“Student teachers are set to seek payment for work placements in line with other professions, including nurses. Delegations at today’s ASTI convention backed a motion seeking to negotiate a payment for teaching work by students during their postgraduate Master of Education Course …” (more)
[Anne-Marie Walsh, Independent, 6 April]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has spoken to University Chiefs over COVID-19 outbreaks amongst college students in Galway and Limerick which may delay the return to on-campus learning. Minutes released by Department officials after the meeting have outlined that the return of college students to on-campus accommodation with no face-to-face contact hours was a major concern, with recent behaviours having the potential to influence the policy that will be implemented in the coming academic year …” (more)
[Doireann O Sullivan, College Tribune, 6 April]
“Good afternoon to you all. And thank you for the invitation to address your annual conference. I am particularly conscious that this is the first opportunity I have had to speak with you at Congress and it is the first time that there has been a Cabinet Minister for a new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science …” (more)
[MerrionStreet.ie, 6 April]
“Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has described Ireland’s third-level sector as ‘elitist’ and vowed to introduce a fully integrated system which caters for all. Mr Harris said the lack of an integrated system has led to skills shortages, inequality and high drop-out rates from higher education …” (more)
[Amy Molloy, Independent, 6 April]
“Technological University Dublin has said its Tallaght campus was the victim of a ‘significant’ ransomware attack last week. The Tallaght campus’ entire on-site ICT systems were subject to an attack early on Thursday, and an investigation by technical experts and An Garda Síochána is now underway …” (more)
[Adam Daly, TheJournal.ie, 6 April]
“The issue of third-level funding has been ‘ducked and dodged for far too long’, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said. With a final report on the future funding of the sector due within the next few months, Mr Harris said that he ‘didn’t intend to be dusting it or seeking a shelf to stick it on. I intend to act on it with Government colleagues and to engage with our stakeholders. You can have all the lofty ambitions and plans you want but to make them a reality we need to properly fund third-level education’ …” (more)
[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 6 April]
“The Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has warned that the lack of a fully integrated third level sector has fostered inequality, elitism, skills shortages, stress on students and high drop-out rates from higher education. He has also confirmed that his department is planning to introduce pilot schemes for rapid Covid-19 testing across third level education sites …” (more)
[Ingrid Miley, RTÉ News, 6 April]
“Student nurses will leave Ireland once they graduate as a result of the ‘horrific treatment’ by the Irish Government, according to a student nurse who has worked on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic. The issues facing student nurses have come to the fore in recent months, with calls for financial and educational supports for nursing students growing …” (more)
[Darragh Bermingham, Irish Examiner, 6 April]
“University of Limerick has achieved the highest possible standard in the new QS Stars Rating System, the only university in Ireland to achieve this in 2021. UL joins an exclusive group of universities worldwide to receive the overall five-star status in the ranking, which is considered one of the most influential and credible ratings for universities globally …” (more)
[James Cox, BreakingNews.ie, 6 April]
“This weekend will mark a momentous occasion in the history of Trinity College Dublin. For the first time in its 429-year history, Ireland’s oldest university will elect a female leader. The appointment of a new, female provost reflects a welcome trend in higher education leadership, with four of the last seven presidential appointments in Irish colleges being women …” (more)
[Ross Woods, Irish Times, 6 April]
“Last week, students for the first time received some indication of what campus may look like next year, after Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris announced plans to introduce rapid antigen testing in universities in September. The plans are the first concrete acknowledgement from the government that the coronavirus will still be a prominent feature of higher education come September …” (more)
[University Times, 5 April]
“Students play a largely insignificant role in the actual process of electing a Provost. However, their presence hangs over much of the debate: whether that be the dreaded student-staff ratio or the bureaucratic nightmare that is running a school. Those tuning into the Provost election debates have heard a lot about student issues from the senior ranks of College. Here is what leaders in the student community want to see the next Provost bring to the table …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 5 April]
“Some 52% of students with autism in Trinity said College is not doing enough to support them during the pandemic, according to a survey carried out by the Trinity Ability Co_op. Of those surveyed, 34% said that Trinity was also not providing enough support to students with autism before the pandemic …” (more)
[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 5 April]
“Lecturing staff in third-level educational institutions have experienced a significant increase in workload following the move to remote teaching during the pandemic, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has said. Survey findings released by the union ahead of its annual conference next week found 92 per cent of lecturers saying they were spending more time preparing and providing remote classes and carrying out associated work than they would have spent on face-to-face delivery …” (more)
[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 2 April]
