Ninth Level Ireland

“… What is really striking about this article is the lack of of reference to university ranking systems as a key variable in student choices. No mention whatsoever! So, rather than imagining hordes of students feverishly studying these rankings and choosing to apply to number 43 rather than number 87 (or some such ranking), students are much more likely to make applications on the basis of what is known within their own social networks …” (more)

[Shane O'Mara, Irishscience, 30 March]

“A record number of students have applied for college places this year according to analysis of CAO applications released by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) today. A study carried out by Dr Vivienne Patterson, head of Statistics at the HEA, which is being presented to the authority today, shows the number of applicants reached a record high of 71,843 in 2010, an increase of 6.2 per cent from 2009 …” (more)

[Pamela Newenham, Irish Times, 30 March]

“I’ve been doing a lot of writing recently and, since time is always precious, trying to figure out ways of increasing my productivity. My current favourite tactic is to write in short bursts, working on a text until lunchtime before switching to do a different kind of research for the rest of the afternoon …” (more)

[Kevin O’Sullivan, Pue's Occurrences, 30 March]

“I spoke this morning at the Irish Universities Association event on corporate governance. The main theme of my presentation was the dangers inherent in poor stewardship of intellectual property and the processes therein. This in turn is one major reason for the urgent need for a national intellectual property protocol …” (more)

[Chrisjhorn's Blog, 30 March]

“Trinity College 72-79 UCD Marian UCD claimed victory in this year’s Basketball Colours with an effective win over Trinity College. UCD Marian took on Trinity College last Friday evening at the Trinity Sports centre in a thrilling encounter which saw UCD originally build up an early lead, only for their rivals to come roaring back late on …” (more)

[Killian Woods, University Observer, 30 March]

“University rugby clubs and student societies should be banned from holding booze-fuelled initiation ceremonies, a group of Government advisers has said. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs attacked what it called the ”culture of excessive drinking” in universities and colleges …” (more)

[Daily Telegraph, 30 March]

“In the last few moments, UCD Students’ Union President has been elected next year’s President of the Union of Students in Ireland. In a tightly-fought election this lunchtime which was sent to three recounts, Redmond defeated current USI Equality Officer Kelly by 109 votes to 107, with three votes to re-open nominations …” (more)

[Gavan Reilly, University Observer, 30 March]

“On 1.03.10 Claude Moraes MEP tabled this question to the European Commission: ‘EQUAL TREATMENT OF NON-ITALIAN UNIVERSITY LECTURERS IN ITALY: Since 1989, the European Court of Justice has ruled three times that Italy has failed to fulfil its obligations under the provisions of the EC Treaty guaranteeing freedom of movement for workers …’” (more)

[David Petrie: Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy, 30 March]

“No further pay cuts until at least 2014; there is to be significant cost-saving reform measures across all parts of the public service; review of extent of savings generate to be held in Spring 2011 to determine if scope for any reimbursement of pay cuts; …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 30 March]

“The get-out-of-jail clause is important, given the uncertainties over how quickly we can regain competitiveness: ‘However the deal says that the implementation of the measures set out in the document is subject to there being no unforeseen deterioration in the Government’s finances …’” (discussion thread)

[Philip Lane, The Irish Economy, 30 March]

“Plans for a €500m college development – the biggest educational project for decades – will go before the Cabinet shortly, the Irish Independent has learned. Former Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe recently finalised a memo seeking Government approval for transferring the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) to the north inner city Grangegorman site …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 30 March]

“Trade union leaders and Government officials have reached an agreement on public sector pay and widespread reform of the public service following lengthy talks chaired by senior officials of the Labour Relations Commission …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 30 March]

“Almost 1,700 students are still waiting for payment of their grants for more than six months, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has claimed …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 30 March]

“Government representatives were last night said to be tabling proposals on the reform of public sector pensions before the talks with the unions move on to the key issue of how reforms will be measured, and the system for the reversal of recent public sector wage cuts …” (more)

[Scott Millar, Irish Examiner, 30 March]

“… Our universities are a huge talent bank, but they could do more. The criteria for advancement in academia may not coincide with the goal society would set for an Irish university in this time of scarce resources. They do not do enough to promote new business development. Their teaching hours are often too short, and they could accommodate far more foreign students …” (more)

[John Bruton, Irish Times, 30 March]

“Over recent years the debates on higher education funding have addressed not just whether that funding is sufficient, but also increasingly how it should be distributed. In the context the growing volume of science funding, often linked to economic development priorities, has sometimes raised the issue of whether science and engineering have got a better deal than the humanities, the arts and the social sciences …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 29 March]

“The new Limerick Galway train route is very welcome. It should help with the UL NUIG alliance.” (tweet)

[UL Environmental Com, Twitter, 29 March]

“Figures show a 33% increase in the number of managers in higher education in the last five years. Why has this happened? …” (more)

[Tariq Tahir, Guardian, 30 March]

“As noted in a recent GlobalHigherEd entry by Kris Olds (‘The Global Bologna Policy Forum: a forum for the emerging global higher education and research space?’ 13 March 2010), the development of the Bologna Forum brings the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) firmly into the international relations domain. But I think it is instructive to know about the politics too, as a minimum to learn how the Forum idea emerged …” (more)

[Anne Corbett, Global Higher Ed, 29 March]

“It’s hard to answer that all encompassing question – what is Erasmus like? I’ve thought about it many times and I guess now – sitting on the balcony of my sunkissed apartment, basking in the early springtime warmth, cradling my goblet of wine at 11 in the morning and eating a French baguette peppered with sophistication and exclusivity – is the time to tell you …” (more)

[Amy Coleman, Cork Student News, 29 March]