“University of Limerick (UL) President Des Fitzgerald has expressed his belief that the college will not reopen to students until mid-June, outlining that UL may host a field hospital on its campus if the health services are ‘overwhelmed’ by the demands of the coronavirus pandemic …” (more)
[Lauren Boland, Trinity News, 16 March]
“College presidents and student leaders have come together to ask students to avoid parties and other large social gatherings to slow the spread of Covid-19. The joint appeal is emailed out to 250,000 students to reinforce the critical importance of social distancing in the current public health crisis. There was shock over the weekend when it emerged that some students had attended ‘virus parties’ to mark the closure of colleges last week on public safety grounds …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 March]
“The Presidents of all of Ireland’s Universities and Institutes of Technology have today (Monday March 16th) issued a plea to every student to fully follow set guidelines on social distancing to protect themselves from infection and to slow down the spread of Covid 19 in order to protect others …” (more)
[IUA, 16 March]
“Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) has had requests from the health authorities regarding facilities and skilled staff members who may be suitable for roles in the health sphere. In a statement to The Echo, the Institute said: ‘We are reviewing potential areas but these are probably quite limited given the requirement for toilets/showers in close proximity …'” (more)
[Roisin Burke, EchoLive, 16 March]
“University of Limerick is likely to host a field hospital on its campus should health services become overwhelmed from the coronavirus pandemic over the coming weeks. UL president Prof Des Fitzgerald said he expects it will be at least mid-June before the college reopens to students and the campus may be need to assist health services in the meantime …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 16 March]
“Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has welcomed the move from Queen’s University to deliver lecture material remotely with all face-to-face lectures ceasing. The party’s Economy Spokesperson said: ‘I strongly welcome this action by Queen’s University to protect the health and well-being of students, staff and the public during the Coronavirus crisis …'” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 16 March]
“What weeks ago seemed unthinkable is now a reality for many professors: take all your courses online, suddenly and indefinitely, due to COVID-19. And while technical and other practical challenges abound for instructors in all fields, those in the humanities face some particular ones: creating virtual classroom environments that foster the deep and often intimate discussions that promote trust and learning …” (more)
[Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed, 16 March]
“Queen’s University Belfast has said it will no longer hold face-to-face lectures from Wednesday due to the coronavirus outbreak. At this stage, laboratory sessions, tutorials and seminars are unaffected – unless advised otherwise by specific schools within the university – but further contingency plans are being put in place …” (more)
[ITV News, 16 March]
“A leading virologist has pulled back from speaking to the media about the spread of coronavirus after she was targeted by online trolls. Dr Lindsay Broadbent posted on Twitter over the weekend that she is stepping back from commenting publicly on the health crisis in order to preserve her own mental health …” (more)
[Lisa Smyth, Belfast Telegraph, 16 March]
“A Dublin university could be one of the locations used in the capital for drive thru COVID-19 testing. If the plans go ahead, the Dublin City University campus in Glasnevin will be establishing the coronavirus swabbing centre in one of its car parks …” (more)
[Laura Lyne, Dublin Live, 16 March]
“A Trinity student, who travelled with Dublin University Surf Club on their trip to Fuerteventura last week, has tested positive for COVID-19, the club announced tonight. The student is the fifth person in Trinity to contract the virus …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 March]
“When that fateful email was delivered to all of us on Tuesday afternoon, confirming the rumours that lectures would be cancelled for the remainder of term, my initial reaction was one of pure, unbridled delight. No longer would I endure the trauma that comes with 9am lectures – or, as was more commonly the case for me, the guilt that comes with missing said 9am lectures. Instead I was looking forward to ‘learning remotely’ from home in my bed …” (more)
[Aisling Marren, University Times, 12 April]
“The New Decade New Approach document has included a commitment to university expansion in Derry, the North’s second city, and fourth largest city on the island. The stated commitment is good news, although it’s hard not be cynical. We’ve had promises for decades, while student numbers dwindle and courses disappear …” (more)
[Anne McCloskey, Derry Now, 16 March]
“The coronavirus crisis is upending higher education – as well as economies and the lives of millions of individuals around the world. Universities have been closed, with teaching cancelled or put online. Conferences have been called off. Of direct relevance to international higher education, prospective students have been unable to take examinations, and international students have been unable to travel to their campuses or to return home …” (more)
[Philip G Altbach and Hans de Wit, University World News, 14 March]
“When Apple released the iPad a decade ago, there was a rush among early adopters to embed such an innovative device into their lives. There was also a surge in the uptake of digital technology in schools around the world at the same time. Ireland was no different …” (more)
[Ann Marcus Quinn, Irish Times, 15 March]
