The National Forum is overseen by an academically-led Board comprising fifteen members, one of whom is the designated non-executive Chair, Dr Lynn Ramsey. In line with its governance arrangements, the National Forum recently began the process of renewing membership of its Board. Reflecting the inclusive ethos of the National Forum, and the intention to ensure its work is informed by the perspective and expertise of students, academics and policy partners, the Board comprises representatives of the Union of Student in Ireland (USI), Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and the Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA), the CEO of THEA (or nominee), the CEO of the IUA (or nominee) and three nominees each from the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA)/Department of Education and Skills (DES). The Board also meets an international advisory panel twice per year.
The new Board of the National Forum is as follows:
| Dr. Lynn Ramsey | Chairperson | |
| Prof. Marie Clarke | University College Dublin
(Deputy Chairperson) |
IUA nominee |
| Mr Tim Conlon | Head of Policy and Strategic Planning, HEA | HEA nominee |
| Dr. Sharon Feeney | Technological University Dublin and Deputy Chair, HEA | HEA/DES nominee |
| Ms Clare McGee | Head of Education and Innovation Policy, Ibec | HEA/DES nominee |
| Mr. Kevin McStravock | VP for Academic Affairs, USI | USI representative |
| Ms. Karena Maguire* | Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, QQI | QQI representative |
| Mr Lewis Purser | Director of Academic Affairs, IUA | Nominee of the CEO of the IUA |
| Dr. Jim Murray | Director of Academic Affairs and Deputy CEO, THEA | Nominee of the CEO of THEA |
| Dr. Jen Harvey* | TU Dublin | THEA nominee |
| Dr. Martin Fitzgerald* | Limerick Institute of Technology | THEA nominee |
| Dr. Niall Seery | Athlone Institute of Technology | THEA nominee |
| Dr Leo Casey | National College of Ireland | HECA nominee |
| Prof. Kerstin Mey | University of Limerick | IUA nominee |
| Prof Paul McSweeney | University College Cork | IUA nominee |
*Board members who have served three years and are due to step down in the coming months
The National Forum Board oversees the realisation of the mission of the National Forum, and its vision of a valued and informed teaching and learning culture in Irish higher education. In response to the input received from the higher education sector through a nationwide consultation in 2018, now reflected in the National Forum Strategy 2019-21, four areas will be prioritised in the coming years: the professional development of all those who teach, teaching and learning in a digital world, teaching and learning enhancement within and across disciplines, and student success. National Forum annual workplans are constructed according to these key strategic priorities and the high-level aims towards which they aspire. A key focus for the new Board will be collaborating with the HEA and DES to ensure that the National Forum is established on a sustainable basis, as recommended by its 2017 external review.
Welcoming new members of the Board, the Chair also took the opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contribution of outgoing members, Dr Iain McLaren (NUI Galway), Dr Aidan Mulkeen (Maynooth University) and outgoing Deputy Chair, Dr Joseph Ryan (THEA).
