Former president of UL appointed to €175k role for which there is 'no course'

A FORMER president of the University of Limerick (UL) has been appointed to a professorship role with a salary of €175,000 despite there being no course to teach.

Prof Kerstin Mey will take up the role as Professor of Visual Culture at the university upon her return from a twelve month sabbatical following her recent departure from the university as its president.

Representatives of the University of Limerick appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this Thursday morning to answer questions regarding significant overspending on a former Dunnes Stores site in the city centre, housing and now a student portal.

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This is the second time this year that the university has met with the PAC and more details have come to light regarding how UL have dealt internally with the last five years of controversy around spending decisions.

Acting President Shane Kilcommins and UL Chancellor Brigid Laffan were both questioned regarding outgoing former president Prof Kerstin Mey's position within the university to which the PAC were told that Prof Mey was currently on a paid twelve month sabbatical while also being internally investigated.

Members of the committee were also told that the embattled former president is preparing to return to UL as Professor of Visual Culture of which no course currently exists.

Addressing Prof Laffan, Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy said: "I am reliably informed that there are no Visual Arts courses in UL, is that correct?"

Prof Laffan explained that there is a Performing Arts course within the university's Arts faculty but also pointed out that the former UL president is on sabbatical this year.

Deputy Murphy replied: "That's not the question, Ms Laffan, the question is, she is the Professor of Visual Arts and there is no Visual Arts course run by the University of Limerick, is that correct?"

Prof Laffan replied: "No, there is no programme."

Deputy Murphy synopsized: "A Professor of Visual Arts and we don't have a programme for her to engage with."

Prof Laffan insisted that such a move from president to Professor was "normal" in academia and that the sabbatical in between was not an unusual part of that process as it would allow Prof Mey to "kickstart" her academic career once again.

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Following UL's appearance before the PAC, an email was circulated to all students and staff at UL from acting President Shane Kilcommins.

In the email, Prof Kilcommins said: "Although it was a robust meeting, the Chancellor, Professor Brigid Laffan, our Corporate Secretary, John Kelly, along with John Field, Chief Financial and Performance Officer and I answered the questions put by the Committee as fully and openly as possible. 

"We want to put the failings of UL’s recent acquisitions behind us, but in order to do that we will have to implement a programme of organisational transformation."

Prof Kilcommins outlined the importance of acknowledging publicly the lapses in governance that occurred and that an apology once again be issued with the assurance that this "will not happen again."

He echoed the Chancellor's sentiment that any further lapses in governance would be "utterly disastrous for UL's recovery."

Speaking on UL's governing bodies, the acting President said: "Having reflected on the Comptroller and Auditor General report and the draft Section 64 review, both the Executive Committee and the Governing Authority have a clear appreciation of the key reforms required to bring about transformative change at University of Limerick and establish an era of active governance."

Prof Kilcommins outlined that key reforms are due to be implemented in defined phases which will be agreed with the Higher Education Authority and will ensure that the affairs of the university will be properly managed and that any changes will be "transparent, sustainable and enduring."