Ninth Level Ireland

“Students who stay in luxury accommodation achieve, on average, lower grades that those who stay in more traditional style student accommodation, according to a study carried out in the United States. The study, which examined the academic performances of college students staying in accommodation with a luxury-style apartment design that provided privacy and added amenities and students staying in a traditional double-corridor design with shared bathrooms at the ends, found that those staying in the latter type of accommodation achieved higher first semester grade point averages …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 10 October]

“YES by Manasa Bramhanya: Education can be defined in simple words as the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values and applying the same for innovation purposes. Education undoubtedly enhances people’s lives and plays a key role in a country’s development …” (more)

[Manasa Bramhanya, University Observer, 10 October]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the third level institutions which have informed his Department of plans to reduce enrolment in the coming years; the institute and planned enrolment reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 October]

“University College Dublin (UCD) today announced that the UCD School of Medicine, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and UCD College of Engineering and Architecture (made up of a further six Schools), have received Athena SWAN Bronze awards for their commitment to gender equality …” (more)

[AlphaGalileo, 10 October]

“Students at Dundalk IT staged a protest this morning against the institute’s plans to hold this year’s graduation ceremony off campus. Last week Dundalk IT announced that this year’s graduation ceremony, which runs from October 31st to November 2nd, would take place in the town centre rather than on campus as has been the case in recent years …” (more)

[Talk of the Town, 10 October]

“UCD has announced it will send a representative to Rome next Sunday for the canonisation of its first rector Cardinal John Henry Newman. In a statement, UCD said: ‘In light of the Government decision to send Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, to represent the Government at the canonisation of John Henry Newman, UCD will be represented by Vice-President, Professor Orla Feely’ …” (more)

[Patsy McGarry, Irish Times, 9 October]

“Sir, – In explaining UCD’s non-representation at the canonisation of Blessed John Henry Newman, an unnamed spokeswoman for the institution has stated that it has been a secular foundation since 1908 (News, October 7th) …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 10 October]

“The campaign group TCD Cut the Rent have called for students in Trinity Hall and in on-campus accommodation to take part in a rent strike whereby they would withhold the second installment of this year’s rent, due around Christmas, unless their demands are met …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 9 October]

“The Irish Universities Association (IUA), have described the Budget 2020 provisions for higher education as ‘understandable, but inadequate’. In yesterday’s budget statement, Minister of Finance Paschal Donohue announced the provision of €19 million for the rising student numbers in the following years, as well as €74 million additional funding for higher education, funded by a 0.1% increase in the National Training Fund levy. Donohue also reiterated a pledge for an extra investment of €60 million as part of the Human Capital Initiative …” (more)

[Rachel McKinney-Perry, Trinity News, 9 October]

“Dublin City University (DCU) has applied for planning permission for the construction of new student accommodation, which will include 1,240-bed spaces to be added to the existing 1,441-bed spaces across the three academic campuses. A spokesperson for DCU has also confirmed that ‘the University is also considering adding to the existing accommodation on the St Patrick’s Campus.’ According to the plan, an additional 990 beds will be allocated to the Glasnevin campus …” (more)

[Clodagh Healy, University Observer, 9 October]

“The failure again in today’s Budget to address the funding crisis in higher education highlights a continued policy paralysis in government on the sector, that threatens to undermine our universities and the education of tens of thousands of students countrywide, the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) states …” (more)

[IFUT, 8 October]

“The Presidents of GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT (Connacht-Ulster Alliance) welcome the announcement today (9 October 2019) by the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, of an increase of over €153 million for tertiary education including a multi-annual fund of €90 million to assist the development and progression of Technological Universities …” (more)

[GMIT, 9 October]