“Ireland has no ‘world-class universities’ or anything near it, according to the president of University College, Cork. He said that the number of universities should be reduced, and it is pointless for colleges here to be competing with each other, because the country is so small. Dr Michael Murphy also took a swipe at the top two Dublin universities, University College, Dublin, and Trinity College, Dublin, who he said are trying to corner State research funding by joining forces. He said that funding of €2.5bn a year is needed for a world-class facility, which is over double the amount given by the State to the entire university sector each year …” (more)
[Daniel McConnell, Independent, 8 March]