Last updated 16th January 2024
Dr Nuria Garcia Ordiales - School Manager, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Tell me about yourself?
I'm the school manager for the School of Mathematics and Statistics. I came to Ireland in 2000 to complete my graduate studies and I have been working in UCD since then.
What aspect of the POST programme are you involved in? Tell us a little bit about it?
Given the breadth and complexity of services in UCD, they have been grouped into four different Service Segments for the purposes of the programme, each of which are focused on the people that use and provide them. There are six of us in each segment group, who work together with the relevant Service Lead.
I am a member of the ‘Enabling Services’ (ES) Service Segment which focuses on the underlying supports services across the University.
Who is else is involved in the Enabling Service Segment?
This segment group includes colleagues from Schools and Colleges, UCD Finance, IT Services and HR. Together, we bring our own experience to POST as both users and providers of University services and help to ensure that voices and needs of our respective communities are at the heart of the transformation projects and activities that make up the programme.
The school of Mathematics is a very large, complex school in terms of how it is set up. We have degrees in several colleges, and we teach modules all over the University. As School Manager, I am responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently in the school. The school office is responsible for providing supports not only to our undergraduate students but also to around 250 graduate taught students, 80 PhD students and over 75 members of faculty and staff. In doing so, we interact with a range of services across the University. This is the unique perspective and experience that I bring to the Enabling Services Segment.
How has your experience been so far? What has your segment group been working on?
One of the key areas of focus over the last few months has been working with Aoife (Aoife MacGabhann, POST Service Lead) on the creation of the Segment Strategy. We have also contributed to the project selection process to programme communications.
One thing I have particularly enjoyed is the positive attitude that exists within the programme. Although we often discuss issues and challenges, we are ultimately there to make things better and this is really embraced by the group. There is also a recognition that we are a complex and diverse organisation and that this must be considered when implementing change.