LIT has confirmed that the institute’s president, Dr. Maria Hinfelaar, is to step down from her role in LIT next year, to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Glyndwr University in Wales.
Dr. Hinfelaar steps down on 31st March 2016 and assumes her new role on April 1st 2016. An independent selection process to appoint LIT’s next president will commence early in 2016
Chair of the LIT Governing Body, Niall Greene paid tribute to Dr. Hinfelaar, saying, “All of us in LIT extend our very best wishes to Dr. Maria Hinfelaar on her appointment as Vice Chancellor of Glyndwr University.
“During her eleven years at LIT, Dr. Hinfelaar has made an extraordinary and widely-acknowledged contribution not only to the development of LIT, but to that of third level education in Ireland generally. She took over the reins at LIT at a time when it badly needed active and decisive leadership and has gone on to drive significant growth and quality improvement to turn LIT into and important contributor to the economic, social and artistic life of the region.
“In addition, she has personally been an active participant in enterprise development and community engagement in Limerick and the Mid-West more widely.
“Her strategic vision, management skills and the team she has built in LIT mean that the organisation is well placed to continue to deliver top class education, enterprise development and community engagement in the region.
Dr Hinfelaar said, “I have really enjoyed my time at LIT and in the Mid-West of Ireland and am proud to see the progress we have made. The team at LIT has been wonderful to work with, and I am confident that LIT will continue to deliver excellent services to current and future students. I would like to thank everybody at LIT and in the region for the support I have been given.”
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Dr Maria Hinfelaar became President of LIT in 2004, leading the institute through a period of significant growth and development, including the launch of the Campus 2030 Masterplan, a far-reaching and innovative blueprint for the strengthening of LIT as one Ireland’s leading Institutes of Technology.
Dr. Hinfelaar’s tenure was also characterised by a substantial increase in student numbers, the heightening of research, enterprise and development activity at LIT, as well as the development of a successful multi-campus model for the institute.
A native of the Netherlands, Dr. Hinfelaar holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Leiden University; an MA in Modern English and American Literature from Leicester University; a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Leicester University, and a PhD from Maastricht University.
ABOUT LIT:
With over 6,500 students and 600 staff, LIT is Ireland’s fourth largest Institute of Technology. The institute is located across 5 campuses in Limerick and Tipperary.
The Higher Education Authority recently approved LIT’s proposed purchase of a site for a new campus at Coonagh Cross in Limerick with the support of €3.5 million in capital funding from the Department of Education & Skills. Also under the Campus 2030 Masterplan, LIT this year opened the new Sportshub facility on its Thurles campus, and International Fashion Incubator Limerick (IFIL) in Limerick city centre.
