“Well, it’s another lovely day here in Maynooth and it feels even nicer that now that I’ve finished the stack of examination and project marking I had to do relating to the Computational Physics module I’ve been teaching for the past term …” (more)
[In the Dark, 31 May]
“In a rapidly changing higher education landscape, where the meaning of ‘impact’ and the expectations surrounding it are continually developing, the perceived relevance of social media seems obvious. Accordingly, increasing numbers of institutions are encouraging their researchers to take up social media to communicate their research to wider society …” (more)
[Katy Jordan and Mark Carrigan, LSE Impact Blog, 31 May]
“The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in consultation with the Minister for Education and Skills invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for the vacancy on the board of Science Foundation Ireland. Applicants must be a member of a recognised professional accountancy body and have senior-level experience of a Research Funding organisation or a commercial enterprise …” (more)
[StateBoards.ie, 31 May]
“Universities whose students get involved in volunteering or efforts to tackle social issues stand to benefit under a system which measures the performance of third-level colleges. Higher education institutions are being encouraged to boost their impact on the wider community through measures such as volunteering, accrediting students who work with civil society organisations and initiating research into social challenges …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 30 May]
“The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has promised to work for a legal solution to the high cost of student accommodation amid anger on several campuses over housing. In a video statement posted on Twitter, Mitchell O’Connor said …” (more)
[Eleanor O’Mahony, University Times, 30 May]
“Last week, Ministers responsible for higher education from the 48 countries, constituting the members of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), met in Paris for the regular triennial ‘Bologna Process Ministerial Conference’. Which was odd, because the substantive bits of the Bologna Process have been over for about a decade now. So, what were they talking about? …” (more)
[Alex Usher, HESA, 30 May]
“Smoking and vaping anywhere on the University of Limerick campus will be banned from Friday June 1, the University has announced today. This ban applies to all University campuses and includes the use of all electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars and electronic pipes, whether they deliver a nicotine dose or not …” (more)
[Jess Casey, Limerick Leader, 29 May]
“The Union of Students in Ireland is supporting a Sinn Féin bill that includes student accommodation in rent pressure zones. It comes after students in DCU and NUI Galway protested against rent increases of almost 30% in recent months …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 29 May]
“The Government’s Brexit Strategy should seek to preserve the closest possible research links between Ireland and the UK, according to the president of the Royal Irish Academy, Prof Peter Kennedy. The strength of the current relationship was reflected in the scale of research collaborations currently undertaken jointly by the neighbouring countries, he said at a ceremony in Dublin to admit new RIA members …” (more)
[Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times, 29 May]
“A chara, – Maynooth University has recently announced teaching PhD studentships with waived fees and a stipend of €9,000 per annum. In return, the recipients may be requested to teach up to 455 hours per annum …” (more)
[Eoin Ó Colgáin, Irish Times, 28 May]
“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called on Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, to ensure implementation of the European-wide Bologna Process, to ensure adequate funding, compatibility, academic freedom and working conditions in higher education …” (more)
[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 27 May]
“Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): We are joined today by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and Mr Shane Carton, deputy director of audit. Apologies have been received from Deputies O’Connell and Catherine Murphy. We will deal with the business of the committee in the afternoon as we want to deal with the Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology this morning …” (more)
[Public Accounts Committee, 24 May]
“Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason four members of the Higher Education Authority who are not ordinarily resident in the State have remained as members of the authority despite section 9 of the Schedule to the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 stating that such persons shall be disqualified from holding and shall cease to hold office in circumstances in which they cease to be ordinarily resident in the State …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 24 May]
“Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a group within an application (details supplied) that has been established for communication by members of the Higher Education Authority; his views on whether this is an appropriate method of communication between members of the authority; if a record is kept of all such communications; and if they are subject to freedom of information legislation …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 24 May]
“Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding the introduction of income contingent loans for third level education; the issues regarding student debt and the resulting barriers to education for persons from disadvantaged backgrounds that will be taken into account, which is the case in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22437/18] …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 22 May]
“THE have just published details of their reputation rankings which will be published on May 30th, just ahead, no doubt coincidentally, of the QS World University Rankings. The number of responses has gone down a bit, from 10,566 last year to 10,162, possibly reflecting growing survey fatigue among academics …” (more)
[University Ranking Watch, 27 May]
“Competing bids by University College Cork was a factor in Cork Institute of Technology paying €300,000 over the asking price for a city centre property. It emerged at the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday that UCC was also interested in acquiring the 19th-century building on Cork’s Grand Parade, for which CIT paid €1.25m in 2015. It has paid around the same again to convert it from its most recent use as a bank and make it safe to hold classes for CIT’s Crawford College of Art and Design …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 25 May]
“Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow–Kilkenny Bobby Aylward has welcomed a statement from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of Ireland that they anticipate a technological university status application for the South East by the end of September this year. The information was revealed at yesterday’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) following a question by Deputy Aylward …” (more)
[Fianna Fáil, 25 May]
“Fine Gael senator Paddy Burke has outlined a number of developments in building a sustainable future for the Castlebar campus of GMIT. Senator Burke said the appointment of an external facilitator and a recruitment campaign for a head of campus will begin in the coming weeks …” (more)
[Mayo Advertiser, 25 May]
“Students and taxpayers might find it strange that University College Cork is paying €3,000 a month on rental accommodation for its president, a TD says. The €36,000 annual cost, based on a current three-year lease, was revealed by UCC chief financial officer Diarmuid Collins in response to a question by the Tipperary Labour TD Alan Kelly at a meeting with the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 25 May]
