Ninth Level Ireland

“… President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh told students and staff at the university this week that he found it ‘deeply frustrating’ that some students were flouting public health guidelines. The HSE has confirmed that there were at least 441 cases of Covid in the city’s 18-24 age group – which has affected 224 households – in the past three weeks …” (more)

[Enda Cunningham, Connacht Tribune, 5 March]

“‘An té nach gcuireann san earrach, ní bhaineann sé’. This old Irish proverb, meaning ‘whoever does not plant in the spring, does not reap in the autumn’, is one we should all take particular note of when contemplating a lasting solution for the funding of third-level education in Ireland …” (more)

[Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Business Post, 20 January]

“The President of NUI Galway has called for more resources for students in need. Representatives are before TDs and Senators at the Oireachtas Higher Education Committee today on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 3 December]

“NUI Galway have announced that Semester two learning will continue online. In an email circulated to all students last week, signed off by President of the University Dr Ciaran Ó’hÓgartaigh the university stated that they, ‘expect to continue next semester with the current levels of on-campus activity still in place’ …” (more)

[Paddy Henry, SIN, 1 December]

“There has been a joint call on landlords by the NUI Galway President and the Students Union to provide refunds to students who no longer need to be in Galway due to the switch to online learning …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 14 October]

“Postgraduate students at NUI Galway (NUIG) are refusing to carry out the university’s required 120 hours of unpaid teaching, with the Postgraduate Workers Alliance NUIG describing it as ‘exploitative and unjust’ …” (more)

[Molly Furey, University Times, 23 September]

“A chara, – I read with interest the article by Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, the president of NUI Galway, ‘If students want campuses to reopen they will have to share responsibility’ (Opinion & Analysis, August 16th). I thoroughly enjoyed the phrase ‘actions should be for the collective good’. It is a great motto to live by. Yet I wonder if the management of NUI Galway really believes in this at all …” (more)

[Pádraic Toomey, Irish Times, 22 August]

“All students at NUI Galway are to be required to sign a new pledge to adhere to public health advice and to ‘behave responsibly’. Any breach of the guidelines may be considered an act of misconduct and could trigger disciplinary processes. Signing the community promise will be a requirement for students registering for the forthcoming academic year. Staff are also to be asked to sign-up …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 August]

“NUI Galway is to finalise timetables for students by the end of the month as the university prepares to reopen. The university received guidance on the reopening of third level in recent weeks and is now examining the roll-out before the September reopening …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 4 August]

“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]