University president quits af ter ‘concerns’ over €8.6m def icit
THE president of Technological University Dublin has resigned, a month after the Higher Education Authority (HEA) expressed ‘serious concerns’ over an €8.6million budget deficit.
It follows a prolonged period of financial turbulence at the university, which was formed in a merger of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) colleges at the start of 2019.
Professor David FitzPatrick will leave at the end of May to take up a new job as provost and chief executive of the University of Nottingham Malaysia from June.
He will be replaced by Professor John Doran, the current dean of the faculty of science.
Last month, Prof. FitzPatrick, had told the university’s staff in a memo that the overall deficit for the 2022/23 financial year was €8.6million, ‘equivalent to 2.4% of our income of €362million last year’. He said there was a strategic plan for the university to increase student enrolments by 12% and to achieve a surplus of 4% in operating income by 2028.
In a statement at the time, the university said it was taking ‘the elimination of our deficit very seriously and is working on a recovery plan to restore a balanced budget and to move into a surplus situation... Once drafted, this plan will be agreed upon with our governing body and shared with the HEA,’ it said. However, Dr Alan Wall, HEA chief executive, expressed ‘serious concerns with the apparent lack of urgency, responsiveness and conduct by the governing body’ to address the deteriorating financial position ‘in a timely and constructive manner’. The HEA invoked legislative powers to request that the university’s governing authority conduct a formal review of the college’s performance in managing and controlling its finances.
Shortly afterwards, academic staff expressed no confidence in the leadership at the college through their trade union.
Yesterday afternoon, TU Dublin released an email sent to all the college’s staff by Prof. FitzPatrick, announcing his resignation.
He wrote: ‘I have been privileged and honoured to be president of TU Dublin, working with you all in the creation of Ireland’s first and largest technological university.
‘On the back of leading the university in its formative phase and reflecting on what we have collectively achieved, notwithstanding the current financial headwinds we face, I am immensely proud of what TU Dublin has become and firmly believe in our ability to deliver both nationally and regionally.’
He said he reached his decision about his future, and his long-held ambition to live and work abroad, as long ago as last summer.
‘Having put the key elements of a platform for growth in place, I also recognise that this is an appropriate time for new energy to take the reins,’ he continued.
‘However, in the time before I stand down, I’m committed to ensuring that we develop a financial recovery plan that will demonstrate a sound financial footing,’ he wrote.
Meanwhile, the governing authority of the University of Limerick (UL) is due to meet this afternoon to consider a review it commissioned into the controversial purchase of houses for student accommodation. The university has confirmed it lost €5.2million after paying inflated prices for 20 houses last year.
UL president Kerstin Mey said independent valuations have confirmed that the university paid ‘significantly above market price’ for properties in Rhebogue, near the university.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been examining financial matters at UL in recent years and UL representatives are due before it next month.
But Prof Mey has told the PAC she will not be able to attend a scheduled appearance on April 11 due to being ‘incapacitated.’
She wrote in a letter to the PAC: ‘I write to inform you that I am incapacitated and therefore cannot honour our commitment to attend on April 11. Please be assured I will make every effort to attend at a future date in the current term.’
It is understood the PAC has asked for clarity on why Prof Mey is unable to appear.
The Higher Education Authority was contacted for comment.
‘Sound financial footing’