LANGUAGE SCHEME 2010 - 2012 Notice: Duties under the Language Scheme and under the Official Languages Act This Scheme sets out the commitments entered into by Trinity College Dublin regarding the services it will provide in the Irish language or bilingually, in accordance with Sections 11-18 of the Official Languages Act 2003. Further duties of public bodies, including Trinity College Dublin, arise under separate provisions of the Act and regulations made thereunder, including obligations in relation to: • Letters and emails received in Irish • Circulating information to the public in general/mail shots • Publications, including documents containing public policy proposals, annual reports, financial statements and specific strategy statements • Stationery, signage and recorded oral announcements For information regarding statutory obligations, please contact the Irish Language Officer or see http://www.tcd.ie/gaeloifig/en/acht-na-dteangacha-oifigiula/ TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN Irish Language Scheme 2010 -2012 Under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 4 November 2009 Irish Language Scheme 2010 - 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction and Background 1.1 Guidelines for preparation of Scheme 1 1.2 Consultation Process 1 1.3 Working Group 1 1.4 Commencement date of Scheme 1 2. Overview of Trinity College Dublin 2.1 Mission and Objectives 2 2.2 The Provost 2 2.3 Management and Administrative Structures 2 2.4 Staff and Student numbers 3 2.5 Academic Services 3 2.6 Administrative Services 5 2.7 Student Life 9 2.8 Services currently provided in the English language 9 2.9 Academic services currently provided in the Irish language 9 2.10 Administrative services currently provided in the Irish language 11 2.11 The Irish language in the life of Trinity College 11 3. Irish Language Scheme commitments 3.1 Outline of Scheme objectives 13 3.2 Commitments to enhance bilingual services 13 I. Websites II. Media and advertising III. Forms, brochures and publications IV. Customer services V. Staff recruitment and training VI. Information technology VII. The living language on campus VIII. Trinity College Dublin and wider society 4. Implementation and Monitoring of Scheme 19 5. Publicising of Scheme 20 Printed in Ireland by Paceprint Trading Ltd. Irish Language Scheme 2010 - 2012 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1. Introduction and Background This scheme has been prepared under section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 ("the Act") by Trinity College Dublin. Section 11 of the Act provides for the preparation by public bodies of a statutory scheme detailing the services they will provide through -the medium of Irish, -the medium of English and -the medium of Irish and English. Section 1 The scheme describes the measures to be adopted to ensure that services not provided through the medium of the Irish language will, where appropriate, be provided within an agreed timeframe. 1.1 Guidelines for Preparation of Scheme Section 12 of the Act provides for the preparation of guidelines by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and their issue to public bodies to assist in the preparation of draft Schemes. This Scheme has been drawn up in conformity with the guidelines. 1.2 Consultation Process In accordance with Section 13 of the Act, Trinity College Dublin published notices in the Irish Times on the 8th of April 2009, and in the Irish language newspaper Foinse on 13 April 2009, inviting representations in relation to the preparation of the draft Scheme from any interested parties. All members of the staff and student communities were also invited to make submissions in regard to the scheme. Consultations were held with a wide range of offices and departments in Trinity College. Submissions were received from Gaelscoileanna, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge and An Cumann Gaelach, the student Irish language body, in addition to some individual submissions. These submissions informed the task of preparing this Scheme. Briefings were also given to administrative and academic managers in College. 1.3 Working Group A Working Group, comprising representatives from a range of functioning sections within the College community was established by Coiste na Gaeilge, College’s Irish language Committee, for the purpose of advising and directing in relation to the preparation of this scheme. 1.4 Commencement date of Scheme The Scheme will commence with effect from the 1st January 2010 and shall remain in force for a period of three years from that date or until a new Scheme has been confirmed by the Minister pursuant to section 15 of the Act, whichever is the sooner. Page 1 OVERVIEW OF TCD Irish Language Scheme 2010 - 2012 2. Overview of Trinity College Dublin 2.1 Mission and Objectives Trinity College Dublin was founded in 1592 with a university charter from Queen Elizabeth I and by the grant of a site by the Corporation of Dublin. Trinity has expanded over the centuries to become a modern university with some 15,600 students and 3,700 staff. It is now one of the great universities of the world, widely recognised for the high quality of its graduates, the international standing of its research and scholarship, Section 2 and the value it places on contributing to Irish society and the wider world. Trinity College Dublin’s new Strategic Plan 2009-2014. sets out the following Vision and Mission for the College Vision Trinity College Dublin will further strengthen its reputation as a university of global consequence. This vision will be achieved by giving practical expression to our values, and in particular by demonstrating a robust commitment to freedom of intellectual enquiry and expression, and to the value of the individual. Mission Through our research and teaching, we engage students and society in the quest for knowledge, seeking to achieve excellence in all we do, and responding with creativity and imagination to the challenges and opportunities of a shared future. In relation to the Irish language, the Strategic Plan commits College to raising Trinity's profile as a centre for academic and cultural activity in the Irish language. It states that Trinity College Dublin will ”increase the number of public Irish language events, such as plays, readings and debates hosted on campus. In order to help us achieve this objective, and also raise Trinity's profile as a centre for academic and cultural activity in the Irish language, we will develop creative partnerships with Irish language organisations”. 2.2 The Provost The Provost is 'Head of the College' and is also the Chief Officer as defined in the Universities Act 1997. (The Provost is the equivalent of the President or Vice-Chancellor in some universities.) The Provost chairs the Board and University Council and the Finance Committee. The present incumbent took office in August 2001. 2.3 Management and Administrative Structures The College Management and Administrative structure is based on principles of collegiality. Academic Officers, (known as Annual Officers), who are appointed by the Board each year on the nomination of the Provost, work closely with the Senior Administrative Officers in the development of policy and the implementation of the College’s Strategic Plan. Annual Officers normally hold office for three consecutive years. Annual Officers Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer Dean of Students Senior Lecturer The Senior and Junior Deans Registrar The Senior and Junior Proctors Dean of Research The Senior Tutor Dean of Graduate Studies The Public Orator. The Bursar Community Liaison Officer Page 2 Irish Language Scheme 2010 - 2012 OVERVIEW OF TCD Administrative Officers The Chief Operating Officer (COO) The Secretary to the College The Treasurer The Librarian The Staff Secretary The Director of Buildings The Director of Information Systems Services The Academic Secretary The Associate Director of Research and Innovation The Director of Accommodation and Catering Services Student Services: Directors manage the provision of the following services to students – Careers Advisory Service, College Health Service, Disability Service, Sports and Recreation and Student Counselling. Section 2 The Director of International Affairs The Director of Strategic Initiatives For a chart of the overall College Governance structure, please see Appendix 1. For a chart of the Faculty and School structure, see Appendix 2. For a chart of the Administrative structure, please see Appendix 3. 2.4 Staff and Student numbers In total, there were 15,716 registered students in 2007/08. The College has 2,676 employees in total (2146 full-time, 530 part-time), of whom 828 are Academic staff, 536 are Academic Research staff and 1312 are Administrative, Support and Technical staff. 2.5 Academic Services The main service provided by Trinity College Dublin is education and research. The College is organised into three faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering, Mathematics and Science; and Health Sciences. Each faculty is headed by a Dean (there is also a Dean of Graduate Studies). The Faculties are divided into Schools (currently there are 24 Schools). The Schools provide the educational services of the College, both undergraduate and postgraduate courses leading to certificates, diplomas or degrees. They also provide research opportunities which lead to the award of higher degrees. Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences School of Business School of Drama, Film and Music School of Education School of English School of Histories