Ninth Level Ireland

“University College Dublin president Andrew Deeks privately told staff in the university’s politics department that their concerns about threats to academic freedom, from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, were an ‘overreaction’. Academics expressed concerns after The Irish Times reported the chief executive of Huawei Ireland had written to Minister for Defence Simon Coveney about an article by a UCD academic criticising the company’s ties to the Chinese government …” (more)

[Jack Power, Irish Times, 8 June]

“President of UCD, Andrew Deeks has defended academic freedom in the wake of ‘a number of recent events’ in a recent President’s Bulletin. These comments emerge after a slew of ‘recent events’ brought the principle and its status in UCD to the fore …” (more)

[Rowan Kelleher, College Tribune, 28 March]

“On February 22nd, University College Dublin (UCD) President, Andrew Deeks issued a Bulletin following the announcement of the Level 5 Lockdown extension. Deeks outlined the importance of limiting campus activities to those ‘that can only be carried out on campus and are both essential and time critical’ …” (more)

[Medb McBrearty, College Tribune, 26 February]

“The University College Dublin Students’ Union (UCD SU) rejected a proposed rebate of €50 on the student levy from the University Management Team (UMT) on Monday. The offer came as a counter proposal after president Andrew Deeks rejected a request by UCD SU for a rebate taken from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) €11 million surplus generated from student fees …” (more)

[Stephen Kisbey-Green, College Tribune, 1 December]

“UCD and NUIG have decided to continue to operate all teaching and learning activities online for the remainder of the first semester, following the Taoiseach’s announcement on Monday night that the country would move to Level 3 restrictions for the next three weeks …” (more)

[Jade Wilson, Irish Times, 6 October]

“University College Dublin’s president, Prof Andrew Deeks, has faced strong criticism of the university’s handling of the Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin sexual harassment case from members of its governing authority, The Irish Times has learned …” (more)

[Una Mullally, Mark Hilliard and Jack Horgan-Jones, Irish Times, 12 September]

“University College Dublin president Prof Andrew Deeks was told last year by a professor who quit a gender equality group at the university that she saw ‘no evidence of any commitment to take the necessary steps’ to rid the campus of physical and verbal sexual harassment …” (more)

[Una Mullally, Irish Times, 10 September]

“A ‘zero tolerance’ policy and a new concept of disclosure are among proposals that University College Dublin (UCD) has put forward to deal with sexual harassment in the university. The proposals are contained in four documents that a working group in the university has put forward to staff and students …” (more)

[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 8 September]

“President of UCD, Professor Andrew Deeks, has confirmed he contacted lecturer and broadcaster Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin on Sunday evening, to personally apologise for the harassment and abuse she suffered at the university for two years …” (more)

[Sean McCárthaigh and Kitty Holland, Irish Times, 6 September]

“The president of University College Dublin, Andrew Deeks, has apologised to assistant professor Aoibhinn Ni Shúilleabháin and has pledged a major shake-up of how bullying and harassment is dealt with on the campus after she publicly described her ordeal at the college …” (more)

[Niamh Horan and Alan O’Keeffe, Independent, 6 September]

“University College Dublin (UCD) is still working under the expectation of 1-metre physical distance measures on campus in the upcoming Trimester, despite recent guidance from government suggesting a 2-metre distance. Sources have told The College Tribune that the University expects an announcement from the government shortly which would allow a reduction in physical distancing from 2-metres to 1-metre, in cases where students wear face masks, which will be mandatory for students on UCD campus …” (more)

[Nessa Collins, College Tribune, 30 July]

“It took months into the pandemic for University College Dublin (UCD) to realise that teaching in the autumn cannot go ahead as usual. Only on May 28th, UCD’s President Andrew Deeks communicated to staff a teaching framework, which is largely oblivious of the risks around bringing large groups of people together, especially in older, unventilated rooms at the Belfield campus. And even more, it completely ignores the fears that staff and students have …” (more)

[Thomas Grund, College Tribune, 16 July]

“A ‘significant rise’ in incidents of ‘poor behaviour’ on campus have been reported in relation to UCD’s yearly ‘Christmas Day’ celebrations, particularly in Student Residences, and towards female faculty members. Minutes of a meeting recently obtained by The College Tribune have revealed incidents of ‘poor behaviour’ in relation to campus residences and female faculty in classrooms were brought forward at a University Management Team (UMT) meeting on 4th December 2019 …” (more)

[Gemma Farrell, College Tribune, 14 July]

“University College Dublin (UCD) has spent €14.8 million on off-campus residential properties since the presidency of former UCD President Hugh Brady. The College Tribune can reveal that UCD has purchased 19 residential properties in Dublin over the last 17 years at a total cost of just under €15 million. It is understood that this practice is part of a long-term plan to expand the boundaries of the UCD’s Belfield campus …” (more)

[Hugh Dooley, College Tribune, 29 May]

“Hybrid learning, no exams in the RDS, late September start, Saturday classes, specified student groups to share classes with, and not a lot of mixing; here’s what Autumn 2020 will look like in University College Dublin (UCD). In an email circulated to UCD staff, President Andrew Deeks shared a document outlining what the Autumn Trimester will probably look like …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 28 May]

“University College Dublin can sustain its operations in the current volatile environment created by the significant uncertainties associated with Covid 19, which has reduced demand from non-EU students. That is according to a note in UCD’s annual accounts where it confirms that the college’s surplus reduced by 44% to €19.46 million in the 12 months to the end of September last …” (more)

[Gordon Deegan, Irish Times, 19 May]

“A message arrived yesterday evening from a close relative in the USA. Just two videos and a cryptic remark about leadership. The first shows President Trump at a press briefing. There he is, musing about injections of household bleach as a possible cure for Covid-19. The second shows President Deeks reading out a message to UCD’s Alumni …” (more)

[In a Strange Land, 25 April]

“University College Dublin (UCD) has indicated that the financial cost of COVID-19 restrictions on the university may approach €100 million this year. The government restrictions bring financial uncertainties for the university which has become increasingly reliant on non-exchequer income since the 2008 financial crash …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 24 April]

“Maynooth University has reversed a proposed 3% rent increase in on-campus accommodation and have introduced a rent freeze. In a statement online today, Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) announced the decision, saying it was a result of ‘student pressure’ following a number of protests on campus …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 23 April]

“University College Dublin’s (UCD) Students’ Union President has called University President Andrew Deeks’ attitude towards the voice of students ‘quite sexist’. In an interview with the Irish Times in February, President Deeks said that students had reacted ‘quite emotionally’ to the recent decision to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation, following a number of protests on campus …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 22 April]