Ninth Level Ireland

“In order to alleviate some pressure and anxiety for students in what are unprecedented times with the outbreak of COVID-19, Queen’s University has announced a number of measures today. To continue to support our students, Queen’s has decided that those currently living in the University’s residences and who wish to return home, can terminate their accommodation contracts from 27 March at no financial penalty …” (more)

[QUB, 20 March]

Trinity will allow student residents to remain in their accommodation beyond the end of term, offering extensions to those who need to stay on beyond their rental period. In an email sent to residents today, the College called on students who need to stay on in College accommodation after their rental period to make contact with the Accommodation Office …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 20 March]

“Almost one-in-five students across a range of medical third level courses suffer extreme stress according to a new study, with an academic supervisor claiming stress during training can help once they are working in frontline fields …” (more)

[Noel Baker, BreakingNews.ie, 20 March]

“Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has cancelled all exams due to go ahead on campus. The university said it would arrange alternative ways to assess students instead. Both Queen’s and Ulster University closed their campuses to all but some key staff on Tuesday …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 20 March]

“Trinity’s College Board is to meet next week as scheduled, the College has confirmed, despite the closure of the College due to the coronavirus pandemic. In an email statement to The University Times, the College’s assistant secretary, Victoria Butler, wrote that the College’s Board ‘meeting is going ahead as scheduled on the 25th’ …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 20 March]

“The LIT Gaelic Grounds is to become a new drive-through testing centre for the Covid-19 coronavirus, it has been confirmed this Friday afternoon …” (more)

[Fintan Walsh, Limerick Leader, 20 March]

“The Department of Education is considering cancelling the summer Junior Cert exams for tens of thousands of students in a bid to prioritise the Leaving Cert if schools do not reopen. The move is one of a number of contingency plans being examined by officials in response to the coronavirus threat. The Minister for Education said this week that his department is currently working on the assumption that the Leaving Cert will go ahead as planned …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 20 March]

“As the Covid 19 pandemic develops, universities are asking serious questions about how they can continue to successfully deliver teaching and learning. Is online streaming and lecture caption the answer? …” (more)

[Chris Thomson and Zac Gribble, Wonkhe, 20 March]

“There is fresh uncertainty over the viability of written State exams this summer after the Taoiseach warned schools could now be shut until May. Students were assured it is too early to make any final decision, although Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle oral and practical exams have already been cancelled …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly and Philip Ryan, Independent, 20 March]

“Laura Harmon is an independent candidate for the 2020 Seanad Election. Born in 1986, she is a graduate of UCC. As President of the USI, Laura led the student campaign in the marriage equality referendum in 2015 …” (more)

[Cian McGrath, University Express, 19 March]

“Deputy News Editor Maeve O’Sullivan recently spoke to Michelle Healy, an independent candidate in the upcoming NUI 2020 Seanad elections. Ms Healy comes from Bishopstown, Cork and is a graduate of UCC …” (more)

[Maeve O’Sullivan, University Express, 20 March]

“In an email sent out to all current students, UCD Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Mark Rogers announced that the university ‘will not be running our traditional examinations in the RDS, Blackrock or the Newman Building this trimester’. The university will attempt to replicate all scheduled lectures, assessment and grading as best it can, in a time which Rogers described as ‘very difficult, challenging and unsettling’ …” (more)

[Hugh Dooley, College Tribune, 19 March]

“As Students’ Unions around Ireland are stepping-up protests at universities and colleges demanding the reversal of rent increases in on-campus accommodation, a West Cork student shares his own three-month struggle to find affordable accommodation …” (more)

[Philip Brennan, Southern Star, 19 March]

“Dear Colleagues, Support and Solidarity of IFUT / Covid-19 l am writing to offer the support and solidarity of IFUT to our members at this unprecedented time for our education system and our entire society. The efforts to combat Covid-19 have led to the necessary cessation of all direct contacts in our higher education system …” (more)

[IFUT, 19 March]