“Billed as the only fully student run orchestra in Ireland, Trinity Orchestra were founded in 1984. The orchestra have performed symphonic arrangements of modern music in the past few years, Sígur Rós in 2009 and Radiohead in 2010. This year they played Daft Punk’s album ‘Discovery’ …” (more, video)
[Alan Reilly, State, 28 April]
“If you can believe it – because we certainly can’t – it’s been nearly two years since the Pue’s Occurrences collective made its first contributions to the blogosphere. To celebrate, from today Pue’s is moving to a new – and simpler – address …” (more)
[Pue's Occurrences, 28 April]
“Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) will play its part in supporting the continued development of the region, according to Michael Carmody who recently took up his new position as the GMIT president. Mr Carmody commenced his new role as president of GMIT last week taking over from acting president Jim Fennell …” (more)
[Galway Advertiser, 28 April]
“Union leaders have told teachers how the Croke Park agreement has tied their hands on taking industrial action. Demands from delegates at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) conference to be allowed to use such action – as a weapon against job cuts affecting the most disadvantaged pupils – were overruled …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 28 April]
“Fine Gael’s strong performance in the 2011 Seanad elections continued last night as the party elected five members in the 11-seat Labour panel – putting daylight between itself and Fianna Fáil as it moves clearly towards being the biggest party in the upper house …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 28 April]
“After the anger generated in the Irish university community over the second phase of the government’s ‘employment control framework’ (under which staff recruitment and promotions in higher education are heavily restricted by the state), it might be asked what has happened to the whole thing …” (more)
[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 28 April]
“More than 10 years ago the government recognised the need to invest in high-quality research as a key driver for economic and social development. The universities argued successfully to be the main location for State investment in RD as opposed to establishing independent research institutes …” (more)
[Conor O'Carroll, Irish Times, 28 April]
“Madam, – In the Editorial, ‘Putting Ireland top of the class’ (April 25th), it was incorrectly stated 15-year-olds in Ireland achieved ‘only average in science’ in OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), administered in 2009. In fact, in all four PISA cycles to date, Irish students have performed significantly above the corresponding OECD average in science …” (more)
[Gerry Shiel, Irish Times, 28 April]
“Not a single university will have its fees renegotiated by the government body charged with approving them, it emerged yesterday. The Office for Fair Access (Offa) does not plan to stop any universities charging the fees they have applied for, The Independent understands, leaving the Government with a £1bn deficit …” (more)
[Joe Dyke and Oliver Wright, Independent, 28 April]
“Recently I attended a public lecture by a noted academic, and was intrigued that before he began his address he took out an iPod and attached it to a sound system and switched it on. It played the ‘Trout Quintet’ by Schubert …” (more)
[Ferdinand on Prondzynski, University Blog, 28 April]
“Public confidence in the integrity of the State exams must be maintained in any shake-up of the Junior Cert, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland conference was told. Breda Lyons (Kerry) said the proposed reform of the exam was motivated by cost cutting …” (more)
[Sean Flynn, Irish Times, 28 April]
“Minister got applause, even though he will be pursuing the previous government’s policies. What a difference a year makes. When Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn addressed the Teachers’ Union of Ireland annual congress in Tralee yesterday, he received a politely warm reception …” (more)
[Barry Roche, Irish Times, 28 April]
“Secondary schools could face significant legal costs if insurance firms decide to strip them of cover because chronic overcrowding levels are breaching Government safety guidelines …” (more)
[Fiachra O Cionnaith, Irish Examiner, 28 April]
“Almost 40% of technology firms are ‘checking out’ potential employees on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, an international survey by Eurocom Worldwide has found …” (more)
[Jennifer Hough, Irish Examiner, 28 April]
“A group of high profile stem cell scientists warns today that a proposed ban on embryonic stem cell patents in Europe could spell disaster for regenerative therapies and other applications of the cells, which can produce any cell type in the body …” (more)
[Ewen Callaway, The Great Beyond, 27 April]
“In an article in October 2008, I raised the question of the need for a Catholic university in Ireland. It may be time to consider again the value of amalgamating the existing Catholic institutions into a federal university, as happened in Australia where a number of Catholic institutions came together to form the Catholic University of Australia …” (more)
[Peader Cremin, Irish Echo, 27 April]
“Watch this superb video from the Cornell lecture series on learning, teaching, and the difference between what we as lecturers think we are doing in classes, and what students think we are doing.” (video)
[Stephen Kinsella, 27 April]
“At heart, I’m a digital researcher, often overly evangelical about the benefits of freely sharing information online. In head, however, I recognise publishing books remains an integral part of academia. After my PhD, I realised I’d need to discover how on earth I might get a book published in an increasingly competitive market – not to mention find a way of reconciling these, the yin and yang of my academic being. I wasn’t alone in exhibiting this apparently split-academic-personality disorder …” (more)
[Charlotte Frost, Guardian, 27 April]
“More than 10,000 students are set to miss out on a place at one of Northern Ireland’s universities amid a ‘mad rush’ for places before fees rise …” (more)
[Lindsay Fergus, Belfast Telegraph, 27 April]
“Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has today confirmed that the public service moratorium on filling promotional posts in schools will not be lifted. Minister Quinn made the statement during his address at the Teachers Union of Ireland conference in Kerry this afternoon …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 27 April]
