The Board of Trinity College Dublin

Principles and Values

With effect from the September 2023, the Board (of 25 Members) is comprised as follows:

External Members (10) appointed by the Board as follows:

  • The Chairperson, and
  • Nine Members of which three will be nominated by the Minister

 In addition to:

  • The Provost
  • Six Members elected by the Fellows, including the Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer ex officio
  • Three Members elected by the Academic Staff who are not Fellows
  • Two Members elected by the Professional, Technical, Administrative and Support Staff
  • Three student union members.

Under the terms of the Statutes, the Supplemental Charter of 2022 and the Higher Education Authority Act, 2022:

“4.(2) Board shall comprise:


(a) external members appointed by the Board as follows:


(i) the Chairperson, and
(ii) nine persons other than the Chairperson, three of whom shall be nominated by the Minister and seven appointed in accordance with a process determined by the Board and approved by the Minister, provided that the Board or the Minister, as the case may be, shall be satisfied that any person so nominated for appointment, or appointed, shall be suitable for appointment by reason of his or her possessing knowledge of, and experience in, matters connected with the objects and functions of the College so as to enable him or her to make a substantial contribution to the effective and efficient performance of those functions;

 

(3) In nominating and approving external Board members, the Board shall have regard to the objective that not less than 40 per cent of its members shall be women and not less than 40 per cent of them shall be men and that the membership of the Board shall broadly reflect the composition of Irish society, including persons who are competent in the Irish language.”

By way of information, the term of office of a Board member is four years with the possibility of a further four-year term by mutual agreement. The time commitment required includes a Board meeting of usually three hours duration (with in person attendance in Dublin) currently held from October to June, along with associated pre-reading and preparation time as well as any work on Board committees and working groups. A fee for Board membership is not payable but reasonable expenses for travelling to meetings would be paid. All Board business is confidential, and the Provost is the spokesperson for the Board. 

Further information on Trinity can be found in our Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

Find more information on the Board.

Board Skills and Experience Matrix, and Fundamental Criteria for Membership PDF, 489KB.

Board

Attendance

Procedures for elections