Griffith College
Professor Diarmuid Hegarty is the founder and President of Griffith College, Ireland’s largest independent third-level institution, with campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Dublin, is a Barrister-at-Law of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (Barrister-at-Law; BComm, UCD; FCA).
Since establishing Business and Accounting Training (BAT) in 1974, later renamed Griffith College, he has led its development into a multi-campus institution with over 8,000 learners annually and more than 40,000 alumni. Under his leadership, Griffith has grown into a €30 million education enterprise with a strong culture of inclusion, flexible pathways and internationalisation.
He is also a founder of the Higher Education Colleges Association. Professor Hegarty has served on numerous professional and public boards, including the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Higher Education Quality Network (as former Chair), Baggot Street Hospital (board member and trustee), and Friends of the Vocal Arts (Chair and trustee).
Appointed Professor at Beijing Information Science & Technology University in 2012, he is actively engaged in international higher education and supports diverse, cross-border learning opportunities for students and staff in Ireland and across Europe.
