“Secret talks between Ireland’s two biggest universities on a research alliance have angered other college heads. One was so annoyed he sent a leaked e-mail warning the Irish Universities Association representing the seven presidents it could ‘split into groups and civil war’. What particularly incensed the other five presidents was that the talks between Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin were taking place at the very time the association was preparing a document for Prime Minister Brian Cowen setting out the need for collaboration and co-operation across the sector. The outcome of the alliance talks was announced by Cowen and two senior Ministers on Thursday. It envisages a new fourth-level academy that will build on the combined strengths and individual distinctiveness of the two universities. The number of PhD students will be doubled, innovation made centre stage and mobility between the two campuses facilitated …” (more)
[John Walshe, University World News, 15 March]