Ninth Level Ireland

“The Government should cover the €1,850 cost of mandatory hotel quarantine for Erasmus students returning to Ireland, an MEP has said. Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher commented on the matter following the Government’s decision last night to add several EU countries to the ‘high-risk’ Covid-19 list …” (more)

[Brendan Kelly Palenque, Independent, 10 April]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the data provided on foot of a recent freedom of information request (details supplied); the analysis his Department has carried out across third-level institutions which fall under the responsibility of his Department into the fining of students for the late payment of registration fees; if this issue will be examined as part of the ongoing review of Higher Education Authority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dail written answers, 1 April]

“German and United Kingdom representatives of universities and higher education organisations have discussed the post-Brexit future of UK-German academic relations, including how to plug the glaring gap in the UK’s Turing Scheme, the replacement for participation in the European Union’s mobility and exchange scheme Erasmus+ …” (more)

[Michael Gardner and Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 1 April]

“Renewal applications for the student grant scheme for the 2021-22 academic year will open on Thursday, while a number of improvements have been made for the most disadvantaged students, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said. These include an increase in the postgraduate fee grant and an increase in the income threshold, while a number of Department of Social Protection and other payments are to be included as income disregards …” (more)

[Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 1 April]

“An overhaul of the student grant scheme is to be announced today. Among the changes are an increase in the postgraduate fee grant and qualifying income threshold. The scheme opens for renewal applications today. The changes to the SUSI scheme are effective for the coming 2021/22 academic year …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 1 April]

“The future of fees for international students is likely to be determined by which of the three candidates in the race to be Trinity’s next provost is successful in the April election. Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan and Jane Ohlmeyer took different standpoints on whether fees for non-EU students would increase under their provostship at a hustings this evening hosted by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) …” (more)

[Lauren Boland, Audrey Brown and Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 29 March]

“Between 60% and 80% of students in some third-level computing and engineering courses are dropping out, new data shows. Young men with low Leaving Cert points are at a particularly high risk of failing to complete their college courses. The findings are contained in a study by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which tracked the progress of thousands of students who started third-level courses over a 10-year period …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 29 March]

“Are we sending too many school leavers to higher education who would fare better in hands-on options such as further education or apprenticeships? It’s a question begged by the findings of a major study by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) into the volume of students who are failing to complete third-level courses …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 29 March]

“Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available for students wishing to continue to third-level education abroad in September 2021 given the likely rise in CAO points requirements for domestic courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the approximately 20,000 college applicants who applied for courses in 2021 on the basis of leaving certificate results achieved in previous years and who consequently may have been disadvantaged with respect to CAO points required for entry to their given courses due to disproportionate grade inflation relative to other years; if he is making provisions for those students who may have been denied a placement under such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 24 March]

“Tonight, the government voted against the People Before Profit (PBP) Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education motion in the Dáil. All opposition TDs bar 8 members of the Regional Group of independents voted in favour of the bill …” (more)

[Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 25 March]

“A new international study programme for students at Welsh universities will start next year, ministers have said. It will be developed by Cardiff University in collaboration with education and youth sector partners ahead of its launch in 2022 …” (more)

[BBC News, 21 March]

“Simon Harris plans on ‘overhauling’ the CAO, looking at alternatives to the Leaving Cert in future years and wants to build more ‘college-owned’ student accommodation. This morning, the Minister for Further and Higher Education appeared on youth radio station SPIN1038, speaking about his plans for the future of higher education in Ireland …” (more)

[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 20 March]

“Students are persisting with college courses despite the challenges posed by remote learning and Covid-19. The pandemic has not triggered a rise in drop-out rates, new figures show. Students have generally stuck with their courses and, in some cases, retention figures are well up on previous years …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 19 March]

“The Department of Higher Education has launched a public consultation reviewing SUSI, with submissions closing on April 16th. The terms of reference of the public consultation include reviewing SUSI eligibility criteria, reviewing income thresholds, review of the SUSI maintenance grant, comparison of student supports with other European countries, examination of costs for postgraduate students and determining the real cost of attending higher education in Ireland …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 18 March]

“With recent polls in the North showing near-equal support for reunification and for union with Britain, it is important for those of us studying in the Republic to consider the effects a united Ireland might have on third-level education here …” (more)

[Fionnán Uibh Eochach, University Times, 16 March]

“Four in five Leaving Cert candidates have registered to receive accredited grades and/or sit the June exams, with 24 hours left to the deadline. All students entered for Leaving Cert 2021 have been asked register on the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) on gov.ie/LeavingCertificate before 6pm on Tuesday March 16 …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 15 March]

“We live in Donegal and my daughter has applied for college places through Ucas and the CAO. Given recent changes in the UK and Ireland regarding how students will receive their grades in 2021, will this affect entry requirements? Firstly, let’s be clear on how students will be assessed and graded in both jurisdictions …” (more)

[Brian Mooney, Irish Times, 16 March]

“A university scholarship in recognition of the solidarity shown by the Choctaw Nation towards the people of Ireland during the Great Famine has been extended for three years. A scholarship programme for members of the Choctaw community at University College Cork (UCC) has been extended following its pilot phase …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 15 March]

“Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he hopes to encourage participation in third and fourth-level education throughout the country regardless of socioeconomic background; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 11 March]