Ninth Level Ireland

“By any measure the Irish third level sector is in financial crisis and students are being shortchanged. In the near-decade since the recession, Irish universities and institutes of technology have suffered significantly. No Irish university appears in the Times Higher Education top 100, published last month …” (more)

[Tom Felle, Irish Times, 3 November]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called for immediate publication of the Oireachtas Committee Report on Third-Level Funding and an end to Government dithering on increased resources, following publication of new EU data which effectively removes hiking student fees as a source of extra income for the sector …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 2 November]

“A growing sense of middle-class grievance in the UK would make a radical redistribution of top university places a very difficult political sell, says Sir Nigel Thrift …” (more)

[Times Higher Education, 2 November]

“Third-level students in Ireland pay the second highest fees in Europe, according to a new report by the European Commission. While the UK has the highest fees – equivalent to about €10,000 – it is followed by Ireland with fees of €3,000. A crucial difference, however, is that more than 40 per cent of students in Ireland do not have to pay fees as they are entitled to means-tested grants …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 2 November]

“Something is afoot in higher education. A few years ago, in the Rose Garden of 10 Downing St, soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg made supporting income-contingent loan schemes the price of power …” (more)

[Dominic McGrath, University Times, 1 November]

“Students who find that their college course doesn’t suit them may discover it’s costly to drop out – depending on which college they’re attending. Most colleges offer a full refund up until 31 October, says Oisin Hassan, vice president for academic affairs at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) …” (more)

[Laoise Neylon, Dublin Inquirer, 1 November]

“Hundreds of homemakers have signed up for free higher education courses as part of an initiative aimed at filling skills shortages. The Springboard+ scheme provides access to courses at certificate, degree and masters level in areas such as advanced manufacturing, business and entrepreneurship and ICT …” (more)

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

“It is one of the great truisms of the modern academic world that neoliberalism, that creeping, ubiquitous ideology-that-is-non-ideological, has transformed higher education into a business and students into its customers. In the case of Trinity’s postgraduate community, this is no longer true …” (more)

[Ralph Moore, University Times, 31 October]

“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]

“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]

“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 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]

“Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase funding for and make changes to the SUSI grant to deliver increases in grants for students in view of the rise in the costs of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 25 October]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to allow greater access for those in direct provision to access higher and further education …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 25 October]

“Before I explain my position, I would like to say something about myself. I am not an ideologue who believes that the private sector is always more efficient, nor do I believe people are fully responsible for their social outcome. I say this because I feel that these are the two accusations most often thrown at those who do not support free fees …” (more)

[Conall Carlos Monaghan, Trinity News, 26 October]

“The current system of university student funding in England is a confidence trick. It is an attempt to defraud a group of people – poorer students and their families – after having gained their trust by pretending that the system is fair and they will be treated equally …” (more)

[Danny Dorling, Wonkhe, 26 October]

“Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein): I raised this Commencement matter because the issue in question is coming to the fore. Many students, educationalists and teachers in the North are noticing and falling foul of a particular anomaly where there is a difference in the recognition of the A-level grading system by institutions in the South. This has only been exacerbated by Brexit …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 24 October]

“College has approved a 5% increase in fees for postgraduates and non-EU undergraduate students. The College’s Finance Committee decided on the increase at a meeting on September 22 …” (more)

[Niamh Lynch, Trinity News, 24 October]

“Donal Denham attends lectures but doesn’t worry about grades or cramming for finals. He’s not trying to earn a new degree or retrain for a new career. At 67 years of age, he just wants to learn with other like-minded adults. For more than 40 years, Denham enjoyed a busy career in the Department of Foreign Affairs …” (more)

[Arlene Harris, Irish Times, 24 October]