Ninth Level Ireland

“These days, the word ‘neoliberal’ is usually used as a term of abuse. It is code for ‘right wing’, ie a belief in a lightly-regulated, laissez-faire approach to not only business and the economy but also to education. ‘Right wing’ is seen as inherently bad; selfish and focused on the individual, while ‘left wing’ is seen as caring and considerate and focused on the greater good …” (more)

[educationandstuff, 30 December]

“If I were to ask you: what is the most common number of citations that an education research paper receives, what would you guess? I’ll put you out of your misery: the answer is 0 …” (more)

[Gary Davies, 29 December]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has voiced concern that rising library fines are potentially being used by universities as a ‘money making mechanism’. Figures obtained by The Herald under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that students paid a total of €2,786,930 in library fines over a five year period …” (more)

[Daire O’Driscoll, Trinity News, 30 December]

“Striving for gender equality is vitally important, particularly in higher education. As the sector continues to encounter massive changes, we need every bit of talent and the very best, skilled leaders to guide us through. There is a wealth of evidence from the private sector that increased diversity in senior positions leads to better-run and better-performing organisations …” (more)

[Vijaya Nath, Times Higher Education, 28 December]

“The caller ID on my office telephone said the number was from Las Vegas, but when I picked up the receiver I heard what sounded like a busy overseas call center in the background. The operator, ‘John’, asked if I would be interested in attending the 15th World Cardiology and Angiology Conference in Philadelphia next month …” (more)

[Kevin Carey, New York Times, 29 December]

“It is very hard to know how you get humanities research in the headlines. My recent brush with the Henry VIII tapestries is a case in point. I was extremely excited to find a specimen of what I think is one of the later branches of the family tree of Henry’s originals …” (more)

[Mary Beard, A Don’s Life, 30 December]

“A new site to search third-level college courses has received more than 20,000 hits in its first week. UniBrowse.ie is a interactive search tool that enables applicants to easily access detailed information about third-level college courses …” (more)

[Aine McMahon, Irish Times, 29 December]

“Universities have been accused by the Lib Dems of stifling free speech through the use of ‘gagging clauses’, after the party’s research found more than 3,500 former staff members in higher education have signed ‘compromise agreements’ in the past five years …” (more)

[Rowena Mason, Guardian, 30 December]

“I’m about to head off for a short New Year’s vacation in West Texas, but wanted to recommend a wonderful article that just appeared at Nautilus. It’s a memoir by Bob Henderson (who I met when he wrote about me, see here), appearing under the title What Does Any of This Have To Do with Physics? (although the title of the web-page, What Graduate School in Theoretical Physics is Really Like, is more descriptive) …” (more)

[Peter Woit, Not Even Wrong, 29 December]

“Hillsborough campaigner and Queen’s University academic Prof Phil Scraton has turned down an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list. The author led the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s research team. He said he could not receive an honour in protest ‘at those who remained unresponsive’ to help families and survivors affected by the disaster …” (more)

[BBC News, 29 December]

“Only 10 inspections have been carried out on English language schools despite promises of closer scrutiny following multiple closures and the disappearance of students’ money. A new quality assurance scheme, the International Education Mark, another promise in the wake of the scandal, is also delayed; its introduction is now ‘anticipated’ some time in 2018 …” (more)

[Caroline O’Doherty, Irish Examiner, 29 December]

“Government-backed training courses saw 80% of those who participants leave the live register over four years, a new report has found. Meanwhile, Skills Minister John Halligan hailed the number of women in Springboard+ linked technology training schemes …” (more)

[Cormac McQuinn, Independent, 29 December]

“Carl O’Brien’s article in the Irish Times today signals a further shift in our educational system towards what one might call ‘progressive’ methods. It seems that we’re going to do away with subjects and focus on learning by playing at least up until the age of 10 …” (more)

[educationandstuff, 28 December]

“Everyday in school, primary or post primary the teacher called the role, at least in my school anyway. I see the logic behind this and understand the reasoning but higher education is different, we’re dealing with adults so at least it should be different. So should we measure class attendance and if we do should we value it? …” (more)

[Mark Glynn, Technology Enhanced Learning, 28 December]

“Transgender, non-binary and intersex students will now be able to change their name and gender on College records without the need for official documentation, following the launch of a new service by Trinity’s Academic Registry …” (more)

[Niamh Egleston, University Times, 27 December]

“An end to pension increases for retired public-sector workers is on the table in the next round of pay talks. Public-service pensioners have traditionally benefited from pay parity, which means they go up when there is an increase in the salary of the person in their old job …” (more)

[Anne-Marie Walsh and Kevin Doyle, Independent, 27 December]

“A recent report, published by the Irish Times, uncovered the fact that there is a steady rise in the number of students progressing from fee-paying secondary schools to high-points courses. More private school students are attending the top courses in the top institutions than ever before …” (more)

[Kate Lawler, University Times, 23 December]

“A claim that Jewish students avoid applying to certain UK universities over anti-Semitism fears has been criticised by a Jewish student group. Baroness Ruth Deech, the former adjudicator for universities, told the Telegraph that Jewish students felt ‘unwelcome’ on some campuses …” (more)

[BBC News, 23 December]

“Thousands of scientists in Germany, Peru and Taiwan are preparing for a new year without online access to journals from the Dutch publishing giant Elsevier. Contract negotiations in both Germany and Taiwan broke down in December, while Peru’s government has cut off funding for a licence …” (more)

[Quirin Schiermeier and Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, Nature, 23 December]

“The Public Accounts Committee is set to examine the University of Limerick in the new year on a number of financial and governance issues. The examination of spending in at least four third-level institutions across the country before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been delayed this year, due to hearings in relation to Nama and Project Eagle over the last six weeks …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 22 December]