“Do you ever think about why your degree is called a Bachelor’s or a Master’s? Where did these titles come from? Why do university degrees confer such male-orientated titles? How does this make our graduates feel? …” (more)
[Christine Broughan and Tahereh Riahi, Wonkhe, 9 April]
“In a recently published survey from the Trinity Postgraduate Workers Alliance examining the impact of Covid-19 on postgraduate researchers, we found that 90% of respondents had been negatively affected by the pandemic. Some 35.6% reported loss of income, over 60% reported negative effects on their mental health, while others worried about the security of their accommodation and broader impacts on their research …” (more)
[Conor Reddy, University Times, 8 April]
“Former president of the NUI Galway students’ union and chemistry graduate Clare Austick has been elected president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) for the 2021-2022 academic year. Ms Austick, who previously held the USI position of vice-president for welfare, acknowledged that there was a lot of work to be done in the coming months to ensure students could return to campus ‘in a safe manner’ in autumn 2021 while dealing with the impact of the pandemic on students nationwide …” (more)
[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 8 April]
“University College Dublin has received planning approval for works which will facilitate a major expansion of its Belfield campus, including a €48m ’tilting towers’ landmark building at its main entrance on the N11 …” (more)
[Seán McCárthaigh, TheJournal.ie, 6 April]
“Funding for Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has more than doubled since 2018, according to figures provided in the Dáil by the Minister for Further Education. Asked about the capital expenditure the Government has committed to spending across higher education until 2027 under Project Ireland 2040, Minister Harris provided figures which showed that funding for WIT increased from €1.1 million in 2018 to over €3 million in 2020 …” (more)
[Jade Wilson, Waterford News and Star, 7 April]
“Trinity College Dublin (TCD) could survive without government funding if it needed to, Patrick Prendergast, the head of the university has said. Forty per cent of Trinity’s revenue comes from the state, but the college has sought exclusion from upcoming legislation strengthening state accountability of higher education institutions …” (more)
[Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, Business Post, 7 April]
“An investigation is underway at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) to ‘examine the background’ of the institution’s historical benefactors, to establish whether they had any links to slavery. The UK abolished slavery in 1833 and QUB said, as it was founded in 1845, ‘the university does not believe that there is any substantial legacy of links’ between it and the global slave trade …” (more)
[Rory Winters, The Detail, 8 April]
“Two striking trends sum up the profile of Trinity’s staff over the last five years: 42% of all staff are on fixed term contracts, including 25% of core funded staff and almost a quarter of all staff on academic grades. There has been a 40% increase in the proportion of senior managers …” (more)
[John Walsh, University Times, 7 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]
“On one of the final days of the campaign, the three candidates in the race to be Trinity’s next provost have engaged in their last debate ahead of voting this weekend. Professors Linda Doyle, Linda Hogan and Jane Ohlmeyer faced a broad range of questions that picked up on some topics that have characterised the campaign and others that had not yet been publicly engaged with …” (more)
[Lauren Boland, Finn Purdy and Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 7 April]
“The University of Limerick are carrying out a three week trial of a Covid-19 Day Pass Portal for students attending face-to-face teaching and with a booking to access the library …” (more)
[Mike Finnerty, Limerick Voice, 7 April]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD today (Tuesday) invited expressions of interest from candidates for consideration for nomination as Ministerial Representatives of the Governing Body of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) …” (more)
[MerrionStreet.ie, 3 April]
“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]
