Ninth Level Ireland

“Tens of thousands of university students are set to start the new academic year later than normal this year with most lectures continuing to take place online due to the Covid-19 threat. Many colleges are also considering suspending Erasmus programmes due to travel restrictions, which typically see thousands of students study abroad at other higher education institutions in the European Union …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 30 April]

“The President of NUI Galway has said significant investment in profound research focused on helping human health and well-being during the current health emergency will be announced today by the Taoiseach. Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said the funding will support medical, technical and social research projects specifically focused on Covid-19, a number of which are based at NUI Galway …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 29 April]

“NUI Galway has announced major changes to the 2020/2021 academic year, due to Covid-19. In an email sent to students this morning, the college told students that the academic year will start later and there will be a blend of in-class and online learning. Semester one exams will also be moved to January instead of taking place before Christmas, as is tradition …” (more)

[Aine Kenny, Irish Examiner, 27 April]

“NUI Galway’s returning students will start next year on September 28th, the college has said, with incoming first years set to begin in November. Colleges around the country are currently attempting to put in place academic timelines for next year, despite widespread uncertainty about potential restrictions as a result of the coronavirus …” (more)

[Molly Furey, University Times, 27 April]

“Student accommodation providers must provide refunds to people who had to leave college due to the Covid-19 pandemic a Galway TD has said. Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten has said he’s received reports of several private student accommodation providers in Galway who will not refund rent to people who have been forced to leave due to Covid-19 …” (more)

[Briain Kelly, Galway Daily, 24 April]

“The IUA says detailed information on timetables will be issued as soon as possible. Seven of Ireland’s universities are replacing their face-to-face exams at the end of this semester with online assessments …” (more)

[Red FM, 3 April]

“NUI Galway is to hold two virtual conferring ceremonies for more than 300 medical graduates and their families. The university took the decision to bring the final year medical examinations and graduation forward to ensure that the medical graduates would be available to enter the healthcare workforce …” (more)

[Conall Ó Fátharta, Irish Examiner, 3 April]

“College examinations will go ahead remotely with alternatives to the traditional hall exams at Galway’s two biggest colleges which switched tuition online following the cancellation of all campus lectures …” (more)

[Denise McNamara, Connacht Tribune, 2 April]

“NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, has called for property owners to work with the University and show care and compassion to students during the COVID-19 emergency …” (more)

[NUI Galway, 25 March]

“The President of NUI Galway has met with protestors this afternoon over their call to revoke a 4% rent increase in on-campus accommodation. A group of four students met with President, Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh at 3pm and said he supported their concerns and vowed to hold a meeting to discuss the hike with all relevent stakeholders …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 27 February]

“NUI Galway has updated its policies after an investigation found a charity set up to raise funds for the university shelled out money for luxury hotels and travel for directors’ spouses. Last month, an investigation by the Charities Regulator found that the Galway University Foundation spent close to €50,000 on business class flights …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 9 January]

“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) today officially launched the Enhancing Digital Capacity in Teaching and Learning in Irish Universities (EDTL) project as the final event of the World Conference on Online Learning. This is an ambitious three-year project, funded by the Higher Education Authority’s Innovation and Transformation Programme …” (more)

[IUA, 7 November]

“NUI Galway has become Ireland’s sixth third-level institute to receive University of Sanctuary status for efforts made to include asylum seekers and refugees …” (more)

[Orla Murnaghan, University Times, 19 September]

“The SUSI grant was never intended to cover the full cost of college, the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Higher Education has said. Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Mary Mitchell O’Connor also ruled out a proposal by the incoming President of the National Parents Council Post Primary that the Government could act as co-guarantor for loans that parents have to take out to cover the cost of their children’s third-level education …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 14 August]

“The President of NUI Galway says the college’s student accommodation is aimed at providing accessible and affordable bed spaces to students. A new survey reveals the university took in €5.2m last year for student accommodation fees – a decrease of several hundred thousand euro for the second year running, despite rising rents …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 9 August]

“The President of NUI Galway says while instances of exam cheating are increasing, overall the number of cases remains extremely small. Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh is reacting to new figures which reveal ‘smart watches’ are being linked with increases in cheating at colleges nationwide …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 8 August]

“NUI Galway has signed an agreement to establish a Confucius Institute and to formalise collaborative ties with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (NJUCM). The signing ceremony was attended by the Chinese Vice-Minister for Education, the Ambassador of China in Ireland and the Mayor of Galway …” (more)

[Fiona Lee, SIN, 11 April]

“NUI Galway is seeking the public’s assistance as part of its drive to shape the university’s future. It’s part of an online discussion called ‘Imagine NUI Galway’ which aims to inform strategy over the next five years …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 20 March]

“Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh is looking to make his mark. The 13th president of NUI Galway (National University of Ireland, Galway) has a legacy to leave in the city that first set him upon a path to becoming one of Ireland’s top academics. Just over one year into his new job, Ó hÓgartaigh is embarking on a plan to develop a part of the university’s assets that is falling into disrepair …” (more)

[Peter Hamilton, Irish Times, 1 February]

“This month more than 50,000 students received CAO offers for places in third-level colleges amid a national accommodation crisis, with many wondering how they will find accommodation in the face of rising rents and a housing shortage …” (more)

[Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh
and Megan Reilly, Irish Times, 30 August]