NUIG on right lines over gender equality, says President

NUI Galway president, Jim Browne said he is confident the university is now ‘doing the right thing’ on gender equality.

Dr Browne acknowledged there was “scepticism” from within and externally, partly because of ongoing legal action of five women lecturers who are seeking redress after they were not promoted in 2009.

But he insisted change would be visible on campus early in 2017 in relation to the gender issue.

The university’s poor gender equality record was catapulted into the spotlight when Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, a botanist for 34 years at NUIG, won €70,000 in compensation arising from the same round of promotion in 2009 when she was not promoted to senior lecturer because she was a woman. Dr Sheehy Skeffington has previously called on NUIG and Dr Browne to ‘do the decent thing’ and promote the five women.

In an extensive interview with Cois Coiribe, the university’s magazine for alumni and friends, Dr Browne said: “While we dealt with the promotions issue before the courts found against us my big regret is that we didn’t deal with the wider issue. We didn’t recognise that the outcome from the 2009 promotion round was indicative of a wider problem across the university.”

Since that case, NUIG convened a gender equality task force headed by Professor Jane Grimson, which issued its report last May.

Dr Browne said the taskforce did a “stupendous job”, and he vowed that “every single one of the final set of recommendations will be implemented.”

Addressing the doubts people have about the course of action being taken by the university, particularly in light of the continuing legal cases, Dr Browne said: “The scepticism is there. I understand it but time will tell. I would be confident that we are now doing the right thing . . . I believe that what matters is walking the walk not talking the talk. Some of the taskforce recommendations can be implemented quickly. Others will take more time. I think as early as next year (2017), we will begin to see a difference.”

Meanwhile, in the same interview with Cois Coiribe, Dr Browne said he wants NUIG’s famous Quadrangle building to become a visitor attraction for tourists.

Modelled on Christ Church at University of Oxford, the Quad was built in a Tudor Gothic style and was opened in 1849. The historic building is the most recognisable on the city campus.

Dr Browne revealed the Buildings Office at the university is actively exploring the possibility of using the Quad as a visitor centre, after it is vacated when other staff move to new buildings.

“The university’s historic Quadrangle is unique in the West of Ireland. Why couldn’t we make something out of that and link it with the (Wild) Atlantic Way and Capital of Culture? This Quadrangle can be a place that can welcome distinguished visitors and it could become a significant visitor attraction for visitors to the West of Ireland.

“Let’s face it, tourists to the West of Ireland aren’t coming for the weather. They are largely cultural tourists. They are interested in culture, scenery, history. This (Quad) could be a part of that . . . It speaks to an agenda of the university and the city and the region all working together to make it a really attractive place. We’re going to work on getting that idea articulated properly over the coming months and bring it to the Governing Body,” he added.

■ The full interview is available HERE