Welcome
to the website of Convocation of the National
University of Ireland.
Convocation is essentially the statutory graduate
representative body of all NUI universities and
recognised colleges. All NUI graduates (including
honorary graduates) are automatically members
of Convocation. The National University of Ireland
was established under the Irish Universities Act
of 1908 and was incorporated by Charter dated
2nd December 1908. Convocation is one of the statutory
authorities of the NUI, alongside the Chancellor,
the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Vice- Chancellors,
the NUI Senate and the Faculties.
The statutory powers of Convocation include the
power to discuss and pronounce an opinion on any
matter whatsoever relating to the NUI, including
any matters referred to it by the NUI Senate,
and the power to make representations to the NUI
Senate on any matter affecting the NUI. Therefore,
Convocation has a ‘statutory say’
in matters relating to the NUI. In addition to
being the graduate constituency for the NUI Panel
for Seanad Eireann elections, Convocation also
elects the Chancellor of the NUI and the Chairman
of Convocation and elects 8 of its own members
as representatives on the NUI Senate.
In the almost 100 years’ history of the
NUI, the current Chancellor, Dr. Garret FitzGerald,
is the fourth Chancellor and I am the ninth Chairman
of Convocation and first woman Chairman.
Convocation’s affairs are managed by a Council
of up to 28 members plus the Chairman and Clerk.
In addition to the Chairman of Convocation –
who must be elected at an AGM – the other
officer of Convocation is the Clerk, whom the
NUI Senate appoints on the recommendation of Council
of Convocation. Each member of Council can
serve for up to 3 years, the Chairman serves for
6 years and the Clerk serves for 5 years. The
current Clerk of Convocation – Terry Madden
– is the sixth Clerk of Convocation.
One great advantage of Convocation over the individual
alumni associations of the separate constituent
universities or recognised colleges of the NUI
is that Convocation encompasses all graduates
of these institutions. In a sense, therefore,
it can ‘be above’ whatever tensions
may be ongoing in any of the individual universities
or recognised colleges and look to what is best
for NUI as a whole. Of course one great
disadvantage of Convocation by comparison to the
individual alumni associations of the separate
constituent universities or recognised colleges
of the NUI is that Convocation is grossly under-funded,
getting an annual stipend of approx. Euro 6,000
from the NUI Senate (plus a stipend for the Clerk)
with which modest funding Convocation has to run
its entire affairs.
If you are interested in becoming involved in
the affairs of Convocation in any way, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you.
Linda O’Shea Farren |
