The State's largest third-level college is facing a crisis of low morale, troubled industrial relations, bad management and poor internal communications, according to a confidential report obtained by The Irish Times.
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), which has more than 22,000 students, is subjected to scathing criticism in a report by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) circulated this week.
The report - quoting staff - says morale at DIT has been undermined at virtually all levels by aloof management, politically-motivated agendas and lack of consultation between management and the college's several hundred staff.
The report is one most critical reports on a college's internal administration and management performance in recent years.
The report from the LRC's advisory development and research service, says the college should immediately instigate a range of reforms, including sending some of its managers on "people management" training.
It was commissioned by management and unions at the college after industrial relations problems flared up two years ago.
The LRC compiled the report after interviewing up to 140 people in the college. The most critical responses came from ordinary staff.
They told the LRC officials their concerns were often "not addressed or ignored" and they were "excluded from the decision-making process".
A lack of transparency in relation to promotions was also raised, as were managers "jostling for influence to the detriment of staff interests". DIT is described by staff as a "political organisation".
The staff also drew attention to "poor or inappropriate office accommodation" and poor administrative support.
Middle-ranking management - generally head of faculties - were equally critical. They talked of a "communications gap" in DIT largely filled by "rumour or union sources".
Many said the college lacked a "cohesive management structure" needed for a complex and disparate operation like DIT, which is made up of six constituent colleges.
Last night the president of DIT, Prof Brendan Goldsmith, told The Irish Times that since the LRC officials visited the college, many reforms had being introduced, including appointing a new communications officer and human resources manager.
He said the problems, many of which management accepted, were a legacy of the six constituent colleges coming together under the umbrella of one institution.
He did not accept the college was facing an internal crisis. He said the lack of autonomy for DIT from the Department of Education was also a problem.
As the report was confidential to DIT he declined to comment further.