Ferdinand von Prondzynski

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski (born 30 June 1954) is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is known as a lawyer, a legal academic, a high profile public commentator and a university leader in Ireland and Scotland. A German-born Irish citizen, he is a former lecturer and Fellow at Trinity College, Dublin, and was later both a Professor and a Dean at the University of Hull, before serving as the high profile second President of Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin, Ireland from 2000 to 2010. He has been Principal of the Robert Gordon University since late March 2011.

He is an authority on employment and commercial law and on certain EU and competition policy matters, and an active commentator on academic affairs and public policy.

Life

Family background

Prondzynski's family were originally of Pomeranian-Kashubian origin, with its earliest records going back to 1366, but his lineage can be traced back with some certainty to 1550. He is a direct descendant of Ferdinand von Prondzynski, a 19th-century Prussian General from Groschowitz near Oppeln in Silesia (now Groszowice, near Opole, Poland).^[1] Konrad, his great-grandfather, started a Silesian cement business in the late 19th century; the town square in Groszowice is named after him. Ferdinand von Prondzynski's grandfather, Alfred, was a lieutenant in the First World War, in which he was seriously wounded; he died later from his wounds, in 1932. His grandmother later re-married in the 1930s to a retired admiral, Karl Feldmann (who worked for the Ministry of Labour) when Ferdinand's father, Hans, was still a young man. Hans von Prondzynski was a captain in the German army during the Second World War{ was wounded several times in battle, and was inter alia awarded the Iron Cross Class 1 (EK1).

After the War, he studied law in Göttingen, and then joined the cement-producing company, Dyckerhoff AG, eventually becoming a director. He married Irene Countess Grote in the Grote family residence at Breese im Bruche, in Lower Saxony (Hanover) in 1950. The house had to be partially demolished in 1958, because of structural damage during the war and post-war years, and he, Irene, their son Ferdinand, and his two sisters, moved to Ireland in 1961. According to Prondzynski, his father's poor health, lack of funds to maintain Breese im Bruche, and a desire for a less stressful lifestyle, meant that Hans and Irene von Prondzynski left Germany and moved to the Knockdrin Castle and estate, near Mullingar, County Westmeath in Ireland. After a few years, Hans grew weary of farming and moved back to Germany and to Dyckerhoff AG, but the family kept their new estate in Ireland, and Hans retired to there in 1982. He died in Ireland in 1998, after a long illness. Irene von Prondzynski still lives in Knockdrin.

Early life and education

After his family moved to Ireland in 1961, Ferdinand von Prondzynski was educated at Headfort School, Kells, County Meath. In 1968 the family returned to Germany, and after a short time in the Schule Schloss Salem boarding school Prondzynski attended the Thomas-Morus Gymnasium in Oelde, passing his Abitur examination in 1972.

Having worked for Dresdner Bank AG in Germany from 1972 to 1974, Prondzynski returned to Ireland and became an Irish citizen in 1976. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1978, with B.A. and LL.B. degrees and received a PhD in Law from the University of Cambridge in 1983.

Academic career

In 1980 Prondzynski was appointed as a Lecturer in the School of Business Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, and became a Fellow of the College in 1987. During this time he became known for his views on industrial relations and labour law matters, often taking an approach sympathetic to the trade union movement^[2] and gaining the name of "the Red Baron."^[3]

Prondzynski's published academic output has been influential in particular in the field of industrial relations and employment law '. In his early work he argued for a disengagement of the law from industrial relations, taking the position that problems and disputes were better resolved through bargaining than through litigation.^[4] The most elaborate expression of his views during this period is contained in his book Freedom of Association and Industrial Relations (1984).^[5] He also co-authored the first academic textbook on Irish employment law.^[6] However, from the later 1980s onwards his views began to change, and he argued for a framework of employment regulation that took account of economic pressures and the need to maintain competitive conditions.^[7] This culminated in his contribution to a major international book in 2000 in which he argued that the law should protect employees' rights, but also promote business success and economic growth.^[8] He has also published a number of books and articles on social policy and in particular on the importance of legal protection against discrimination.^[9]

In 2006 Prondzynski was elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, the highest academic honour in Ireland.^[10]

Hull

From 1991 to 2000 Ferdinand von Prondzynski was Professor of Law in the University of Hull; for much of that time he was also a Dean – first of the School of Law, and latterly of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was also a Director of the British-American Business Council and has achieved national status as an authority on employment and commercial law in Ireland. He is also an expert on European Union matters and on competition (antitrust) policy.^[11]

Dublin City University

Prondzynski became president of Dublin City University (DCU) in July 2000, for a ten-year term. He developed a high public profile and became known for his comments on higher education and other public policy issues.

In his role as president of DCU, he oversaw improvements in the campus facilities, for both students and staff.^[12] Though seen by some as one of the new breed of so-called 'reforming' university presidents, on the whole he avoided the large-scale structural reforms that have characterised the leadership in other third-level institutions ', instead focusing on interdisciplinary 'Academic Themes',^[13] introduced in the University's initial strategic plan during his term, Leading Change (2001). These were designed to reinforce and develop DCU's reputation for cross-disciplinary teaching and research and influence the university's research mission; they had a significant effect on the university's research strategy in particular, and found a place in DCU's organisational structure – but the appointment of 'Theme Leaders' proved to be difficult.

During his tenure, Ferdinand von Prondzynski oversaw several important advances for DCU. The university's performance in attracting research funding was particularly notable. DCU secured several high profile research grants (particularly under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions, and under the Science Foundation Ireland programme for Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation).^[14] The two largest SFI grants have both gone to projects led by DCU.

There was also a continuing drive to develop innovation in teaching and learning. At Prondzynski's proposal, a new post of Vice-President for Learning Innovation was established in 2004, and in 2007 the university adopted a new "Academic Framework for Innovation". DCU tended to be successful in recruiting students, often increasing its share of the total pool of applicants, and this pattern continued under Prondzynski's presidency, even when student applications nationally were decreasing.

The university's achievements were recognised internationally when, in 2007, DCU entered the Times Higher Education World Rankings at number 300.^[15] By 2009 the university had risen in the rankings to 279.^[16]

Prondzynski was highly accessible to students, including having a presence on social networking sites,^[3] sent regular letters and emails to all students, and had an "open door" policy. He presided over a new phase of work by the university's fundraising trust, pioneering an annual telethon, a scheme for regular donors, and the boosting of "access scholarships" for those who could not otherwise afford to go to university.

Controversy

According to one newspaper profile, Prondzynski was liked by colleagues at DCU, even when there were disagreements.^[3] Several other commentaries on his presidency highlight controversy.^{[17][18][19][20][21]} During his tenure as President of DCU there were three high profile employment law cases involving senior members of academic staff at the university that received much media attention and which the university lost on appeal on each occasion, including one appeal to the Supreme Court.^[22][23][24]

There was also controversy over new contracts of employment and negotiations on a new disciplinary procedure, which had begun before Prondzynski's term of office but continued throughout his tenure without any resolution.^[25] As part of this controversy, a vote of no confidence in the senior management of the university was narrowly passed by the staff who voted, while several Dáil questions were raised on this matter by the Green Party in parliament.^[26] There was further controversy when Prondzynski was criticised by his colleagues and also by union officials for postponing Executive elections at the university when a senior academic (who was also one of the litigants) was nominated as a candidate.^[27]

Robert Gordon University

Prondzynski became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of The Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the end of March 2011, and immediately developed a high profile in Scottish higher education. In June 2011 the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, appointed Prondzynski to chair a national review of university governance (see below).^[28]

In a number of interviews and public statements, Prondzynski declared that he wanted Robert Gordon University to be a leader in the development of Scottish economic and cultural growth. In 2012 he also became associated with the proposal, prompted by the university's Chancellor, Sir Ian Wood, to redevelop the area around Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens. He was a prominent signatory of a letter addressed to the City Council urging it to adopt the proposal for a new 'City Garden'.

Prondzynski has also made several public statements questioning British public policy designed to focus research funding on a small number of older universities, arguing that all excellent research should have the potential to be funded regardless of the university that hosts it, and arguing also that some of this funding should be directed more closely to match national economic priorities.^[29]

In early 2013, Prondzynski took a leading role in a high profile local campaign by the university to prompt the regeneration of the Aberdeen city centre.^[30]

Review of governance of Scottish universities

In 2011 the Scottish Ministers commissioned Prondzynski to chair a review of higher education governance. The review was welcomed by student and staff representatives across the university sector. Initially the University and College Union (UCU) raised concerns about the appointment of Prondzynski to chair the review, because of a then ongoing dispute about recognition of the union by at his university, RGU, which predated Prondzynski's appointment as Principal.^[31] This dispute was subsequently resolved, and in the event the UCU strongly endorsed the published report.

Prondzynski's committee reported in January 2012, and the report was published by the Scottish government in February 2012.^[32] The report was generally well received,^[33] but some of its recommendations - and in particular the recommendation that the chairs of governing bodies should be elected - were seen as controversial and radical. Overall the report suggested that Scotland's universities were part of the wider idea of the 'democratic intellect' and should behave in a transparent and accountable manner. The report also recommended that universities should enjoy institutional autonomy, and that they should maintain and defend academic freedom.

The Scottish government welcomed the recommendations of the review, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced to the Scottish Parliament that the government would implement its findings. In November 2014 the Scottish Government published a consultation document in which it declared its intention to introduce a statute implementing key aspects of the Prondzynski governance review.^[34]

Public profile

Prondzynski is the author of a widely read and quoted blog^[35] and has a presence on Twitter.^[36] He also has a weekly column in the Irish Times newspaper. In his blog and elsewhere he has made statements about the benefits of immigration, the risks to universities caused by the failure of the Irish Department of Education and Science to prioritise higher education, and the need to recover civility and courtesy in society.^[3] He has also been one of the advocates for a re-think on the 'free fees' scheme in Ireland, under which Irish and EU students pay only "registration" fees – he has argued that too much of the money spent on this goes to wealthier people who do not need it, while poorer students are neglected.^[37] He has also criticised the so-called 'points system' in Ireland which determines student entry into university courses.^[38] He has argued for a 're-think' on the numbers of lawyers educated and trained at Irish universities contending that there are too many,^[39] although during his time DCU approved the establishment of a new BCL law degree.^[40] He made similar comments about the number of law graduates in Scotland when giving evidence in March 2012 before the Scottish Parliament's Education and Culture Committee. More recently he has argued for higher levels of entrepreneurship and interaction between universities and industry in Scotland.^[41]

Other roles

Prondzynski was a member of the Irish National Competitiveness Council between 2002 and 2011, and is a non-executive Director of the formerly NASDAQ-listed e-learning company Skillsoft. In April 2011 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Educate Together.

For two years he was also chair of the Research Advisory Committee of the National Disability Authority, and for ten years from 2000 he was a Director of the Irish National Chamber Choir.^[42]

Personal life

Ferdinand von Prondzynski is married to Heather Ingman, Professor of English Literature at Trinity College Dublin and an academic author and novelist; she has also been an occasional writer in the Irish Times; they have two sons, Sebastian and Theo. Prondzynski is a member of the Church of Ireland and a keen follower of Newcastle United football club.^[43][44] He is also a keen amateur photographer,^[45] and DCU published several calendars of his photographs. The Prondzynski family home is Knockdrin Castle and estate, near Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. In September 2010 Prof. Prondzynski was invested by H.E. Don Carlos de Gereda y de Borbón as a Knight of Justice in the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.

External links

• Biography on webpage of The Robert Gordon University
• Blog by Ferdinand von Prondzynski
• Ferdinand von Prondzynski speaking at Ignite Dublin #1

References

The Robert Gordon University
Founder	Robert Gordon
Campus	Garthdee campus
Governance	Chancellor: Ian Wood (businessman) Principal: Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Academic	Gray's School of Art Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment School of Computing Science and Digital Media
Other	Academic dress of the Robert Gordon University