The university has been named as one of the world's top 50 universities that are under 50 years old, numerous times, by the QS World University Rankings list. DCU's QS World University ranking is 391st (jointly) for 2018 and it is ranked in the 51-60 bracket among universities less than 50 years old. In accordance with legislation, the University is directed by a policy-making Governing Body, whose functions are outlined in the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, Act, 1980, amended in the Dublin City University Act, 1989 which raised the institution's status to that of a university and provided for related matters. There are several other important acts concerning the college include the Universities Act, 1997, which allows for the creation of University Statutes. The Governing Body's 31 members are chosen by a wide range of groups and authorities, and include members elected by staff (in various classes) and students (ex-officio based on elections of Students Union officers). Graduates can directly elect one member. One further graduate member is also put forward by the Educational Trust. The university is headed, titularly, by the Chancellor. As of 2019, the Chancellor of Dublin City University is Martin McAleese, who was preceded by Ireland's former EU Commissioner and Attorney General, David Byrne. Byrne was in turn preceded by the Hon Ms Justice Mella Carroll who in turn was preceded by Dr. Tom Hardiman. Academic Council and its Standing Committee oversee the teaching and research work of the university, and there are Faculty and other administrative structures below that. Most academic structures do have student representation. The academic organisation of the university is arranged into faculties and schools. DCU has recently undergone some reorganisation on the faculty level, with an incorporation process establishing one of Europe's largest Institutes of Education. There are currently five faculties. DCU houses the country's first purpose-built university nursing school. The University was the first University in Ireland to establish a European Master of Business Informatics course. DCU has a long history of distance education and offers a number of undergraduate, postgraduate online courses and degree programmes delivered through DCU Connected. It also hosts the National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL), which aims to be a world leader at the forefront of designing, implementing and evaluating contemporary models of digital, blended and online learning. The NIDL also manages the design and delivery of a growing suite of free online courses (i.e., MOOCs) through Ireland's Open Learning Academy.