“The Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr Seán Sherlock TD, today (Wednesday) announced Government funding of €15 million to be provided over the next four years for 79 research projects as part of Science Foundation Ireland’s 2011 Research Frontiers Programme …” (more, list of awards)
[Science Foundation Ireland, 24 August]
“Let’s say I accept the request from a journal to review a particular book. I know the author, I might consider him a friend, but he is hardly an intimate (I would say there is/should be an absolute ban at least on reviewing books by one’s close personal friends and one’s departmental colleagues; this hypothetical person is neither) …” (more)
[Marko Milanovic, EJIL: Talk!, 24 August]
“The police watchdog has ruled Scotland Yard inadequately investigated officers for using excessive force against a wheelchair-bound student fees protester, his solicitor has said …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 24 August]
“The Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr Seán Sherlock TD, today announced Government funding of €15 million to be provided over the next four years for 79 research projects as part of Science Foundation Ireland’s 2011 Research Frontiers Programme. Minister Sherlock warned that robust and competitive research will drive Ireland’s economic development …” (more)
[John Kennedy, Silicon Republic, 24 August]
“Dublin City University Business School is launching a postgraduate course in sustainable finance next month. The one-year, part-time, graduate certificate in sustainable finance aims to give participants a broad and comprehensive overview of sustainability finance to support new business streams within investment banks, professional firms working in the broader green economy and companies which are developing renewable products and technologies …” (more)
[Business and Leadership, 24 August]
“A colleague shared an excellent but not yet published paper on the syllabus. It got me thinking as this is the time of year when most of us are revisiting these venerable documents. Oh, I know, some of you finished yours back in May when the semester ended. And then there are the rest of us who are working on them feverishly as the beginning of new academic year quickly approaches …” (more)
[Maryellen Weimer, Faculty Focus, 24 August]
“For many students and their families, scraping together the money to pay for college is a big enough hurdle on its own. But a new survey has found that, once on a campus, many students are unwilling or unable to come up with more money to buy books – one of the very things that helps turn tuition dollars into academic success …” (more)
[Molly Redden, Chronicle of Higher Education, 23 August]
“In 1999 the passing into effect of the The Qualifications (Education and Training Act) 1999 led to the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority (NQAI), the Further Education Training and Awards Council (FETAC) and the Higher Education Training and Awards Council (HETAC). The responsibilities of each of these bodies was related to separate but complementary elements of the National Framework of Qualifications …” (more)
[Richard Thorn, BlueBrick.ie, 24 August]
“In my Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Lecture this evening I looked at how and why subjects concerned with the ancient search for wisdom – philosophy, classics, literature – are slowly fading away in our universities. In the lecture – titled Knowledge without wisdom – I argued that we must face a sad fact: wisdom has developed an image problem …” (more)
[Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor, 24 August]
“NUI Galway’s President’s Office accrued €150,000 in expenses last year, according to figures released by the university. Expenses include €21,483 on travel and subsistence payments, €14,599 on hospitality, and €4,222 on gifts for visitors …” (more)
[Lorraine O'Hanlon, Galway Independent, 24 August]
“The Great Brain Race by Ben Wildavsky. I read this some months ago but, inexplicably, failed to note the fact. Wildavsky is a clear, cogent and persuasive writer. He provides a good review of the global higher education picture and many of the key issues facing nations and universities …” (more)
[Registrarism, 24 August]
“… I like 9thLevel.ie both for the information that the 9th Level serves up and for the referrers it generates to my personal blog. Years ago, I discovered that some colleagues thought I was the 9th Level blogger …” (more)
[Bernie Goldbach, Inside View from Ireland, 24 August]
“… Hertfordshire was the first university to appoint a policy adviser around seven years ago, but the numbers are growing steadily, with more than 20 similar roles across the UK. The remit of these posts vary, from background research and briefing, to strategy development and implementation, to public affairs and lobbying. But all are closely linked to vice-chancellors’ or principals’ offices and provide high-level support to the activities of the executive …” (more)
[Alix Green, Guardian Professional, 24 August]
“Welsh universities are being urged to be ‘predatory’ in attracting star academics to boost research funding.The call comes from the Welsh Government’s chief scientific adviser, who is concerned about Wales’ performance in attracting research income …” (more)
[BBC News, 24 August]
“A university has defended a €150,000 expenses bill run up by its president last year, saying it reflected the college’s growing profile. NUI Galway president Jim Browne’s office spend the money last year on a series of expenses including travel and subsistence costs …” (more)
[Independent, 24 August]
“Sir, – It appears to me that prospective entrants to third-level education are invited to shop (apply for places) when they do not know how much money they have to spend (in the currency of Leaving Certificate points) …” (more)
[Alan Baird, Irish Times, 24 August]
“University College Cork has been accused of planning a ‘monumental waste of taxpayers’ money’ by appealing a Labour Court award of increased redundancy to a former employee …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 24 August]
“Universities are exceptionally complex organisations, and for their smooth operation they rely on the contributions and goodwill of many people whose names often do not appear much in the PR reports heralding great academic successes. One crucial category of staff consists of what, in this part of the world, we usually designate ‘Heads’ …” (more)
[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 24 August]
“Almost 85% of students who graduated from the University of Limerick last year are either working or pursuing further studies, according to a college study …” (more)
[Jimmy Woulfe, Irish Examiner, 24 August]
“Schoolbook publishers should be in a position to cut prices because rising student numbers mean more sales, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland has claimed …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 24 August]
