementation of significant changes to our operational model and our institutional culture have required resolute action. I am grateful to the Minister and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and indeed the Members of the Oireachtas, including the members of this committee, who have supported this reform agenda. I particularly want to mark the work that has been done, often beyond duty, by the UL faculty and staff in supporting reform in our governance, performance and standards. All of us are motivated by the firm belief that the most sustainable force in social, economic, environmental and cultural development is education.

It is my wish that the committee views my pride in the achievements of our graduates as a signal of intent from which we hope to serve this country into the future. Members of the committee will see a series of deliverable actions in our planning, each of which is geared towards supporting enterprise and social and cultural development over the coming months.

It has not been an easy task to tackle the governance, performance and systems issues I faced when I took on the responsibility as interim president and then as president just over two and a half years ago. Though there is a journey yet to travel, I am pleased to tell the committee today that major change has been delivered. A clear acknowledgement of this change has been signalled by the decision of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, based on the advice and assurance given by the Higher Education Authority, to release devolved capital funding which had been withheld pending the reform of our governance practices. Of relevance to the committee's remit to scrutinise public finances, I am happy to report that our recurrent and capital expenditure confirms prudence, sustainability and confidence in how the University of Limerick is now run.

Providing accommodation for students so they can focus on learning, on their personal growth and on contributing to their communities has remained a key focus of our endeavours since we were founded in 1972. Shortages in housing also impede us recruiting international researchers and faculty. Welcome progress is being made to increase the number of beds available for the next academic year, in partnership with our colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Limerick City and County Council, the Housing Finance Agency and our communities.

Student experience and student success are for me the most significant measures of our performance and we are proud to see more than 2,600 students being placed annually in high-performing organisations, regionally, nationally, and internationally, through our co-operative education programme. We maintain the largest Erasmus+ programme of all Irish universities, and more than 96% of our graduates are in employment or further education within nine months of leaving UL.

I am pleased to report that we are the first higher education institution in Ireland to have achieved the Athena SWAN silver award, which confirms UL as a leader in embedding gender equality across all levels of the institution. The Kemmy Business School has also won the Athena SWAN silver award, making it the first Irish business school to do so. We are committed to continuing our work to strengthen inclusion, leadership and co-creation throughout the university. Our recent achievements were built on the strong foundation established by UL. I acknowledge today the leadership of successive governing authorities and of faculty, staff and students in laying the groundwork for these achievements.

Ensuring the university continues to thrive has required the eradication of practices which had developed over time and which were not in line with good governance principles. Members will be aware I undertook to the governing authority, and echoed to committee, my commitment to make the necessary changes to both structure and personnel to ensure the university operated to the very highest standards of accountability, transparency and probity. The magnitude of the issues, which I as president was required to address, to implement the learnings from past mistakes has been difficult for UL and for me personally. Upon taking office, it became abundantly clear to me that the very reputation of this institution was itself under threat. Change and decisive action were necessary. I am aware that certain actions, commissioned by past and current governing authorities, demanded the implementation of robust and, at times, radical measures.

The significant issues raised by this committee had to be tackled as a matter of urgency. I am satisfied that the reforms were not undertaken to punish. They were directed at improving the governance standards and operational performance of this institution and at restoring the trust and confidence of our stakeholders. I am further satisfied they have been properly facilitated through investing in organisational change to foster distributed leadership and open dialogue, transparency and accountability.

Change is difficult at the best of times. It can provoke anxiety and, sometimes, frictions and counter-reactions by those affected by or opposed to necessary and agreed reforms. We take very seriously genuine concerns raised by colleagues and external stakeholders and act upon them resolutely. However, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by insincere attempts to divert our attention from improving and strengthening the University of Limerick. We must focus on the future.

It is my pleasure to assure the committee we are delivering to a standard of excellence in the role entrusted to us under law. I am hugely proud of what we and our graduates have achieved since 1972. I know we will continue to deliver for Ireland’s economic, social and cultural progress, setting this country apart as a leader in higher education, research and talent. I acknowledge the support of the Oireachtas acting as the representative of the people of this great nation.