“The number of University of Limerick students referred for Covid-19 tests has risen by more than 10 times in just two weeks. Dr Ronan Ryder, the director of the student health centre at the college, said the service referred fewer than five patients for testing 14 days ago …” (more)
[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 23 February]
“The Government has been warned that developing links between Irish and Chinese universities must be scrutinised because of concerns about human rights violations in China. Independent Senator Rónán Mullen said the State’s education system may be ‘contaminated’ as a result of developing these links amid such violations …” (more)
[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 22 February]
WSinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane has reiterated his call for the Minister for Health to immediately pay student nurses and midwives. This follows a Sinn Féin motion which was passed by the Dáil a month ago on January 20th …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 22 February]
“The Leader of An Seanad, Senator Regina Doherty, is to ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an updated report on the proposed west and north-west technological university – an investment that will incorporate the Mayo Campus of GMIT in Castlebar …” (more)
[Connaught Telegraph, 21 February]
“UCDSU President Conor Anderson and Welfare Officer Ruairí Power met with the Registrar and Deans on Wednesday to discuss new COVID-19 aids for students. The proposed accommodations include waiving resit fees, uncapped resit grades, and the automatic right to resit an assessment or exam in August. The College Tribune met with Ruairí Power to discuss how the meeting went, his rationale for pursuing these measures, and the likelihood of their passing …” (more)
[Rosie Roberts Kuntz, College Tribune, 21 February]
“‘China’ has become the elephant in the room that we, in the field of international higher education, can no longer ignore. What exactly this elephant looks like is still in dispute between those who prefer to ‘engage’ with the rising superpower in the East and those who propose to ‘contain’ an emerging adversary that challenges established Western norms …” (more)
[Queenie KH Lam, University World News, 20 February]
“The role of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) president is unique when compared with other sabbatical officers as the incumbent usually defines the role on their own terms. This year candidates will be defined by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its wide-reaching effects on students …” (more)
[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 21 February]
“The President of the University of Limerick has directly appealed to students to stay apart from each other and not to visit any other households. In a video message posted on social media this Saturday evening, Professor Kerstin Mey said there is concern about the number of cases of Covid-19 associated with students …” (more)
[David Hurley, Limerick Leader, 20 February]
“Launched in the opening days of the new year, the newly formed TCD Renter’s Union (TCDRU) has attracted hundreds of followers across their three social media platforms in the first few weeks of its existence. On these platforms, the TCDRU states its mission ‘to give a voice to all student renters’, and lists among its aims a 25% reduction in rent for this academic year as well as a permanent 10% reduction, as well as a commitment that students who terminate their accommodation during the pandemic will not incur financial penalty …” (more)
[David Wolfe, Trinity News, 19 February]
“University College Cork (UCC) has come under fire after fitting up security guards with bodycams that allow them to record students living in campus accommodation. And startlingly, it has emerged that a number of other Irish universities already allow their security to use the body-worn cameras on campus …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, Irish Mirror, 19 February]
“Trinity College Dublin (TCD) will examine its colonial legacy in Ireland and across the British Empire in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. The university will employ a postdoctoral research fellow to examine the university’s history from its foundation in 1592 to the present day. Trinity was for centuries a bastion of British rule in Ireland and the university for the Protestant ascendency …” (more)
[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 19 February]
“Public Health Mid-West has identified a number of positive Covid-19 tests following last weekends testing at the University of Limerick, and now fears have arisen surrounding clusters in shared off-campus housing …” (more)
[Mike Finnerty, Limerick Voice, 19 February]
“IFUT members have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of the new Public Service Agreement representing a 97% ‘yes’ majority in the ballots cast. The Agreement, ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement’ 2021-2022 provides for increases in pay, commitments to reductions in working hours, restoration of overtime rates and protection on public service outsourcing, all of which deliver positive outcomes and potential for IFUT members and workers in the higher education sector …” (more)
[IFUT, 18 February]
[See also: Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 FAQ]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD has today (19 February, 2021) launched a stakeholder consultation on the reform of the Higher Education Authority legislation. A report to update stakeholders on the recent developments in the reform of the legislation has also been published …” (more)
[MerrionStreet.ie, 19 February]
“A bill which would see student nurses and midwives paid the same rate as health care assistants is due to be debated in the Seanad this afternoon. However, Cabinet decided during the week that it’s not going to oppose the opposition bill in the hope of sending it ‘into the ether’ …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 19 February]
“A surge in Covid-19 cases among the student body in NUI Galway has caused concern among the University community and the wider locality. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed on Monday that an outbreak of the virus has resulted in 135 positive cases. The number is expected to rise, with a further thirty symptomatic cases awaiting test results …” (more)
[Paddy Henry, Irish Times, 17 February]
“The three candidates for provost faced questions from staff members of the faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) this afternoon which also touched on the issues of bureaucracy and research funding …” (more)
[Finn Purdy, Audrey Brown and Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 18 February]
“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the most recent data his Department has on the breakdown between purpose-built student accommodation in the private market and on campus are from 2014; his plans to update this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 February]
“Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if international travel for foreign third level students is deemed essential travel …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 February]
“Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress of capital works at Letterkenny Institute of Technology which were secured under the previous Government; the progress in relation to university status for the institute which also received a commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 February]
