Controversial restructuring plans approved by the board of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have led to a reduction in the number of faculties from six to five, and the establishment of 20 new schools and "vice-deaneries".
The move follows a period of fierce debate about the future make-up of the college, and means students returning to TCD after the summer holidays will notice significant changes to the way in which it operates.
Under the plans, which came into effect last month, decision-making powers have been devolved to 17 new schools. These will in turn devise a single plan for the entire school and its departments.
However, following strong resistance from some of the university's most senior academics, or fellows, no department or discipline has been forced to join the new schools.
Instead, several well-known TCD departments, such as Genetics, Law, Education and English, have chosen to operate within a looser "vice-deanery" structure. Under this arrangement, departments report to a vice-dean, and are not expected to integrate their academic and other resources.
Larger departments may eventually also be allowed to establish themselves as independent schools. There are currently three "vice-dean" groupings at the college.
The number of faculties at TCD have also been reduced from six to five, with deans within the five faculties only acting as "honest brokers" on strategic and other matters. None of the 64 existing departments have been abolished under the plans. But some critics have warned this may happen in the future if departments do not meet certain demands placed on them. These include increased pressure to attract large numbers of students and funding for research activity.
Many of the departments which have decided not to join the 17 fully-integrated schools are among those which have previously been most strongly opposed to Dr Hegarty's original restructuring proposals.
Several well-known language departments, including French, Germanic studies, Italian and Russian, also operate within one of the new "vice-deaneries."
In an interview with The Irish Times, Dr Hegarty acknowledged the process of restructuring had been difficult at times. He also acknowledged his plans had altered significantly since he made his original proposals to the college community.
But he said this was an indication that TCD had engaged in a "very open debate" and could now plan ahead with confidence.
"We have come out the other end of a whole year of debate on this whole issue," he said.
"What we did [in the last year] was basically to have our resources follow students more directly than before. So now the resources will flow to those academic units where there is greatest student demand, where research is more intense."
Dr Hegarty added that TCD aims to increase the number of non-EU undergraduate students enrolling at the college from around 7 per cent currently to 10 per cent by 2009. It also hopes to attract some €50 million in philanthropic donations this year, up from €10 million the year before.