Posted on: 29 July 2011
The 43rd Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr John Hegarty completes his ten year term of office today (July 29th).
Describing his tenure, Dr Hegarty said: “It has been a privilege to lead Ireland’s premier university and to have been able to interact with so many talented staff and students.”
“Investment in excellent people and promoting quality relationships between the College and the City, and our neighbouring communities, were always central to my ambitions to consolidate Trinity’s status as a world leading university.”
“Investment involved the transformation of the range and quality of the undergraduate and postgraduate educational experience, and the recruitment of staff and students of the highest calibre. It also involved the forging of new ground breaking partnerships: in research with industry leaders such as Intel (CRANN); in health care with our associated hospitals (Trinity Health Ireland); in dramatic arts with RADA London and the Irish theatre industry (Academy for Dramatic Arts); in innovation and technology transfer with UCD (TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance); and in creative practice with the creative and cultural sector (Creative Arts, Technologies and Culture Initiative).”
“In terms of research, the objective was to build capacity in areas where we already had strength involving all disciplines and to prioritise those areas where we could excel. TCD is now in the top 1% of institutions in the world in 15 fields and this is reflected in our rise in international rankings and citations over the decade. The rankings also reflect employer satisfaction with our students. It has been a pleasure to track our alumni across the world and to share in their successes.”
“A far reaching capital development programme also evolved under my tenure in line with the demands of the growing and expanding College both on and off campus. Planned investment in excellent people and facilities contributed to major developments such as the expansion of the Arts Building, new buildings such as the Lloyd, Naughton Institute, Sports Centre, and the Trinity Long Room Hub and the recently opened Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute. The Science Gallery, the Biomedical Sciences Institute and the soon to be opened National Academy for Dramatic Arts (The Lir) on the corner of Pearse Street and Grand Canal Square are contributing to the rejuvenation of Pearse Street. I believe that the College has now excellent relations with the city, and our neighbours are very pleased to have a world class thriving university in their midst.”
“We had quite a debate on the restructuring of the College in the middle of my tenure. A lot was accomplished but the process must be ongoing for an evolving institution like Trinity. The College is well placed to meet the challenges ahead and is further strengthened by the fact it has no deficit.”
“I am sure that Trinity will make great strides forward under the able leadership of my successor, Professor Patrick Prendergast. I wish him and his team every success for the period 2011 to 2021.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the future. Thank you most sincerely for affording me the privilege of being Provost of this wonderful university for ten remarkable years.”
