With a decision on the Croke Park deal only days away, it’s a time for passionate declarations and manifestos on the state of the (academic) nation. Three good examples this week, each of which has generated commentary:
- Tom Garvin rails againt the Grey philistines taking over our universities. This spirited rant has many targets, some of which are of general concern though others of which are mere personal hobbyhorses; the broad, allusive style often makes it hard to tell whether he is criticising The Modern World, Irish academia in general, or simply those who currently hold sway in UCD. The article is much twittered about; there are discussion threads at the Irish Times itself and on politics.ie. Ferdinand von Prondzynski, who on his own admission may be one of the “grey philistines” referred to, has authored a reply.
- Tom Boland, chief executive of the HEA, has released figures on the current funding gap, and has suggested that mergers amongst 3rd-level institutions is the inevitable way forward. For the speech and commentary see: Colleges told: merge or die; €4bn needed at third level to meet student surge, says HEA; College deficit now stands at €4bn, talk of fees being introduced; From student selection to student recruitment: the question of numbers; A matter of 4 billion Euro, give or take a fiver; Education chiefs buck convention with numbers talk; HEA candour welcome but misplaced, says IFUT; Mergermania; Croke Park Drama.
- Speeches from the IFUT conference (weekend before this) are now becoming available online, providing useful commentary on the state of academia. Academic union opinion seems to be hardening against the Croke Park deal, though as the academics are some of the smaller players here this raises major questions, whichever way the main vote goes. See: Respect for the stakeholders in the higher education sector will be reciprocated, IFUT General Secretary tells Minister Coughlan; Europe’s most efficient system of university education is being ruined, IFUT President tells 2010 Annual Conference; Head of teachers’ union attacks former education minister; NUIG academics reject Croke Park ‘deal’; SIPTU Academic Staff NUIG : Motion on The General Public Services Agreement; Academics reject pay deal.
Other news, Irish and foreign:
- Natasha McShane, a UCD student mugged while in Chicago, is struggling for life in hospital. See: UCD student attacked in US remains critically ill; Two held over Chicago attack on Irish student; UCD student remains critical in US; Parents of UCD student ‘deeply saddened’ by assault; Chicago outraged by attack; Co Armagh student beaten up in Chicago ‘may never walk or talk again’; Attacker’s girlfriend ‘equally culpable’, Chicago prosecutor; Natasha McShane briefly opens eyes, hopes build.
- In the UK, Amazon-gate leads to further revelations of academic skullduggery. See: Historian admits to savage reviews of rivals’ work.
- UK: Alleged fraud in government teaching audits: Universities ‘pressured students to inflate league table’.
- UK: Funding cuts bite deeper. See: Dons fear for university jobs; One-day strikes to hit four universities on 5 May; On the proposal to close Philosophy at Middlesex.
- UK election: Third of Labour candidates join fees rebellion; Students threaten to swing seats over tuition fees; Parliament will lose much scientific expertise after election; Oxford students challenge tuition fees review ‘secrecy’; High stakes for science in UK election; ‘Cleggmania’, fees and the student vote; Let’s talk about science.
Think pieces:
Tracking a Global Academic Revolution
The socio-economic gradient in students expectations
Free speech on campus rightly has limits
Independence would enhance role of universities in society
Why Don’t Students Study Anymore?