NAME: Mike Jennings
OCCUPATION: General Secretary, Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT)

Where are you from?
Galway

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Seeing shapes in the clouds (some things do not change!).

How many siblings have you?
Six

Where did you go to school/college?
“The Bish”, Galway and UCG (I know it is now NUIG, but it will always be UCG to me).

Was there a teacher or lecturer who had a particular influence on you?
I liked Dr Hubert McDermott in the English Department.

What attracted you to work on behalf of University Teachers?
The importance of a good education system for me and my children as citizens.

Do University Teachers get a fair deal?
No!

What in particular do you want to achieve for University Teachers?
More respect.

What is the greatest challenge of your current job?
The variety of problems.

What does a typical workday involve for you?
8:45am – 7pm.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety of solutions.

What do you like least about your work?
I don’t dwell on such topics.

What would you most like to change?
The World.

What is the best thing that has happened to you in the past year?
Becoming General Secretary of IFUT, of course!

Are you a workaholic?
I don’t think so, my wife may not agree.

What do you do to chill out?
I like food, cooking it and especially eating it.

Are you married?
Yes, and I have 2 sons.

Do you like living in Dublin?
Yes.

What plans have you for the future? 
(1) Achieving a good deal for IFUT members in the next round of pay talks.
(2) Strengthening co-operation between the education trade unions.

Have you a pet hate?
People whose only measure is the profit margin.

Have you a role model?
No, but my all time hero is Nelson Mandela.

Have you a message for University Teachers?
Don’t let them! Fight Back. Join IFUT.

Have you a message for policy makers?
Stop regarding education as being only for a job! It’s for life.