Ninth Level Ireland

“College chiefs have warned that a huge hike in registration charges – now €1,500 a year – is necessary to avert a funding crisis. The warning came amid fears that the quality of Irish higher education will suffer unless more money is forthcoming. The Higher Education Authority estimated that €500m would be needed to meet rising demand and ensure that the quality of what was on offer was maintained …” (more)

[Ralph Riegel and John Walshe, Independent, 29 October]

“… The career choice for more and more young Irish graduates is to leave these bankrupt shores and escape to greener pastures. All of my fellow 2009 graduates seem to have fled Ireland, the same as myself, or else have retreated into a master’s degree for one more year’s insulation from the real world. Are we back to the brain drain of the 1980s? …” (more)

[Shane Fitzgerald, Irish Times, 29 October]

“Middle-class parents who spend vast amounts of money on their children in fee paying schools would be as well off sending them to free-education schools, a leading researcher claimed last night. Her comments came as new figures showed that one in every three students who enrolled in University College Dublin (UCD) last month came from fee-paying or grind schools …” (more)

[John Walsh, Independent, 29 October]

“On a day when its scientists were making international headlines, University College Cork listed high-quality, research-led teaching as a core focus of its ambitions for the next three years. Its strategic plan for 2009 to 2012 was developed in consultation with students and staff over the past year, with some key goals based on improved student experience, more flexible opportunities for lifelong learning and increased postgraduate and research activities …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 29 October]

“Push for 3 million students by 2012 as Commission aims to bolster programme. It involves more than 4,000 higher education institutions in 31 countries, has been running for 22 years and has just celebrated the participation of its 2 millionth student. But Erasmus, the European Commission’s flagship overseas-study programme, could be in danger of missing its targets despite student mobility now being at the heart of Europe’s education agenda …” (more)

[Phil Baty, Times Higher Education, 29 October]

“College registration fees will have to rise if the quality of education for third-level students is to be maintained, the head of the country’s second largest university has claimed. Dr Michael Murphy was speaking as he launched a strategic plan for University College Cork (UCC), which sets a target of increasing non-Exchequer funding by 50%, or up to €12 million a year, by 2012 …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 29 October]

“It is unacceptable for NUI, Galway not to provide a proper park and ride facility and unacceptable for students, or ‘mannerless future academics’, to park illegally in areas of Newcastle. This is the view of Labour councillor Billy Cameron. He has accused NUIG of ‘failing to provide a proper park and ride facility’ near the Corrib Village student residences and criticised students who park illegally in the Newcastle estates. Cllr Cameron has facilitated numerous meetings over the last five years between residents’ associations and NUIG to advance parking solutions in the Newcastle area …” (more)

[Kernan Andrews, Galway Advertiser, 29 October]

“A growing fear of being sued can affect the conduct of scientific research. Scientists have already begun to face legal cases while attempting to carry out research studies, according to leading author Simon Singh. Mr Singh was speaking from the UK via a video link last night at a special event at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin. Asked whether he thought legal actions might inhibit research he said, ‘Yes I do’ …” (more)

[Dick Ahlstrom, Irish Times, 29 October]

“‘Academic narcissism’ and a focus on self-promotion over scholarly substance are being blamed for bringing the humanities and the social sciences to the brink. At a conference on the future of the disciplines held in Brussels last week, scholars warned that they were on a self-destructive course. One of those to sound the alarm was Sasa Bozic, associate professor of sociology at the University of Zadar, Croatia, who accused his peers of displaying narcissistic traits …” (more)

[Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education, 29 October]

“Angry students yesterday asked parents to join them in their protests against third-level registration fees. Students will be staging a series of nationwide protests as they fear the annual charge may be further increased in the forthcoming Budget. The cost of the annual registration fee rose from €900 last September to €1,500 this year …” (more)

[Louise Hogan, Independent, 28 October]

“The number 10 bus route through University College Dublin was reinstated yesterday following extensive talks between Dublin Bus, UCD and UCD’s student union. The number 10 operates inside the campus from the bus stop beside the Quinn school of business and the school of engineering building. It ceased operating after 9pm in September 2008 due to the antisocial behaviour of students at night time …” (more)

[Orla Tinsley, Irish Times, 29 October]

“As a female professor, are you called rude and abrasive while your male colleagues who make similar statements are simply labeled assertive? Has your department head discouraged you from taking an assignment, saying that because you have children you might not be able to handle it? If things like that have happened to you, yell: ‘Bingo!’ …” (more)

[Robin Wilson, Chronicle of Higher Education, 28 October]

“The number of students seeking help for mental health difficulties at an occupational therapy service for students more than doubled last year. Unilink, a special service at Trinity College Dublin which supports students experiencing mental issues, released its five-year report revealing the service helped 107 students in 2008/2009 compared with 50 students in the previous year …” (more)

[Jennifer Hough, Irish Examiner, 29 October]

“Three NUI Galway research scientists have been awarded grants as part of a €7.9million Science Foundation Ireland grant scheme. Dr Kimon Andreas Karatzas, Dr Eva Szegezdi and Dr Hongyun Tai all received grants in excess of half a million euro from the Government-run scheme announced last week by Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Conor Lenihan. According to Minister Lenihan, investments such as this are vital to Ireland’s future research projects …” (more)

[Galway Independent, 28 October]

“Talks between the Department of Finance and public sector unions are to be held today on Government proposals to reduce the public sector pay bill by €1.3 billion next year. Separately, public sector unions are also to meet today to consider a proposal put forward by the Impact trade union for a one-day national public sector strike on November 24th in protest against any further cuts in pay for the 300,000-plus staff on the State payroll. Reductions in the public sector pay bill will not necessarily involve cuts in pay. There have been a number of signals from the Government in recent days on how these proposed savings could be generated …” (more)

[Seán MacConnell and Martin Wall, Irish Times, 28 October]

“There are fears of strike action at two universities, with a dispute over the sacking of a lecturer at one and worries of job losses at the other. The University and College Union (UCU) at Glydwr University, Wrexham holds a ballot over claims a lecturer was sacked for exposing alleged bullying …” (more)

[BBC News, 28 October]

“Universities will today be urged to strike a deal with high street banks to stop another rise in tuition fees for all students. Some university leaders want tuition fees to rise from the current cap of £3,225 a year in England to more than £7,000. But the government may not be able to afford this because it subsidises loans that allow students to pay fees upfront and then repay the loan after graduation. Those universities that want to charge higher fees should make a pact with high street banks, Richard Brown, former chief executive of the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE), will tell university leaders at a conference in London …” (more)

[Jessica Shepherd, Guardian, 28 October]

“Thousands of students could be forced to drop out of college if the Government sanctions further increases in third level registration fees in December’s budget, it was claimed yesterday. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is seeking assurances from Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe that he will not allow another rise in the fee charged by colleges, which rose by 66% from €900 to €1,500 this autumn …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 28 October]

“A new study aiming to provide an in-depth survey of the Muslim community in Ireland and its future place in Irish society was launched last night by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin. The research project is being carried out by Dr Oliver Scharbrodt of the study of religions department at University College Cork who will collaborate with three other researchers in the course of the three-year study …” (more)

[Barry Roche, Irish Times, 28 October]

“Primary principals have insisted that they are giving priority to newly qualified teachers for substitution work but said graduates could be taken off the dole if the Government set up a supply panel system. Around 20 groups of primary schools around the country share teams of teachers to cover sick leave, administrative leave for principals and other absences, meaning there is no difficulty in arranging substitution or other cover at short notice …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 28 October]