“The state’s seven universities face a ‘civil war’ and could split into various groups unless they are more honest with each other about collaboration, the president of Dublin City University, Ferdinand von Prondzynski, has warned. Taoiseach Brian Cowen will announce details this afternoon of an unprecedented research merger between UCD and TCD. The controversial move comes after months of talks between the two universities. But, in an e-mail sent to the other university presidents and several senior academics, Dr von Prondzynski said the merger had been completed secretly, in a way which ‘destroys trust and confidence’ …” (more)
[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 11 March]