DIT Students' Union - Historical Representation Within DIT

Historical Representation Within DIT

The early days of student representation can be traced back to when, in 1963, the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) established the various College Councils, which provided for a student representative. The establishment of the Academic Council in 1970 provided for students to be invited to attend meetings and to participate in discussions, but they would not be permitted to vote on any resolution until the late 1970s. In 1978 the newly established DIT Governing Body was given an order by the CDVEC on its membership, which provided for one student representative - with voting entitlements.

In the early 1980s DIT students first gained direct representation on the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee itself. The first four representatives were Kevin McCartan in 1981/82, Michael Nugent in 1983, Felix McKenna in 1984 and Aidan Kerins in 1985.

With the DIT Act of 1992 and the DIT Amendment Act of 1994, the DIT Governing Body membership expanded to include, amongst others, two students (male and female).

In 2005 the process which began in 1963 was completed with student representatives now holding seats on all relevant central and major local committees (approximately 45 committees in total ), including sub committees of the Governing Body and Academic Council. In addition, recently staff from the Students' Union have been permitted to sit with the full-time Sabbatical Officers on various committees.