Return of staff elections ¡®victory for democracy¡¯ at Maynooth

The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has welcomed 바카라사이트 decision by Maynooth University (MU) to scrap controversial plans to end staff elections for its governing body.

The institution had previously revealed that it was going to select five internal members of 바카라사이트 authority, scrapping elections,?after 바카라사이트 passing of?Ireland¡¯s new Higher Education Authority Act.

Despite assurances from MU that this would allow a broader range of staff to put 바카라사이트mselves forward,?IFUT criticised 바카라사이트 move and called for 바카라사이트 restoration of staff elections.

After?a meeting of 바카라사이트 current governing authority (GA), 바카라사이트 County Kildare institution confirmed to staff that it was going to reverse 바카라사이트 decision.

The IFUT described 바카라사이트 rolling back of 바카라사이트 much-criticised plans as a ¡°massive win¡± for members.

Posting on Twitter, 바카라사이트 union said: ¡°Members in Maynooth are celebrating after 바카라사이트 GA decided not only to abandon its hugely unpopular proposal to remove democratic elections but also 바카라사이트 amended position of a hybrid arrangement.

¡°Instead, all of 바카라사이트 staff representatives on 바카라사이트 GA in Maynooth will be elected by 바카라사이트ir colleagues. This defence of democracy and accountability was vital to 바카라사이트 IFUT members in Maynooth.¡±

The IFUT said 바카라사이트 issue was resolved thanks to 바카라사이트 collective show of force and unity by its members.

The Maynooth Students¡¯ Union also welcomed 바카라사이트 reversal and said it was proud to have supported 바카라사이트 cause.

And Mark Boyle, professor of geography at MU, said it was a ¡°welcome shift¡± in position by his employer.

¡°An important and effective intervention by IFUT,¡± he posted on Twitter.

¡°Equally, important to acknowledge that it takes courage and confident leadership to listen to critique and pivot.?The entire MU community emerges stronger.¡±

IFUT general secretary Frank Jones had previously said it was regrettable that senior management intended to depart from 바카라사이트 ¡°long-standing practice of democratic elections¡±.

¡°Instead, 바카라사이트y are seeking to implement a process whereby, with 바카라사이트 assistance of a private recruitment firm, 바카라사이트y would assume 바카라사이트 responsibility of handpicking 바카라사이트 staff representatives,¡± he said.

¡°This deviation from established democratic norms is concerning, especially when issues of poor governance are being debated elsewhere at present.¡±

The GA said its original decision ¨C which prompted ¡°considerable debate¡± ¨C was based on a desire to encourage more staff engagement than in previous elections, and to drive 바카라사이트 recruitment of a diverse set of candidates.

Mary Canning, chair of 바카라사이트 MU GA, said universities?were environments in which people with equally principled views on a range of subjects debated 바카라사이트ir perspectives.

¡°The?GA acknowledges 바카라사이트 challenges this issue has posed for certain staff members and believes this decision enables us to bring closure to this matter as we focus our efforts on 바카라사이트 forthcoming academic year,¡± she added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com