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]

“Tens of thousands of public service workers will spend an additional year in the workforce as plans are being advanced to increase the retirement age by one year to 66, the Irish Independent understands. The Government is actively researching the impact of such a move on the public-sector workforce …” (more)

[Kevin Doyle, Independent, 3 November]

“A design consultant will be appointed shortly to start the ball rolling on NUI Galway’s major Nun’s Island masterplan. NUI Galway’s Education Building is located at Nuns Island, and it also owns the adjacent building …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 2 November]

“Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has given a commitment that students will be able to finish an art degree on a West Cork island despite uncertainty over funding for technical support. Sherkin Island Development Society (SIDS) employs four local people to offer administrative help and facilities in support of the course, but had to put them on protective notice a week ago because it could not guarantee the jobs into the future …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 3 November]

“Out of 88 chair professors in Trinity, only a quarter are women, according to a new report seen by The University Times. The report revealed that since 2014, there has only been a 9% increase in women being promoted to the top-level position. The Annual Equality Monitoring Report 2016/17 said that only 22 out of 88 chair professors, the highest grade of professor in Trinity, are women …” (more)

[Róisín Power, University Times, 2 November]

“In a press release, reported yesterday by several newspapers including the Irish Independent, NUI Galway trumpeted what they have been doing recently to put right the position of women in the university and other actions for equality. Foremost were the results of the recent promotion round to Senior Lecturer in which 14 men were promoted and 19 women …” (more)

[Micheline’s Three Conditions, 1 November]

“Harvey Weinstein, Roger Ailes, Geoff Marcy. From entertainment to academia, accusations of these people’s abuses of power have helped to create a sea change in the numbers of people willing to discuss sexual harassment in the workplace. Much of the conversation has concerned condemnation of harassers and praise for those who come forward to talk about what they have seen and experienced. This puts an interpersonal frame on a systemic problem. Attention must also be paid to systems that allow harassers to thrive …” (more)

[Laurel Issen, Nature, 1 November]

“Female students are more likely to experience sexual harassment as they progress through college, according to a survey. The Smart Consent Survey of approximately 400 students, conducted by PhD candidate Chiara Seery of NUI Galway, indicated that female students’ experiences of sexist hostility, sexual hostility, unwanted sexual attention, online sexual harassment, and sexual coercion increased each year as they passed from first year to third year …” (more)

[Noel Baker, Irish Examiner, 1 November]

“Trinity’s trade unions are expecting a decision this week on College’s reaction to the government’s advice on fixed-term contracts, which this summer called on Irish universities to end the improper use of such contracts. In early October, the three major unions in Trinity met with the new Human Resources Director, Antoinette Quinn, to discuss Trinity’s implementations of the government recommendations …” (more)

[Aaron Finnegan, University Times, 31 October]

“Sir, – I was utterly astonished to watch the unfolding removal of the UCD students’ union president by its own members. That a third-level institution would be the setting for such a spectacle of narrow-mindedness makes it even worse …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 1 November]

“NUI Galway today published a progress report on its activities relating to equality and diversity/gender equality. The report includes data on its latest senior lecturer promotion scheme, through which 33 lecturers advanced …” (more)

[NUI Galway, 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]

“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]

“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]

“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]