Ninth Level Ireland

“The Minister Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today (16 November 2021) invited expressions of interest from suitably-qualified and experienced candidates, for consideration for nomination as Chairperson and Ordinary Members of the first Governing Body of the new Technological University for the West and Northwest …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 16 November]

“Sir, – The article by Carl O’Brien (News, November 2nd) outlines the significant benefits which are expected to flow to the southeast region following the merger of IT Carlow and Waterford IT to create a new technological university (TU) …” (more)

[Seamus Grant, Irish Times, 5 November]

“Some 2,544 vaccine doses were given to third level students during a national vaccination drive last week the Department of Further and Higher Education has today revealed. Of the vaccinations given out across the 12 institutions, almost 50% were first doses …” (more)

[Paul Hyland, Independent, 27 October]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Tuesday) welcomed the appointment of Professor Philip Nolan as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland. Professor Nolan will assume his position in January …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 19 October]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today launched ‘Speak Out – the Anonymous Violence and Harassment Reporting Tool’ for higher education institutions …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 18 October]

“The Department of Higher Education has come under fire for a tweet that quoted a former US president’s advice on the benefits of education. On Monday, the department tweeted a quote attributed to US president Theodore Roosevelt: ‘A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car, but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad …” (more)

[Dominic McGrath, Independent, 27 September]

“An Irish university has told students that campus security may forcibly remove them from lectures if they refuse to wear a face coverings or leave a classroom, as part of plans to ensure the safe return of classes this year. In an email circulated to students in one faculty in recent weeks, University College Cork told students that lecturers will ask them to wear a mask or leave the lecture hall …” (more)

[Stephen McDermott, TheJournal.ie, 24 September]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD have today announced 11 pop up vaccination centres will be established across colleges next week. The clinics will provide first or second doses and will be provided to students and staff as walk-in clinics during Vaccination Week …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 22 September]

“A lecturers’ union claims some third-level colleges have not engaged adequately with staff around plans for a safe return to campus. Colleges of higher education are in the process of re-opening fully for the first time in 18 months. But the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said there are inconsistencies in the approaches being taken by college authorities …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 14 September]

“The minister for higher education is set to overhaul the CAO system to include further education and apprenticeships. From November, the CAO website will be revamped to include those areas in a bid to ease what has been dubbed the ‘points race’ …” (more)

[Paul Hosford, Irish Examiner, 6 September]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris today (Friday) welcomed the publication of the Higher Education Research Group’s review of the Irish higher education research system. The Review examined a number of strategic themes to help drive the future performance of higher education research activity in Ireland …” (more)

[MerrionStreet.ie, 3 September]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today (Friday, 27 August 2021) announced further improvements to the Student Support Scheme for eligible students in the international protection system to access third-level education for 2021/2022 …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 27 August]

“The Government is planning to establish pop-up vaccination centres on college campuses in a bid to boost the numbers of students in receipt of Covid jabs once the new academic year gets under way. The Department of Further and Higher Education is understood to be in discussion with health authorities on the likely demand for vaccines and where the centres will be established …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 12 August]

“The higher education institutions represented by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, have joined together to announce their plans for a safe return to campuses this September with maximum on-site presence …” (more)

[IUA, 3 August]

“Another €21 million for extra student support also confirmed. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today secured government approval for €105 million for the third-level sector to safely return in September 2021. The package will include financial support for further and higher education to return on-site safely and in line with public health advice. It will also have extra support for students in further and higher education …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 21 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today confirmed the date for the establishment of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest. Minister Harris today signed an order dissolving Athlone and Limerick institutes of technology, and replacing them with the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 16 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today (Monday, 12 July 2021) urged staff and students to volunteer to be part of rapid testing and other testing surveillance systems on college campuses. The project, called UniCoV, will conduct a large-scale analysis of testing technologies for Covid-19 surveillance and prevention in higher education …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 12 July]

“Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the role his Department played in the appointment of a person (details supplied) to a position …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 8 July]

“Extra places in universities for medicine and pharmacy students will be included in a plan by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris to create 4,500 extra third-level places. The news comes after it emerged that the points needed for some high-demand courses will rise as students who sat the written Leaving Cert last November take up places now offered to them …” (more)

[Brian Mooney and Cormac McQuinn, Irish Times, 9 July]

“The Minister Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today (Monday, 5 July 2021) invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for consideration for nomination as chairperson or ordinary members of the first governing body of Technological University Shannon:Midlands Midwest (TUS:Midlands Midwest) …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 5 July]