The Irish Higher Education system is an internationally recognised success story but only possible because of the people employed in universities and higher education institutions around the country.
That was the message delivered by Minister of State and the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), Niall Collins TD, who opened the 21st Irish Universities Association Human Resources Conference at University of Limerick this week.
The conference themed around ‘Sustainable HR- Prioritising Our People’ heard from inspirational speakers addressing communications, high performance, and wellbeing.
In his address, Minister Collins told delegates at the UL campus that “the Irish higher education system is an internationally recognised success story whether we are looking at participation rates, academic standards or impact on economic development and investment.
“Yet none of that is possible without the people who work in our universities and other higher education institutions,” Minister Collins added.
During his address, Minister Collins said that along with Minister Simon Harris and his department officials, he was committed to supporting the sector through the funding and policy development underway that would allow institutions to build a sustainable workforce.
“We know we need to support institutions and staff by building capacity across the sector. The Funding the Future framework launched in 2022 is crucial to achieving this goal,” said Minister Collins.
Outlining that €100m in additional funding has already been secured for the sector under the initiative, Minister Collins said that “it remains one of the key objectives of DFHERIS to secure the full €307m identified as being needed to fund the sector on a sustainable basis.
“This will lead to increased staffing levels and enhanced support services for students. It will also expand the capabilities of higher education institutions to deliver on priority skills needs and the further development of tertiary programmes.”
Complimenting the role of HR professionals across Ireland’s higher education institutions, Minister Collins said that he wanted to acknowledge the crucial role of HR in recruiting, developing, and retaining talent.
“Students will not enrol at an institution unless they know there are good teachers and supports. Equally, philanthropists and industry will not invest unless they know the required academic expertise and structures exist. It is through recruitment and talent management that HR ensures the administrators, teachers and researchers are in place to attract those new students and private investment. You genuinely play a vital role in supporting our higher education institutions,” the Minister of State and Limerick TD added.
In her opening address to the conference, University of Limerick President Professor Kerstin Mey said that the conference theme fits perfectly into the one of the University’s overall strategic goals “in shaping a future where sustainability is not just a buzzword but an integral part of our identity.
“Our journey toward becoming a sustainable university is a testament to our dedication to fostering a positive impact on our community, environment, and most importantly, our people.
“Creating a culture of sustainability requires the active involvement of every member of our university community, and that includes our dedicated staff.”
Professor Mey added that the staff at UL “are the backbone of our institution, and your commitment to sustainability is paramount in achieving our strategic goals. We are investing in programs and initiatives that empower our staff to contribute meaningfully to our sustainability agenda”.
Conference Host and Director of HR at UL, Bobby O’Connor, said that “in an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving workplace dynamics, valuing people as our most critical resource lies at the heart of effective and sustainable Human Resources.
“In the pursuit of sustainable HR practices and to be true to the principle that we value our employees as our most important asset, it becomes essential to view them not merely as employees but as individuals with unique talents, aspirations, and potential. When we prioritise our people, we foster an environment where they feel valued, supported, and empowered.”
The two-day conference heard from international communications expert Gina London, high performance coach Caroline Currid, psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy as well as number of speakers from faculty at UL.