“Drivetime’s John Cooke reports on the return of students to NUI Galway, and Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Deputy President and Registrar at NUI Galway, Chris Luke, consultant in emergency medicine, discuss the reopening of universities …” (audio)
[RTÉ – Drivetime, 28 September]
“The Executive Office will meet representatives of Northern Ireland’s universities on Tuesday to discuss their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It comes after a number of students in Queen’s University halls of residence in Belfast have been told to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 28 September]
“Celebrated atheist Richard Dawkins was booked to address the College Historical Society (nicknamed the Hist) at Trinity College Dublin next year. But the society’s auditor has now announced that the invitation will be rescinded, citing Dawkins’ views on ‘Islam and sexual assault’ …” (more)
[spiked, 28 September]
“University College Cork’s Students’ Union is urging students to behave responsibly but says it will not be cancelling plans for Freshers’ Week. SU Commercial and Fundraising Officer Beth O’Reilly said even if they cancelled all their events – which are all online this year – it would not stop house parties going ahead …” (more)
[Jennie O’Sullivan, RTÉ News, 28 September]
“Residents in Cork city have called for University College Cork (UCC) to call off Freshers Week as the number of Covid-19 cases in Cork continue to rise. Yesterday, a further 54 cases were confirmed in Cork and the county is under consideration for additional lockdown measures …” (more)
[Michelle McGlynn, Irish Examiner, 28 September]
“No plans for rent reductions to HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) students or other low-income groups on the horizon – according to the UCD Access and Lifelong Learning Centre (ALL). Michell Tracey, ALL’s Student Support Officer, told The College Tribune …” (more)
[Isobel Dunne, College Tribune, 28 September]
“Some students at Queen’s University’s Halls of Residence in Belfast have been told to self-isolate after a small number of them tested positive for Covid-19. It is understood that the buildings involved are in the Malone Road area, close to the university in the south of the city …” (more)
[Tommie Gorman, RTÉ News, 28 September]
“Institutes of technology say they need €136m in State funding next year as the first slice of a three-year investment package of €534m. The Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) makes the case in a pre-Budget submission highlighting the critical role of the sector in regional development, in addressing disadvantage and in lifelong learning …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 28 September]
“The Acting Chief chief medical officer has encouraged students to form social bubbles, as he lends his support to a new campaign aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 in third level environments …” (more)
[Nicky Ryan, The Journal.ie, 28 September]
“As many third level students start their new academic year today they are being asked to consider whether they need to travel to rented accommodation in light of new restrictions which will limit on-campus activity. In addition, several colleges have warned students that any breaches of Covid-19 regulations – including guidelines on the numbers who can attend house parties and other social gatherings – could result in expulsion …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 28 September]
“Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris will meet university leaders early this week to discuss how best to bring some level of certainty to students about the academic year and the move to digital learning amid the Covid-19 crisis …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 28 September]
“Students living in Queen’s University Belfast accommodation have tested positive for Covid-19, it has been confirmed. It is understood some of the affected students are living in Holly Grove in the Elms Village, although the university did not confirm the specific location …” (more)
[The Irish News, 28 September]
“Universities should be at the heart of building a ‘more resilient and healthier’ Europe, higher education leaders were told by the European commissioner responsible for education and research. Speaking at an open online session of the 2020 Funding Forum hosted by the European University Association (EUA) on 22 September, Mariya Gabriel said it was time to admit that the coronavirus pandemic had changed the way we teach, learn and do research forever …” (more)
[Nic Mitchell, University World News, 25 September]
“Former president of GMIT – Dr Fergal Barry – has claimed he was lobbied by former Fine Gael Ministers Mary Mitchell O’ Connor and Michael Ring over a job at the college. According to the Sunday Times, he’s written to the Department of Further and Higher Education outlining the alleged canvassing by both Ministers on behalf of a candidate …” (more)
[Galway Bay FM, 27 September]
“Thinking through the implications of Friday’s announcement for teaching I saw the following advice sent out to students from Maynooth University: ‘For the next few weeks most lectures will move online. You will be invited on-campus for practical classes, tutorials and for the teaching which requires a lot of interaction …'” (more)
[In the Dark, 27 September]
“University College Cork students, who breach Covid-19 regulations including guidelines on attending or visiting households on university-owned accommodation, could face expulsion, UCC interim president Prof John O’Halloran has warned …” (more)
[Barry Roche, Irish Times, 27 September]
“Students in Cork want their money back after paying up front for accommodation this semester. Earlier this week, the government’s ordered colleges to start the new semester with online classes only for the next two weeks …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 27 September]
“An objective has been set out this week to establish the Technological University of the South East on 1 January 2022. The chairpersons of the governing bodies and the presidents of both Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology this week announced the objective in a briefing note to business and other community leaders …” (more)
[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 26 September]
“Students at University of Limerick who organise house parties that break Covid rules could be fined or expelled. Colleges and institutes of technology have been told to have as few students on campus as possible for the next few weeks …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 26 September]
“There will be a ban on visitors and parties at UCC owned accommodation when students return to college next week, and students who fail to abide by current public health guidelines around gatherings could find themselves facing repercussions …” (more)
[Roisin Burke, EchoLive, 25 September]
