Local man is new Open University Director in Ireland
LISBURN man John D'Arcy, currently Chief Executive of the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges, has been named as the next Director of the Open University in Ireland and will be joining the University on October 4.
Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University is delighted to have Mr D'Arcy on board as the next Director, with his experience in the education and private sector along with being an active citizen involved in sport, culture and social enterprise. "John is an ideal person to build on those relationships and to take us to an exciting future, in which The Open university contributes actively to the development of the economy, culture and civil society on both sides of the border'" said Mr Bean.
Mr D'Arcy graduated from Queens University Belfast with a degree in Psychology before going on to become a research fellow at the Northern ireland Council for Educational Research and later principle officer at the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
He has published various education articles such as assessment and examination systems in Northern Ireland as well as moving to the private sector for five years in 1997 as Director of BDO Stoy Hayward office in Northern Ireland, an international business services company.
John has extensive public service experience as a Chair and Board member and is a member of the current Northern Ireland Higher Education review and of Matrix, the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel. He was the founding Chairman of Audience NI (20042008) set up to grow and diversify audiences for the arts and cuiteural sector, he is a Board member of Sport Northern Ireland, the Northern Commonwealth Game Council, Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, which promotes Irish medium education and schools in Northern Ireland, and sat on the board of BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland from 2004-2007.
In 2005, with help from Northern Irish musicians Snow Patrol, he founded the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast which provides a physical location for various strands of the music industry to grow and interact.
Ulster Star
20/08/2010
