Faculty of Engineering and Computing - Committees and Roles
Faculty of Engineering & Computing: Governance
Faculty Management and Committee Structures
Management of Faculty Resources
Finance/Budgets Human Resources Physical Resources
Faculty Committees — General Rules and Procedures
Faculty Management Board (FMB) — Terms of Reference, General Membership Schedule of Meetings
Faculty Committee for Research (FCR) — Terms of Reference, General Specific Responsibilities, Membership
Faculty Committee for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) — Terms of Reference, General Specific Responsibilities Membership
Goal and Purpose
The Goal of the Faculty The goal of the Faculty is to deliver real transformation in the lives of its students, society, and the broader national and global economy. It achieves this by preparing students for vital careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) and ICT sectors, and by taking a lead in innovations that drive the future of digital transformation of society, healthcare, and industry.
The business of the Faculty : a scholarly community comprising three key schools—the School of Computing, the School of Electronic Engineering, and the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. It is dedicated to engagement with significant global opportunities, hosting and participating in large-scale research centres such as INSIGHT (Data Analytics), ADAPT, Entwine, and I-Form.
The Purpose of the Faculty is to:
Provide high quality education: Offer degree programmes at Bachelors, Masters, and PhD levels, as well as flexible online (Level 9) courses for upskilling in high demand areas like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) and Biomedical. This education is characterised by a supportive, innovative learning environment where students benefit from real engagement with academic teaching staff and research active staff.
Ensure student success and employability: Assure continued employability through ever deepening links with industry partners and an evolving curriculum that includes real world work experience, industry led team challenges, and global engagement. Our Engineering programmes are accredited through Engineers Ireland. Engineers Ireland is the professional body for engineers and engineering in Ireland, dedicated to the promotion of the profession, the accreditation of engineering programs, and the continuous professional development of its members across all disciplines.
Lead the research agenda: Achieve exceptionalism and maximise social impact by driving research that is instrumental to future technological progress in addition to Research Ireland funded centres, Insight, ADAPT, IForm, .
Provide a support context through technical and administrative teams that supports its constituent Schools and Research Centres.
Retention and recruitment of staff: Maintain a community of globally recognised faculty members and research active staff who contribute to a high performance culture of operational and academic excellence ensuring diversity and inclusion amongst FEC People.
Faculty Structures and roles
Executive Dean
The Faculty shall have an Executive Dean, who shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Faculty. The Ex. Dean shall be appointed for a fixed term, normally of five years. The Ex-Dean shall be an ex officio member of the University Executive and participate in strategic University decision-making. The Ex. Dean shall be the chief accounting officer for the Faculty, reporting to the Deputy President, in relation to the management of all budgets and resources within the Faculty and its constituent units.
Constituent Units and Membership
Structure of the Faculty The Faculty shall be structured into a number of constituent units. This structure will necessarily evolve to meet changing needs and priorities. Determining the most appropriate structure of the Faculty shall ultimately be the responsibility of the Executive Dean. The Executive Dean shall normally consult with the Faculty generally before making substantive changes to the structure.
Constituent Units The constituent units of the Faculty shall be generally as follows:
Schools:
School of Computing
School of Electronic Engineering
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Research Centres:
Designated Research Ireland (formerly SFI) funded Centres hosted by the Faculty (e.g., Insight, ADAPT, I-Form).
Faculty office:
Governance and Membership The Executive Dean shall not concurrently serve as a Head of School. All Heads of School shall report to the Executive Dean.
Membership of the Faculty comprises:
All staff of the constituent units who hold permanent posts.
All staff who hold full-time temporary contract posts of one year's duration or more, provided that such contracts are approved by the Executive Dean.
Associate Deans
Roles and Appointment The Faculty has three Associate Deans/equivalent: an Associate Dean for Research (ADR), an Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning (ADTL), and a Senior Administrative role for External Engagement
Associate Deans, where academic colleages are seconded, shall be appointed following a call for expressions of interest from all permanent members of academic staff. Shortlisted candidates shall be interviewed by a panel chaired by the Executive Dean, and including two other senior members of the Faculty and a representative from the DCU People department.
Appointment to the post of Associate Dean shall normally be for a three-year term, renewable for one further term. An Associate Dean shall not concurrently serve as a Head of School.
Duties and Responsibilities The Associate Deans for Research and for Teaching and Learning shall provide assistance to the Executive Dean in a variety of areas, including, but not confined to, the following:
Charing the Faculty Committee for Research (FCR) and the Faculty Committee for Teaching and Learning respectively.
Formulating the Faculty strategy in research and education.
Acting as the formal point of Faculty contact with the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA).
Providing advice on funding needs to support strategic Faculty initiatives.
Deputising for the Executive Dean when necessary.
Heads of School
Role and Responsibilities: Each constituent School of the Faculty shall be led by a Head of School, who serves as the lead in all things academic and operations for that unit. The Head is responsible for the direct management of all staff, financial resources, and operational activities within the School. Heads of School can do two terms in the role. A head of School can appoint a Deputy Head/Assistant Heads as the needs of the School arise.
Leadership and Strategy Heads of School provide a pivotal leadership role, ensuring that strategic developments and initiatives are effectively operationalised through the academic and professional activities of School staff. They ensure these activities are aligned with the strategic priorities of the Faculty, the University, and the evolving needs of the wider community.
Faculty Management and Committee Structures
Faculty Management Board (FMB) serves as the chief management body of the Faculty. Its primary function is to support the Executive Dean, advising on matters within the remit of the office and on issues of strategic significance to the Faculty as they arise. This Board as a selection of members who form the basis of the Faculty Executive Board.
Faculty Committee for Research (FCR) The Executive Dean and the Faculty Management Board shall be assisted in the management and strategic development of research activities by the Faculty Committee for Research (FCR). This committee is charged with overseeing all research activities within the Faculty. This Board has two subgroups: FEC Research Ethics Committee and the Faculty Awards Boards.
Faculty Committee for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) The Executive Dean and the Faculty Management Board shall be assisted in the management and strategic development of education activities by the Faculty Committee for Teaching and Learning (FCT&L). This Board has oversight for the Programme Board Committee structures who are responsible for management of all programmes and its curriculum and content.
Additional Committees and General Procedures The Faculty Management Board may establish additional Faculty committees, sub-committees, or working groups as it deems necessary to effectively discharge its responsibilities. The membership of such bodies shall be determined with due regard to equity and the fair representation of all members of the Faculty.
Management of Faculty Resources
Finance/Budgets
The University Executive decides on the allocation of the (income and expenditure) budget to the Faculty vis a vis the Director of Finance. As a member of the Executive and the Faculty's chief accounting officer, the Executive Dean participates in the budgeting process for the devolved budget to the Faculty. In such Executive level deliberations, the Executive Dean provides open and transparent reporting to ensure that the Faculty is budget neutral at the end of each annual cycle.
Human Resources
The Executive Dean, working with the Heads of Unit, is responsible for disbursing the Faculty budget in terms of staffing and related human resource matters in the most efficient and effective way, in line with fulfilling the education, research and other responsibilities of the Faculty. Subject to following any protocols or rules laid down by the University Executive, the Executive Dean, supported by the Heads of Unit, determines the staffing establishment of each Unit within the Faculty on a rolling basis. The Executive Dean, supported by the Heads also determines whether any vacancies that arise are filled, and where within the Faculty any new appointments arising out of such vacancies should be allocated. Any changes to the permanent staffing complement must be approved by the University's Resource committee, sanctioned through the University Executive, further to a recommendation from the Executive Dean. To assist the Executive Dean and Heads to discharge their responsibilities to the People/Human resources, a member of DCU People/HR Business Partner should be nominated to work closely with the Faculty and be available to offer advice on a range of issues, including staffing and management development, on a regular basis. In addition, the Director of People should work closely with the Executive Dean and the Heads in relation to HR issues of strategic or developmental significance.
Physical Resources
The space that lies within the Faculty's space envelope is determined on an ongoing basis by the University Executive, on the advice of the University Space Planning and Management Group (SPAMG), with input from the Executive Dean, Heads of School and Faculty Facilities and Technical infrastructure Manager and cognisant with allocation from funding sources.
Substantial changes to the space envelope shall be approved through policies and procedures determined by the University Executive.
Management of space within the Faculty space envelope is the responsibility of the Executive Dean in consultation with Heads of School and Facilities and Technical Services Manager.