Student representation at university level is set to increase dramatically as universities reach their final decisions on the composition of their new governing authorities. However, only two of the universities have indicated that they wish to provide the maximum representation for students on their new authorities, according to early indications from the seven universities involved.
The Universities Act 1997 provides for the each of the seven Irish universities to establish a commission to examine the future composition of governing authorities. These commissions are currently making submissions on composition to the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin.
Under the Act, a governing body should include "not less than two or more than three students of the university who are elected officers of the students' union or other student representative body in the university recognised by the governing authority and one postgraduate student elected by postgraduate students". At least one student nominee must be female.
It now appears that only two universities, TCD and UCD, will opt for the maximum three student representatives and one postgraduate, rather than the minimum "two plus one" formula.
NUI Maynooth, which this year will have an elected governing body for the first time in its history, has opted for two student representatives and one postgraduate on its 29member body. UL has opted for the same number of student representatives, as has UCC. Previously, only one student sat on the old NUI governing bodies - typically the students' union president as a nominee of the Minister.
"It's much better," says UCC students' union vice-president Johnny Coffey. "Now there are three full members with full voting rights. We will have to see what we can do now, but we hope we can make some difference for the students."
The vice-president of DCU students' union, Seamus Mac Suibhne, says he is "astonished" by the decision of the university commission not to award a third seat. DCU will have two students plus one postgraduate on its authority. "In numerical terms and also in terms of financial contribution DCU students obviously play a major role in the functions of the university," Mac Suibhne says. "It is a ridiculous claim that these stakeholders are adequately represented by two seats on the body."
TCD, will have the maximum total of student representatives: four. This will be the first time TCD students have had full membership rights of the university's board. Previously, four student representatives, including one postgraduate, had attended as observers.
Because of its different status from the NUI colleges, the changes in the composition of the TCD board required by the Universities Act are to be made through a Private Members' Bill. The vice-provost of Trinity College, Dr T D Spearman, says the college hopes to get the process started this autumn in the Oireachtas.
UCD has also recommended a "three plus one" level of student representation. UCG has yet to make a decision on the question. When the composition of all seven governing authorities is confirmed, student representation will have increased by about 200 per cent.
Malcolm Byrne, education officer with the Union of Students in Ireland, describes the new governing bodies as introducing a "totally new era" in student representation. "It is major progress and, of course, USI is very happy to have been involved in lobbying on the issue," he says. He criticises some universities for not being radical enough in the composition of their authorities.
"The fact that colleges like UCD will now have four governing-body members who are students is a very positive step forward, but other colleges could have moved along similar lines and given maximum student representation," he says.
USI is now likely to press the Minister for Education to make good his commitment to introduce student representation to the senate of the National University of Ireland and to the Higher Education Authority when vacancies arise.
