Senior academics from Ireland and abroad are expected to apply for the positions of president at the Republic's two largest third-level colleges, UCD and DIT.
Both colleges have placed advertisements in the newspapers over the last forthnight inviting applications. The posts are highly prestigious and the level of interest in them is expected to be high.
The president of UCD is paid an annual salary of almost €168,000, while the top job at DIT comes with a salary of €161,000. The president of UCD also gets to live rent free at University Lodge, near the Belfield Campus.
DIT is seeking to find a successor to Dr Brendan Goldsmith, who has held the position for almost 10 years. The college wants the successful candidate to implement its strategic plan, which covers developments for the next decade.
Among the candidates likely to feature, according to college sources, are the head of the applied arts faculty, Dr Ellen Hazelkorn, Mr Paul O'Sullivan, head of the business faculty, and Mr Michael Mulvey, of the tourism and food department. The directors of the various institutes of technology are also likely to apply. But college sources believe an outsider could also feature strongly.
UCD is seeking a successor to historian Dr Art Cosgrove. The college may for the first time recruit a senior academic from overseas. The job description requires candidates to have an international dimension to their careers.