UCD graduate named Director General of Irish Universities Association

Posted November 22, 2017

UCD graduate Jim Miley has been appointed Director General of the (opens in a new window)Irish Universities Association (IUA). The IUA represents Ireland’s seven universities and advocates on their behalf to maximise the impact of higher education in Ireland.

Miley will lead the development and enhancement of Irish universities as key agents of growth and influence in the Irish economy and the social and cultural life of the country.

With an expected 30% increase in third-level student numbers by 2030, a key focus of his leadership will be to secure a viable and sustainable funding model for the Irish sector.

Miley leaves his role as Business to Consumer Director at the (opens in a new window)Irish Times to join the IUA. Responsible for the launch and development of its digital subscription service, he has overseen a more than 300% rise in the number of people who pay to read the Irish Times daily.

Miley graduated with a degree in agricultural economics from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin. He previously served as chairman of (opens in a new window)Concern Worldwide and (opens in a new window)Sightsavers Ireland.

In 2013, he was Project Director of (opens in a new window)The Gathering. The event ran throughout the year to encourage Irish diaspora to visit Ireland. It saw an extra 250,000 overseas visitors come to Ireland compared to usual.

“I believe the problems faced by the sector can be overcome if all stakeholders – government, industry, students, the universities themselves and their staff – work together to realise the ambition for our universities to rival the best in Europe,” said Miley.

“If, collectively, we can now take the decisive steps to shape the future of our university sector, the long-term impact for the country will be immense.”

Pictured: Jim Miley, new Director General of IUA

In 2000, Miley co-founded property website MyHome.ie. He was CEO of the company until 2009. It was sold to the Irish Times for €50m in 2007.

Miley previously served as chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and General Secretary of Fine Gael. He also spent nine years as a producer and reporter with RTÉ.

“We are fortunate as a nation that all seven of our universities are in the top 600 in the world, and the decisions we make in the next ten years are critical to ensuring our universities maintain the highest international standards and serve the needs of this and future generations,” said Chairman of the IUA and President of Maynooth University, Professor Philip Nolan.

Miley will take up his position in January 2018.

By: Jonny Baxter, digital journalist, UCD University Relations