About
University Blog is written by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, who was Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland between 2011 and 2018. He was previously President of Dublin City University, Ireland, between 2000 and 2010, and Professor of Law at the University of Hull between 1991 and 2000. He began his academic career as Lecturer in Industrial Relations at Trinity College Dublin.
He is a lawyer by training, and also has some voluntary and business interests. He is also known as a writer, public commentator and photographer.
Ferdinand von Prondzynski can be contacted at
F.von-Prondzynski@rgu.ac.uk
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What they are saying about University Blog:
” A BREAK with the conservative traditions of academic discourse, the DCU president Ferdinand von Prondzynski has entered cyberspace with his own personal blog.
The blog – named the “Diary of a University President” – will chronicle the daily life of Dr von Prondzynski, who is one of the more outspoken figures in Irish higher education.
To date, the president has posted blogs on his own battle with lumbago as well as musings about the supposed “modernisation” of higher education.
In characteristic style, he says universities have become just about the “most conservative and reactionary bodies in society”.
The DCU president is also planning a blog on MySpace and Facebook in order to reach students in what he sees as their own natural habitats. Dr von Prondzynski, who is in the eighth year of a 10-year contract at DCU, has been hugely successful in building the strong reputation of the college, based in Glasnevin, north Dublin.”
(Sean Flynn, the Irish Times)
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What an incredible ego!! The blog is unbelievable drivel.
(Anonymous, referring to University Blog on another blogsite)
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[Ferdinand von Prondzynski] has not much to offer, like a retired Taoiseach no longer knows what goes on at Cabinet. He should take the other Drumcondra man’s lead, and bow out of Irish media gracefully.
(Michael Seery, Dublin Institute of Technology)
University Blog 
July 30, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I surfed across your blog today and I came to appreciate what you have here. I have added you to my Humor Blog blogroll and was wondering if you might add me to yours? Either way, thanks for the great experience of visiting your site and hope you enjoy mine. Thanks Kerry Ann
August 14, 2008 at 1:29 pm
This blog certainly isn’t unbelievable drivel. It’s smart and a joy to read.
January 16, 2009 at 3:12 pm
As a student of DCU, and someone not a stranger by any means to third level education and academia I find your blog quite refreshing, enlightening and an excellent take on Irish society and third level education.
Looking forward to your future entries.
March 6, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I truly appreciate ‘Anonymous’ having the courage of his convictions in slagging off this blog and author, and then following it up in a suitably principled manner with great belief and bravery of been frightened to leave his name. ‘What an incredible ego!!’, I think it’s more of a case of “What an incredible coward!!’.
March 8, 2009 at 12:40 am
Thank you, Ed – I think the comment was intended as cutting attack, but I found it rather lame and therefore amusing.
March 8, 2009 at 12:50 am
Well I can see your point but I was more trying to encompass his style into mine so a I don’t think a cutting attack would of suited as I don’t think it would of being warranted although if you thinnk a cutting attack is what is needed just let me know!!
March 8, 2009 at 12:53 am
I am now beginning to think that the ‘lame’ critique was meant for anon and not me……well it is nearly 01.00!!!!
March 8, 2009 at 1:09 am
Ed, ‘anon’ was indeed my target! The comment was some time ago taken off the blog on which it first appeared, but it still amuses me. Thanks again!
March 8, 2009 at 1:11 am
Well, I guess there’s some village out there missing their idiot!!
August 18, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Professor I would like to send a private comment on one of your blogs Arrivals , the continuing story of immigration. Can you let me have an email address where I can send it. I would post it on the comment section but I would rather it was not published.
Great blog BTW. I look forward to some interesting debates with you.
October 29, 2009 at 1:15 pm
[…] Prof. Ferdinand von Prondzynski (Dublin City University, Ireland) […]
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[…] He was President of Dublin City University, Ireland, between July 2000 and July 2010. Ferdinand is a prolific blogger and maintains universities have become just about the “most conservative and reactionary […]
November 24, 2011 at 9:06 pm
[…] quotes recent criticism from ex-DCU President Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Here’s the situation. We have a final secondary school examination that we all know isn’t fit […]
July 18, 2013 at 1:06 pm
[…] von Prondzynski, F https://universitydiary.wordpress.com/about/ (accessed […]
November 11, 2013 at 7:54 pm
[…] Despite my semi-retirement I retain a keen interest in what’s happening in Higher Education, not least because it’s supposed to be where the best brains of the future are being educated. (More on that in a moment). So I’m fascinated by the very different kinds of blogs that seek to reflect on the current state of HE. On the positive side there’s the blog written by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, who was formally President of Dublin City University, Ireland, between July 2000 and July 2010. A lawyer by training, and with some voluntary and business interests, he is also known as a writer, public commentator and photographer. He almost always has something interesting to say and I always look forward to seeing what he’s added to https://universitydiary.wordpress.com/ […]