Tom Duff
Description
Tom Duff was initially a lecturer in Bolton Street and served
as Academic Registrar of the Institute from 1985 until his
retirement in 2009. He is a native of Belfast, and in the
recording he discusses his background and early
education. Having attended the Royal Naval College in
Portsmouth for three years as an apprentice, he returned to
Belfast and worked as a draughtsman for some years. He
then began his studies in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s
University, and from 1972 he worked with Harland & Wolff
where he remained for three years. He then lectured and
was later appointed Head of the Engineering Department at
the Regional Technical College in Dundalk. He discusses
his work as Academic Registrar in great detail in this
interview. His responsibilities included the co-ordination
and management of the Academic Council as well as
involvement with the National Qualifications Authority of
Ireland. He discusses the transition from the City of Dublin
VEC to the DIT and the challenges this entailed. The
changes which came about in his post over the years, and
the highs and lows experienced during his career as he
sees them, are all examined in this recording.