CANDIDATE INFORMATION Head of Academic Technology & Communication UCC Library Permanent Whole-Time Post CONTENTS Information for Candidates 1. Welcome from the President 2. Information on the Unit 3. Job Description 4. University Strategic Plan 5. University Organisational Structure 6. About Cork 7. University College Cork 8. Equality of Opportunity Statement 9. Housing, Education, Medical Insurance & Tax Information 10. Useful Web Links Additional Information for Shortlisted Candidates 11. Interview Format 12. Directions to UCC 13. Expenses for Candidates Attending for Interview 14. Campus Maps 1. WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT Many thanks for your interest in a career at University College Cork (UCC). Originally founded in 1845 as "Queen's College Cork", UCC is one of Ireland's oldest institutions of higher learning. Our spectacular campus is situated in a global tourist destination, and serves a community that is both local and global. Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide, UCC was named as Ireland’s Sunday Times University of the Year in 2016, and again in 2017 - the only Irish university to receive this designation in consecutive years. UCC was honoured to be named the World’s First Green University Campus (Foundation for Environmental Education, Copenhagen). UCC has an ancient heritage with a modern focus. Our own Professor Michael J. O’Kelly excavated the world’s oldest astronomically aligned structure at Newgrange. Our first Professor of Mathematics, George Boole, wrote his “Laws of Thought” here, which provides the basis for all modern-day computer science. Our graduates are found excelling in every walk of life throughout the world - from poet to politician, nuclear scientist to philosopher. Today, UCC’s student body of some 20,000 includes over 2,800 students from 100 countries across all continents. We employ 2,700 professionals. Over one third of our academic staff has come from overseas. We enjoy many accolades as a high quality employer. The true strength of our university lies in the people who work and study here. The diversity of our workforce and our students is our competitive edge in realising our mission to “create, preserve, and communicate knowledge and to enhance intellectual, cultural, social and economic life locally, regionally and globally.” Our vision – UCC: A contemporary Irish university with a global outlook - will, I believe, prove attractive to you. This briefing pack contains information which I hope will be useful and informative should you be selected to attend for interview here in Cork. I trust that your experience of our recruitment process will be a positive one and I thank you, again, for considering a career at University College Cork. Professor Patrick G O’Shea 2. Information on UCC Library Background/History Information Services (IS) comprises a distinct organisational unit with a Director of IT Services and a Director of Library Services reporting into the role of the Director of Information Services and University Librarian. Department/School Strategic Plan http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/hr/briona/InformationServicesStrategicPlan2013 -2017.pdf Current Data etc UCC Library has a total of 80 staff and has recently completed an organisational restructuring project, the portfolios of which reflect the evolving nature of the contemporary university library. UCC Library also has three off campus locations; the Boston Scientific Health Sciences Library located in the Brookfield complex, libraries located in the Cork University Hospital and Mercy Hospital and an offsite repository at Pouladuff Road, Togher, Cork. UCC Library has a stock of approximately 800,000 volumes, subscribes to some 500 print periodical titles, with access to approximately 40,000 full text electronic research journals. Approximately 20,000 items are added to stock each year. UCC Library offers a flexible, responsive and exemplary library service with service to all library users at the core of the Library strategy. This strategy has a clear focus on, and commitment to, the provision of high quality information resources and achieving excellence in the delivery of highly valued services in our physical and virtual spaces. UCC Library is focused on the delivery of an excellent service to users that is proactive, innovative, timely and responsive to user needs. Central to this is a clear commitment to enhancing the student experience thereby inspiring research-led teaching and learning. Providing the opportunity to discover and use high quality information resources enhances creativity and innovation, especially in supporting leading-edge research. Contributing to society, both nationally and internationally, enhances the University’s reputation and adds to the intellectual capital in the region and globally. All this is predicated on developing and optimising our staff, financial and physical resources and this remains core to our ethos. We maintain active links with a range of local public, voluntary, and private organisations, many of whose information and preservation requirements we readily support through advice and helpful intervention. Cork PAL is seen as an exemplar of a cooperative agreement between all the main libraries in Cork city and county, with a view to ensuring wider access to learning materials for all the people of Cork and beyond. Cooperation and collaboration includes developing programmes of formal cooperation with American, European and Chinese libraries in support of the international students who come to UCC from these areas. UCC Library invokes the excitement of learning and discovery through the interpretation of both the University and the Library’s heritage collections. UCC’s Special Collections is home to UCC’s unique early printed books pre 1850, books from presses, collections from individuals, 18-20th century newspapers, theses, maps, pamphlets and microfilm. CORA, the Cork Open Research Archive, gives free open access to University College Cork’s scholarly and scientific research publications and theses. UCC Library also digitises UCC doctoral theses and makes them available online through CORA. In 2016 a series of polices embracing RDM and Open Access was approved by the formal UCC committee structure with a view to the Library leading on these activities within the University. Information Services Organisation Structure Director of Information Services & University Librarian Director of Library Director of IT Services Administration Services Acade Platfor mic & Head of Head of Enterpr m Collabo Head of Head of Library Acade IT Acade Researc System mic ise Delive rative Head of Opera AVMS mic & h & s & Techno Applica ry Technol Collecti tions Student Digital Service logy & tions ogy ons Servic Engage Service s Commu es Service s ment s Suppor nicatio t ns Cork University Press 3. Job Description This is an exciting opportunity for the role holder to lead and engage with a dynamic community in which innovative digital technologies, scholarship and pedagogies, co-exist and integrate with a diverse range of teaching, learning and research methodologies. In addition, the role holder has the responsibility for implementing and delivering on the integrated communication strategy of Information Services and co-ordinating associated actions. The Head of Academic Technology & Communication will lead on the design and implementation of skills-building educational opportunities for users of the Library service and to advance support for learning innovation. The role holder will work with academics, researchers and students to define the scope, methodology, technology, specification and design of digital initiatives in technology-rich library spaces. The role holder will be expected to design and implement new library services which meet these new and emerging needs. The role holder will lead on the development and design of a range of technology-rich library spaces that provide creative learning opportunities, both on a collaborative and individual basis. He/she will enable the growth of knowledge and practical expertise in an evolving interdisciplinary landscape of digital technologies, scholarship and pedagogies. The role holder will develop the skills and capabilities across a wide range of library users and library staff to ensure current and future needs are met. He/she will collaborate across the University to lead and contribute to areas of shared strategic importance e.g. physical and virtual learning spaces, pedagogy, learner analytics and other learning technologies. Within the remit of Information Services he/she will lead on external and internal communication with responsibility in taking the initiative to improve collaboration and communication with a wide range of stakeholders – faculty, students, researchers, librarians and the wider community. Within the remit of communication is the requirement to produce and co-ordinate information to inform service delivery and improvement. In particular and integral to the role is the development of strategic direction and co-ordination of all related activities including the measurement, monitoring and evaluation of Library services. Responsibilities of the Post The role holder will be expected to lead and engage with a dynamic community in digitalising a range of library services. It will be his/her role to evolve, lead and manage a wide range of library-related learning initiatives. This will require significant engagement and communication skills to liaise with each of the other units within the Library and Information