Ninth Level Ireland

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has criticised the validity of the rankings process used to determine alleged ‘top’ universities in the Times Higher Education rankings. IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings said: ‘Since there are approximately 17,000 Higher Education institutions in the world, any university within the top 500 is therefore in the top 3% world-wide …’” (more)

[Kate Palmer, Trinity News, 5 October]

“The taxpayer is getting a good return on the investment in scientific research, according to Science Foundation Ireland. The foundation yesterday released its annual report for 2010 and also its annual census of scientists who have received financial support …” (more)

[Dick Ahlstrom, Irish Times, 9 September]

“IFUT is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, TD, to discuss plans by UCC to spend hundreds of thousands of euro of taxpayers’ funds on a High Court appeal against a binding ruling governed by the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act, 2003 …” (more)

[IFUT, 25 August]

“Third-level bosses are set to resist attempts to cut further jobs as figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show that some colleges have already reduced staffing by almost 10% in the last two years …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 11 July]

“The union that represents Irish academics has defended salaries of €100,000 or more for 1,000 university lecturers. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that Ireland’s seven universities and Dublin Institute of Technology have more than 1,000 lecturers who earn six-figure sums …” (more)

[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 28 June]

“Academics have today defended salary levels in the third-level sector after an investigation revealed high wages for some university staff. The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), which represents two-thirds of third-level academic staff, said the majority of lecturers are not high earners …” (more)

[Charlie Taylor, Irish Times, 27 June]

“Following intensive negotiations conducted over recent months with the Department of Education and Skills, members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) have voted decisively to accept the clarifications recommended to them by their Executive Committee …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 2 June]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has appointed Ms Joan Donegan as Assistant General Secretary. Ms Donegan was previously employed as a Branch Organiser (Industrial Relations Official) with SIPTU. She is a qualified Mediator and has an MA from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in Conflict Resolution Studies …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 26 May]

“The Maynooth branch of IFUT has decided to reject the ‘Croke Park Agreement’ after a lively extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday 17 May where the issues were debated thoroughly. The members present voted unanimously to reject the deal, save for 5 abstentions …” (more)

[Laurence Cox, Fringe Thoughts, 20 May]

“The death of Dr Garret FitzGerald will be mourned by his fellow members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), the union of which he remained a full and committed member up to the time of his death. Dr FitzGerald was the only Taoiseach in Ireland’s history who was concurrently a full member of a Congress-affiliated trade union. He was always proud of that fact as were, and are, all of his many friends in IFUT …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 19 May]

“The union representing some university lecturers is recommending acceptance of the Croke Park deal after discussions with the Department of Education. Members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers rejected the deal last year but a re-ballot is under way. Acceptance of the deal by the union’s 2,000 members is widely expected …” (more)

[Irish Times, 17 May]

“Commenting on remarks by the Chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), John Hennessy, that changes to HR management practices would help improve the status and functioning of Irish universities, Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), said his remarks reveal the extent to which some persons in the HEA have lost touch with the realities of third-level education …” (more)

[IFUT website, 17 May]

“Dr Marie Clarke, University College Dublin, has taken over as the new President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) following the organisation’s recent Annual Delegate Conference. Dr Clarke is currently Head of the School of Education in UCD …” (more)

[IFUT website, 16 May]

“University lecturers are back in talks on the Croke Park pay and productivity deal. Earlier talks between the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) and individual universities made little progress. New talks involving the Department of Education, the Irish Universities Association and the universities have opened …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 18 April]

“Thousands of researchers, librarians and other staff are being placed on temporary contracts by universities, in violation of Irish and EU legislation, the conference of university teachers was told at the weekend …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 18 April]

“The government’s policy on the recruitment of new university researchers is illegal, the trade union representing university lecturers has claimed …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 16 April]

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers has said the Government is operating an illegal policy on hiring new researchers. The Irish Federation of University Teachers has said the Government is operating an illegal policy on hiring new researchers …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 16 April]

“Recent suggestions regarding the public service being ‘not fit for purpose’ do not apply to the universities and their academic staff; instead, levels of productivity are being increased amid income cuts of up to 25%, Dr Hugh Gibbons, President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), states in an address to be delivered to the organisation’s Annual Conference in Dublin today …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 16 April]

“The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, TD, should move to protect the rights of thousands of researchers, librarians and other staff who are being placed on temporary contracts by universities, in violation of European Directives and related legislation here in Ireland, the General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Mike Jennings, states in an address to be delivered to IFUT’s Annual Conference in Dublin today …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 16 April]

“Some Irish universities are being accused of breaking the law by putting their researchers, librarians and other staff on temporary contracts. The Irish Federation of University Teachers, which holds its annual conference today, says up to four thousand academics on temporary contracts should – by law – have permanent positions …” (more, audio clip)

[Newstalk, 16 April]