Ninth Level Ireland

“Several College Board members have spoken out strongly against Trinity’s decision to increase postgraduate fees by 5%. The move has triggered anger from students and serious reservations from senior staff about the impact of such an increase. Speaking to The University Times, several members of the College Board …” (more)

[Dominic McGrath and Eleanor O’Mahony, University Times, 31 October]

“A group of professors have resigned from editorial positions at Elsevier journals amid the continuing stand-off between German research organisations and the academic publisher. A statement from Projekt Deal lists 14 academics who have resigned their positions as editors and members of editorial and advisory boards at Elsevier journals in support of the ongoing negotiations on access to electronic journals …” (more)

[Holly Else, Times Higher Education, 31 October]

“Today I finish a three-year term as the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in our Faculty of Science and Health. The ADTL role is probably one of those admin roles that are seen as representing university bureaucracy gone mad and associate deans as a group are routinely lampooned on Twitter …” (more)

[educationandstuff, 31 October]

“Shortcomings in human resources and management practices at the University of Limerick are sharply criticised in a soon-to-be-published review into alleged misconduct at the institution, it is understood. The investigation was triggered after concerns were raised over the way the university handled a series of disciplinary proceedings against staff and severance packages as well as its use of confidentiality agreements …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 31 October]

“NUI Galway is above the national average when it comes to promoting women to senior posts, a new study reveals. In its progress report on Equality and Diversity published yesterday, the institution said 58% of the 33 academics promoted to senior lecturer grades are women (19), compared with 42% who are male (14) …” (more)

[Allison Bray, Independent, 31 October]

“Eighteen senior academics at Dublin Institute of Technology have written to the chairman of the college’s governing body to express dissatisfaction with the process of setting up a new technical university for Dublin. The academics, each a ‘head of school’ at DIT, told the college’s chairman Prof Tom Collins they were taking the ‘unprecedented step’ of writing the letter because they were ‘seriously aggrieved’ with the process …” (more)

[Tim O’Brien, Irish Times, 31 October]

“GMIT is facing legal action over the death of two students in a fatal house fire in Belgium in January 2014 …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 29 October]

“Only five years since the current system for funding Home/EU undergraduates at universities in England was introduced, its future is already in serious doubt. Policy proposals, first from Jeremy Corbyn during this year’s General Election campaign and then from Theresa May at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month, have once again put university fees and student funding at the centre of a national political debate …” (more)

[Helen Carasso, Wonkhe, 30 October]

“When postgraduate students came into Trinity in 2014, they probably thought they were getting a good deal. Undertaking these courses in this world-class university was much cheaper than doing so in internationally equivalent institutions. Since then, the fees for all postgraduate courses – both for EU and non-EU students – have gone up by three or four per cent each year …” (more)

[University Times, 29 October]

“Junior academics are being ‘held back’ in their careers as a consequence of more senior research partners being over-credited on co-authored papers, the results of a global study suggest. While co-authorship between two or more researchers is most frequent in the sciences and medicine, the survey of 894 researchers working in the humanities and social sciences in 62 countries found that co-authorship is becoming increasingly common in these fields as well …” (more)

[Times Higher Education, 27 October]

“I am walking through Nottingham’s Arboretum park on a bright cold afternoon with 10 other people, all of us in complete silence. At first I find the whole thing so awkward I have to suppress an embarrassed laugh. But as we make our wordless way through the dappled shade, I feel an atmosphere of calm and thoughtfulness envelop us like a protective cloak …” (more)

[Moya Sarner, Guardian, 28 October]

“Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the recommendations of the all-party committee will be implemented to allow all full time low-income QQI degree students receive their SUSI entitlement and to allow them access to the HEA student hardship fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 October]

“James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to use national capital investment to create a south eastern university drawing upon existing institute of technology campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 October]

“James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of full-time and part-time students from County Wexford that attend third level education; the number of full-time and part-time County Wexford undergraduate and postgraduate students at each university or institute of technology; the number of full-time and part-time County Wexford students studying for a postgraduate qualification, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 26 October]

“Last week marked one month since the beginning of the catastrophe caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. A catastrophe through which we are still living. As of this writing, only 20% of Puerto Rico has power. Our university campus, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, is one of the lucky places that has electricity. We also have water …” (more)

[Catherine M Mazak, Chronicle of Higher Education, 26 October]

“An overwhelming majority of voters, 69%, chose to impeach University College Dublin Students’ Dublin (UCDSU) President Katie Ascough from her role. The result follows two days of voting which saw thousands of students participate …” (more)

[Kathleen McNamee and Dominic McGrath, University Times, 26 October]

“The long-awaited report into a series of allegations of misconduct at the University of Limerick is now in the hands of the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Science. Dr Graham Love, chief executive of the HEA, confirmed that the report was received this week from Dr Richard Thorn, following months of investigations, interviews and analysis …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 27 October]

“University College Dublin (UCD) students have voted to impeach their Students’ Union President Katie Ascough. In total 4,540 students voted to impeach Ms Ascough, out of 6,572 students who cast a ballot, meaning a majority of 69% were in favour of her removal …” (more)

[Jack Power, Irish Times, 26 October]

“NUI Galway and Connacht Rugby have announced an extension of their partnership until 2019. NUI Galway became Connacht’s Academy and University partner in 2013, and since then 19 Connacht players have graduated, or are about to graduate, from NUI Galway …” (more)

[Declan Rooney, Independent, 27 October]

“The number students with disabilities in third-level or further education has more than tripled in a decade, new research shows. The dramatic increase is linked to more than €70 million which has been spent on improving access and supports for vulnerable students …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 27 October]