University College Cork National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) is a Constituent University of the National University of Ireland, founded in 1908. The University is empowered under the Universities Act 1997 to award degrees, including honorary degrees, which shall also be degrees of the National University of Ireland.
Authority and procedure governing nominations for Honorary Degrees
Only members of the Honorary Degrees Board may bring proposals forward for consideration by the Board, however any member of the community may approach a member of the Honorary Degrees Board to propose a nomination. The President will issue an annual call to the University community inviting such proposals for nominations.
Nominations should be directed to the appropriate member of the Honorary Degrees Board. Proposals for consideration by the Board should be presented by the Board member in the standard format to the President’s Office with full supporting information. Non-members of the Board wishing to put forward a nomination should do so via a member of the Board.
In seeking nominations for an Honorary Degree, members of the Honorary Degree Board are expected to conduct appropriately discrete consultation on suitability and standing in the field with colleagues in their functional areas of responsibility.
Once reviewed by the Honorary Degrees Board, selected nominations will be subject to a due diligence process and the outcome will influence whether the nomination will be progressed or not.
Policy for Granting of Honorary Awards in University College Cork National University of Ireland, Cork
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. University College Cork National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) is a Constituent University of the National University of Ireland, founded in 1908. The University is empowered under the Universities Act 1997 to award degrees, including honorary degrees, which shall also be degrees of the National University of Ireland.
1.2. Honorary awards of the University are bestowed on individuals to recognise distinction in a particular field of human endeavour, related to the expansion of knowledge, discovery and understanding; the deepening of scholarship in every discipline; the critical appreciation and the practice of literature, music and the visual and performing arts. In the main, these degrees are intended to further the purposes of the University by honouring academic distinction in all disciplines. In particular, UCC seeks to honour those whose academic distinction is linked in some way to the culture, scholarship, traditions and values of UCC. In honouring distinguished individuals, UCC seeks to promote its own cultural and scholarly traditions and values, including its commitment to the Irish language and Studies. In addition to degrees honouring scholarship and creativity, honorary degrees of the University are conferred on individuals, who, whether in their personal or representative capacities, through their energies, service and actions, have contributed significantly to public life, the betterment of society, or individual freedom and dignity.
1.3 This document sets out the criteria, guiding principles and procedures for the granting of honorary awards by UCC.
1.4 The introductory speeches for those honoured by the University is available on the UCC Honorary Conferrings website
2. THE GRANTING OF UCC HONORARY AWARDS
2.1 Decisions on the granting of UCC honorary degrees are made on the recommendation of the Honorary Degrees Board. The Honorary Degrees Board has been established under the delegated authority of Academic Council, as the responsible authority for recommending individuals for the award of an honorary degree and fulfils the function of an Examination Board for any such award. According to Principal Statute G.2.e Results “The results of all examinations shall be determined by the Deputy President and Registrar and the Academic Secretary or by the Academic Board based upon the decisions of the University Examination Boards”.
2.2 Nominees shall not be approached unless and until the Board recommends the award of an honorary degree. Equally nominees shall not make any representations to members of the Board.
3. CONFERRING
3.1 Recipients of Honorary Degrees shall be conferred at an appropriate UCC award ceremony in accordance with university protocols for such events.
4. CRITERIA FOR CONFERRING OF DOCTORATES & MASTERS
By awarding honorary degrees, the University recognises those individuals whose accomplishments are of such excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership. The Honorary Degrees Board should attempt, through its recommendations of nominees, to reflect the cultural diversity of the nation and the international character and diversity of the University itself. It may also attempt to honour those whose outstanding contributions to their fields or to society have not yet been widely recognised.
Doctorate (HC):
This is the highest award the University can bestow on a person, usually of global significance, in an academic or non-academic domain, whose accomplishments are of such excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership to UCC’s students, staff and alumni. Their selection makes a public declaration of the values of the University and their calibre is such, that in honouring them, the university too is honoured.
Master’s Degree (HC):
This is the highest award the University can bestow on a person, usually of national or Regional significance, in an academic or non-academic domain, whose accomplishments are of such excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership to UCC’s students, staff and alumni. Their selection makes a public declaration of the magnitude of their achievements, which would not merit a doctorate, but are nonetheless exemplary. This may or may not include acknowledgement for a lack of formal academic qualifications heretofore.
Note: All above can be awarded to current or former members of staff.
5. CRITERIA AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE AWARD OF UCC HONORARY DEGREES
(i) The award of an honorary degree by UCC is an honour of the highest level. Honorary degrees are awarded to persons meriting recognition at this level, and who, in turn, bring distinction to UCC.
(ii) The award of the honorary degree is for distinction in the candidate's own right or in his/her representative capacity.
(iii) In the conferring of an honorary degree, the main purpose is to honour distinction in scholarship and creativity.
(iv) In addition to honouring scholarship and creativity, honorary degrees may be awarded to individuals who, whether in their personal or representative capacities, through their energies and service, have contributed significantly to public life, the betterment of society, and the interests of humanity. In general, honorary degrees for individuals who have distinguished themselves in political life will be awarded to them only after they have retired from office.
(vi) Honorary degrees will not be conferred in absentia.
(vii) In considering nominations the Board will be mindful of gender balance based on our equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. The decision to make an award both individually and as a collective will be consistent with the University’s EDI values.
6. PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE NOMINATIONS PROCEDURE
6a Authority and procedure governing nominations for Honorary Degrees
Only members of the Honorary Degrees Board may bring proposals forward for consideration by the Board, however any member of the community may approach a member of the Honorary Degrees Board to propose a nomination. The President will issue an annual call to the University community inviting such proposals for nominations.
Nominations should be directed to the appropriate member of the Honorary Degrees Board. Proposals for consideration by the Board should be presented by the Board member in the standard format to the President’s Office with full supporting information. Non-members of the Board wishing to put forward a nomination should do so via a member of the Board.
In seeking nominations for an Honorary Degree, members of the Honorary Degree Board are expected to conduct appropriately discrete consultation on suitability and standing in the field with colleagues in their functional areas of responsibility.
Once reviewed by the Honorary Degrees Board, selected nominations will be subject to a due diligence process and the outcome will influence whether the nomination will be progressed or not.
6b Timescale for nominations
The President’s Office shall write to members of the Honorary Degrees Board to nominate candidates for honorary awards, normally in September each year, inviting them to bring forward their nominations for the awarding of honorary degrees in the coming academic year. The nominations shall be considered by the Honorary Degrees Board and recommendations shall be notified to Academic Council at its next relevant meeting.
7. UCC HONORARY DEGREE TITLES (approved October 2010)
Honorary Doctorates
Degree of Doctor of Arts DArts
Degree of Doctor of Celtic Studies DLittCelt
Degree of Doctor of Economic Science DEconSc
Degree of Doctor of Education DEd
Degree of Doctor of Engineering DEng
Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts DFA
Degree of Doctor of Laws LLD
Degree of Doctor of Civil Laws DCL
Degree of Doctor of Literature DLitt
Degree of Doctor of Medicine DMed
Degree of Doctor of Music DMus
Degree of Doctor of Science DSc
Honorary Masters
Degree of Master of Arts (MA)
Degree of Master of Science (MSc)
8. RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
UCC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to pause and/or discontinue the process of awarding an Honorary Degree or to withdraw an Honorary The decision to withdraw or pause the awarding of an honorary degree will be made by the Honorary Degrees Board.
Membership
- President
- Deputy President & Registrar
- Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences
- Head, College of Business & Law
- Head, College of Medicine & Health
- Head, College of Science, Engineering & Food Science
- Vice President Global Engagement
- Vice President for Research & Innovation
- Vice President for Learning & Teaching
- Director of Business Development and Advancement
- Director of European Relations & Public Affairs
- Director of Student Experience
- Head of Events
- Academic Secretary
Secretariat provided by the President’s Office
Conduct of Business
1. The Honorary Degrees Board will meet as required on the direction of the Chair.
2. The proceedings of the Board shall be strictly confidential.
3. A meeting of the Board shall be quorate when six or more members are present.
4. A proposal to award an honorary degree must be supported by two thirds or more of the full membership.
5. The nominee must not be approached unless and until the Board recommends the award of an honorary degree.
6. Where the Board recommends the award of an honorary degree, the Chair of the Honorary Degrees Board, or his/her nominee, shall approach the nominee to determine if they wish to accept the honour.
7. Where a nominee accepts the nomination, the Chair shall inform the Board and the recommendation for conferment shall be reported to Academic Council at the next appropriate meeting for ratification.
8. The name of a nominee recommended by the Board for an honorary degree shall not be released publicly unless and until the nominee has indicated they wish to accept the honorary degree and the recommendation is ratified by Academic Council. Disclosure after this point is at the discretion of the President with the agreement of the nominee.
Amended Academic Council 16-01-15 (devolution of approvals)
Amended Academic Council 29th June 2012
Approved Academic Council 15th October 2010
Amended September 2022
Approval Date
7 October 2022
Summary of Policy Changes
Updates relating to the criteria, guiding principles and procedures for granting of honorary awards.
Approval Body
Academic Council
8 Further Information
Contact Email:president@ucc.ie
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