“At the end of June, Fine Gael’s Simon Harris, who previously served as Minister for Health, was appointed Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with the separate department for Further and Higher Education created alongside his appointment …” (more)
[Brigid Molloy, College Tribune, 21 August]
“The James Joyce library will provide limited study spaces for undergraduate students this trimester in an effort to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and physical distancing guidelines. Additionally, opening hours have been minimised and there is currently no access to other UCD library locations …” (more)
[Emma Hanrahan, College Tribune, 21 August]
“Here’s an idea. Let’s take hundreds of thousands of young people, get them to travel to another city in the country, preferably far from their home town, put them in closed rooms together for hours on end with older people, let them mix, go to bars and party. Throw in a healthy dose of foreigner students from countries all over the globe …” (more)
[Donald Clark Plan B, 21 August]
“UCC will combine online and in-person teaching for the upcoming academic year. Returning students to the University are encouraged to register for their course as early as possible in order to access their timetable …” (more)
[Radio Kerry, 21 August]
“Despite local opposition, Trinity has received planning permission for its development at Trinity Hall, which will include the construction of 358 new rooms. Last month, the Journal reported that residents living around Halls had said ‘no’ to the extension which would increase the number of beds in Halls to 1,283 …” (more)
[Molly Furey, University Times, 21 August]
“Just over a week ago we reported nasty and abhorrent racist abuse of a young woman on NUI Galway’s campus to the Gardai. For me, and our university community, the verbal attack was a timely reminder that we are a part of and not apart from society …” (more)
[Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Irish Times, 21 August]
“Sir, – Minister for Education Norma Foley has insisted that we will not get a repeat of the fiasco we saw in Britain over A-levels. One could be forgiven for suspecting that they intend to achieve this not by actually fixing the mistakes shown in the UK, but by limiting the ability of students and interest groups to be able to organise protests against it and force them into reversal …” (more)
[Tomás M Creamer, Irish Times, 21 August]
“Another 17,000 laptops have been ordered to assist students with online and blended learning, minister Simon Harris said. A fund for devices worth €15m was part of a package helping further and higher education to deal with the impact of Covid-19 …” (more)
[Michael McHugh, Independent, 20 August]
“Trinity will have on-site coronavirus testing facilities in the new academic year to prevent clusters developing in the College community. The College Health Service is implementing testing facilities for staff and students ahead of the beginning of term …” (more)
[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 20 August]
“All students at NUI Galway are to be required to sign a new pledge to adhere to public health advice and to ‘behave responsibly’. Any breach of the guidelines may be considered an act of misconduct and could trigger disciplinary processes. Signing the community promise will be a requirement for students registering for the forthcoming academic year. Staff are also to be asked to sign-up …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 August]
“The government’s announcement that the reduction in the permitted size of indoor gatherings from 50 to six will not apply to higher education institutions, College has announced. In an email to students today – signed by Provost Patrick Prendergast and Áine Kelly, the chair of the resumption of teaching working group – College said that …” (more)
[Molly Furey and Cormac Watson, University Times, 20 August]
“Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate candidates are to be given greater choice in next year’s State exam papers to help ease pressure on students who have lost out on months of school. It means that students completing the English exam, for example, are likely to have a much wider selection of poets and fewer mandatory questions …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 August]
“Ulster University has confirmed that it is ‘actively preparing’ for additional student places on some of the most popular courses at its Magee campus. It comes after this week’s A-level results changes that mean many students will be awarded higher teacher assessed grades …” (more)
[Garrett Hargan, Derry Now, 20 August]
“Face coverings will be mandatory for students attending in-person classes in University College Dublin (UCD) this Autumn Trimester. Students in all levels of education in UCD will have to wear face coverings in class; especially where social distancing of 2 metres cannot be maintained …” (more)
[Ann Jaffray, College Tribune, 20 August]
“New measures announced to further stop the spread of COVID-19 could potentially impact University College Dublin’s [UCD] plans to reopen at the end of September, with knock on effects for society and student life …” (more)
[Sadhbh O’Muirí, College Tribune, 20 August]
