IT Tralee looks for a new President

COLLEGE SEEKS NEW HEAD AS OLIVER MURPHY STEPS DOWN AFTER A FIVE YEAR TERM

A NEW President is being sought for Institute of Technology Tralee.

The announcement follows confirmation that Dr Oliver Murphy is to step down from the position after five years in charge of the college.

Dr Murphy was appointment President of IT Tralee in June 2011 for a five year term. He had previously been Registrar at the college and was appointed acting president in February 2011 following the departure of previous President Michael Carmody to Galway Mayo IT.

Though this term had expired last June he has remained in the role for the last seven months to provide continuity as the process of appointing his successor began.

The position was advertised by the Public Appointments Service on Friday and applications will be accepted until March 2.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to apply for the position of President of the proposed Munster Technical University should the planned amalgamation of IT Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology proceed during their term of office.

According to the PAS advertisement the new President will “lead and oversee development of the Institute in a period of significant change in the higher education sector in Ireland.”

The advertisement specifically states that ITT and CIT plan to merge during the next president’s five year fixed term of office.

The idea of amalgamating the two ITs was first suggested in 2009 and since then the college’s have been working towards the proposal.

It is, however, strongly opposed by many staff at both colleges. The TUI represents 750 lecturers at CIT and ITT and in February 15 they voted against the plan by an overwhelming majority.