Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean of Business in UCD, has recently been announced as the new President of NUI Galway. The Galway native will return to his home city to take up the post in January 2018, once the ten-year term of James J. Browne comes to an end.
Originally appointed as Dean of Business back in 2011, he previously worked in academic leadership roles in Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and in Dublin City University. He is currently a member of the Audit Committee at the Department of Finance.
Ó hÓgartaigh completed his undergraduate degree in NUIG, and also holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Leeds. He taught Financial Accounting III to undergraduate students up until last year. While the module is still listed in SISWEB, there is no information about course content and lectures, unlike other modules. Professor David Fitzpatrick is listed as the module co-ordinator.
Ó hÓgartaigh’s appointment as the 13th President of NUIG was overseen by Catherine McGuinness, the former President of the Law Reform Commission and a retired Supreme Court Judge, who is now Chair of NUIG’s governing authority. She commented that “with a track record of leadership and achievement nationally and internationally, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh brings both the necessary experience and vision to this role and I look forward to working with him as we chart the next stage in the University’s journey.”
NUIG retained its 201-250 spot in the Times Higher Education World Rankings earlier this month. The university has continued to improve in the international rankings, having languished back in the 351-400th spot as recently as 2012.
John O’Connor – News Writer
