“A striking feature of the current Covid crisis is the emergence of a new group of scientific experts on our television screens, radios, and newspapers. From epidemiologists to immunologists and virologists to biochemists, some academics have left their laboratories to become household names …” (more)
[Declan Jordan, Irish Examiner, 5 July]
“I attended the recent IUA/RIA panel discussion on ‘Evidence-informed policy making: The Role of Higher Education and Research’. As usual, Philip Nolan gave a very interesting talk: he’s clearly the most thoughtful and analytical of our university presidents …” (more)
[Tales from Academia, 3 July]
“International students will be welcomed to University College Dublin (UCD) for the autumn trimester, while all autumn exchange programmes for UCD students remain cancelled. There will also be no charge for incoming international students on-campus for the first 21 days …” (more)
[Brigid Molloy, College Tribune, 30 June]
“Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Science Simon Harris met with the Irish Universities’ Association (IUA) and Provost Patrick Prendergast on Tuesday morning to discuss the future of the new higher education department following the appointment of the new government Cabinet at the weekend …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 30 June]
“This evening, both the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) have welcomed the appointment of Simon Harris to the new position of Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In a statement, IUA expressed their ‘warm welcome’ to Simon Harris as Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Research …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 27 June]
“The IUA warmly welcomes the announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin that a new independent Department of Higher Education, Innovation and Science is to be formed. Reacting to the announcement Jim Miley, Director General of IUA said: ‘This key change in government clearly recognises the central importance of universities and other third level institutes as producers of the talent pipeline for the economy and as hubs of research and innovation …'” (more)
[IUA, 27 June]
“Provost Patrick Prendergast has welcomed a new government decision to create a specific department for higher education and research, hailing it as a move with ‘the potential to be a new beginning for the third level sector after a decade treading water’ …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 27 June]
“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) joins with the National University of Ireland (NUI), the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA), and the Technological University Dublin on an agreed common approach in relation to students who have studied Leaving Certificate 2020 subjects outside school and who have not been able to obtain calculated grades in those subjects …” (more)
[IUA, 25 June]
“Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to, and his views on a document (details supplied); if he will be in a position to provide additional funding to the third-level sector; if this will include additional funding to ensure places through SUSI, HEAR and DARE spaces; and if it will increase the number of university places overall and increase funding to ensure that sustainability and innovation within the sector is safeguarded …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 9 June]
“Join us on 24th June from 12.30-13.30 for a discussion on planning for effective remote teaching during Covid-19 and the launch of the EDTL Approach: outlining a pathway for those adapting a module or programme, normally taught wholly or partly face-to-face, for the start of the new academic year …” (more)
[IUA, 11 June]
“The government’s decade-long underfunding of universities has presented the sector with a myriad of issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed unreliable non-exchequer sources of income. Staff and students nationwide are crying out for the government to take action and reintroduce the funding levels seen before the last recession …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 25 May]
“As colleges plan ahead to the 2020/2021 academic year, it is looking increasingly likely that the conventional university teaching methods will not be able to take place when college begins again later this year. While this will impact all students, it causes a particular worry for students who normally are now finalising plans for student accommodation for the next academic year …” (more)
[Conor Paterson, College Tribune, 25 May]
“Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Féin): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the paper produced by an association (details supplied) regarding the severe financial position facing universities and other third-level institutions; and his views on whether dedicated sustainability and growth funding is needed for the sector …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 20 May]
“The return of all universities in autumn could see no large lectures, ‘blended learning’ between virtual and on-campus, large cutbacks in numbers of on-campus accommodation, and a rota for students on when they can be on campus with first years prioritised, according to Jim Miley, Director General at Irish Universities Association (IUA) …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 17 May]
“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) have called for funding for a €20 million advertising campaign to attract international students to Irish universities to be included in the next programme for government. Jim Miley, director general of the IUA, stated: ‘Covid-19 has led to a collapse in the international student market’ …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 17 May]
“Although it means that politicians won’t get to send their annual tweet wishing students well in the leaving certificate and radio stations will lose a month of content from disgruntled parents, students and those with no affiliation to the exams whatsoever ringing in to complain about it, the decision taken by the government today to cancel the leaving certificate exams and replace them with calculated grades has been painted by the media as one of relief for students …” (more)
[Aoife Kearins, University Times, 8 May]
“Universities will use the government’s newly introduced calculated grade system for their admissions processes, while students who sit the postponed leaving certificate exams will have to wait until autumn 2021 to start college …” (more)
[Orla Murnaghan, University Times, 8 May]
“Today the Irish Universities Association is launching its publication ‘Irish Universities Help Fight The COVID-19 Pandemic’ which details how the sector has galvanised into immediate action, contributing to the national emergency response in every way possible as the pandemic developed …” (more)
[IUA, 6 May]
“Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson Thomas Byrne has today welcomed the call from the Irish Universities Association for funding for extra places this year. Universities and Institutes of Technology are likely to lose international students this year as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis …” (more)
[Fianna Fáil, 4 May]
“Universities want the Government to fund more places for Irish students in the autumn to help cover their Covid-19 losses. The cost of the pandemic to the seven traditional universities will run to €374m over 2020 and 2021, according to an initial assessment …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 4 May]
