We've got a new President

Daysha

The Governing Authority of Dublin City University has today appointed Professor Brian MacCraith as its new President, to succeed Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski whose term of office ends on July 13, 2010. Professor MacCraith, aged 52, is currently Professor of Physics in Dublin City University and Director of the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI), one of the DCU-led Science Foundation Ireland Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET).

Professor MacCraith is an internationally renowned Irish academic for his work in sensor research and the creation of university collaborations with major corporations in the development of new technologies.

The Chancellor of Dublin City University, Mr David Byrne, has welcomed the appointment of Professor Brian McCraith as President of the University from mid-July 2010. “Professor McCraith is a renowned scientist of international standing. He will provide the clear vision and leadership, thus continuing to build the progressive role of DCU in its unique contribution to Irish and international scholarship.”

The outgoing President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, indicated his personal delight at the choice of Professor MacCraith, and said that DCU’s record as a leader in teaching, research and innovation would continue and grow under his successor. “I am certain that the whole university community will work enthusiastically under Brian’s leadership to secure DCU’s future success and that of the university sector in this country.”

Professor MacCraith said he was pleased and honoured to take up the position from next July. “I look forward to building on the excellent platform and the leading role for DCU established by my predecessors, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and Dr Danny O’Hare, and to playing a leading role in optimising DCU’s economic and social impact on Ireland’s future through the quality of our graduates, innovative research outputs and strategic initiatives. As a university, our primary challenge is to equip our students with a set of personal and professional skills to enable them to navigate the particular challenges of the coming decades.”

On the current higher education environment, Professor MacCraith said: “These are difficult times for the Irish higher education sector, with shrinking budgets and structural uncertainties, but I am confident that DCU is particularly well positioned to deal with these challenges and to play a major role in Ireland’s smart economy. With the commitment and support of DCU’s excellent staff across all Faculties, I believe that we can develop and implement a vision that builds on DCU’s distinctiveness and makes a significant contribution to Ireland’s economic and social well-being. I also look forward to working closely with colleagues in the other Irish universities and higher education institutions, and with the HEA and the government.”

He added: “However, we need to ensure that the progress achieved by Irish universities, including DCU, in international rankings is maintained, and that this is made possible by a sensible funding environment and by a framework that encourages innovation and initiative.”

http://www.dcu.ie/news/2009/dec/s1209d.shtml

Diarmsquid

How do you even pronounce that surname?

Bring back von Pronskinadiskiy!

manlad

Im so excited, this is the best thing to happen DCU since campus security

I don't care.

Somnus

Interesting news. I can't imagine that the average student will see much of a change though. Although maybe we will, I don't really know what the Presidents role is.

GLaDOS

Hopefully, as a scientist, he disbands all the non-science courses and puts all the funding into the worthwhile courses :pac:

Pygmalion

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Hopefully, as a scientist, he disbands all the non-science courses and puts all the funding into the worthwhile courses :pac:

If CA is kept going too (Computer applications -> Computer Science -> Science?) I'll agree with that.

He can get rid of Enterprise computing though.

On a more serious note, I'd imagine science courses cost a lot to run due to high cost of equipment and stuff, as opposed to courses which would have little or no practical aspect, so would the college not end up losing out if they did this?

Diarmsquid

Is this guy on twitter?

VinnyTGM

Interesting.

Landa2

Pygmalion wrote: »

If CA is kept going too (Computer applications -> Computer Science -> Science?) I'll agree with that.

He can get rid of Enterprise computing though.

On a more serious note, I'd imagine science courses cost a lot to run due to high cost of equipment and stuff, as opposed to courses which would have little or no practical aspect, so would the college not end up losing out if they did this?

Just on this, Science in DCU is probably worth more to this college than any other faculty, what science makes in research and development is far greater than all of the others combined

Pygmalion

Landa2 wrote: »

Just on this, Science in DCU is probably worth more to this college than any other faculty, what science makes in research and development is far greater than all of the others combined

Hmm, didn't know this.

adamski8

Pygmalion wrote: »

On a more serious note, I'd imagine science courses cost a lot to run due to high cost of equipment and stuff, as opposed to courses which would have little or no practical aspect POINT, so would the college not end up losing out if they did this?

FYP

adamski8

Long rein Count Chocula

lil_cain

Landa2 wrote: »

Just on this, Science in DCU is probably worth more to this college than any other faculty, what science makes in research and development is far greater than all of the others combined

[citation needed]

Also, research != undergrads.

OneArt

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Hopefully, as a scientist, he disbands all the non-science courses and puts all the funding into the worthwhile courses :pac:

Yeah cuz who needs translators? We'll share our scientific knowledge through the power of telepathy!!

Pygmalion

OneArt wrote: »

Yeah cuz who needs translators? We'll share our scientific knowledge through the power of telepathy!!

Well maybe we could if we put all our money into science

Urizen

OneArt wrote: »

Yeah cuz who needs translators? We'll share our scientific knowledge through the power of telepathy!!

I sense the opportunity to plug the Paranormal Society. And I just did. Fwahahaha!

OneArt

OneArt wrote: »

Yeah cuz who needs translators? We'll share our scientific knowledge through the power of telepathy!!

Or, we could use science to solve this problem by communicating solely through binary.

robby^5

I hate that dean so much! I say we roll him up in a carpet and throw him off a bridge.