Ninth Level Ireland

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Tuesday) published the plan for a safe return to on-site activity for September 2021. Higher and further education and training, and research, are essential activities, and the plan for the 2021/22 academic year is for mainly on-site activity for all students, learners, and staff …” (more)

[MerrionStreet.ie, 16 June]

“Second-level student leaders say teaching of first years in third-level colleges must start no earlier than September 27, following the announcement that Leaving Cert result won’t issue until September 3. Colleges have been reviewing their schedules and some, including UCD, DCU, UCC, NUI Galway and Maynooth University, have decided on a September 27 start for tuition, but details are awaited from across the sector …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 June]

“Today, the government unveiled its Economic Recovery Plan, a €3.6 billion spending package with a major focus for the higher- and further-education sector. With a major focus on the decarbonisation of the Irish economy, the plan lays out programmes aimed at producing a ‘pipeline of highly skilled graduates’ for Ireland’s economy in the future …” (more)

[Jody Druce, University Times, 1 June]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today (Tuesday, 1st June 2021) announced plans for a national conversation on research and science. Creating our Future aims to build on the success of research and science in our battle against COVID-19, and ask the public how we can shape a better Ireland research …” (more)

[gov.ie, 1 June]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today (Tuesday, 1 June 2021) outlined a €225 million investment for further and higher education and research, under the Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan …” (more)

[gov.ie, 1 June]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today (Wednesday, 19 May 2021) met with European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel. The meeting focused on Ireland’s plans for a new national Strategy for Research and Innovation, and an expansion of the European Universities Initiative …” (more)

[gov.ie, 19 May]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Friday 7 May) announced €23 million in funding for a programme for post-doctoral researchers to become research leaders. The investment, which is a joint initiative between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC), will see some 40 early career researchers, across all disciplines, supported to develop cutting-edge projects through awards of up to €550,000 over a four-year period …” (more)

[gov.ie, 6 May]

“The Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) are preparing the next National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (‘National Access Plan’). The current National Access Plan was published in December 2015. A Progress Review published in December 2018 extended the plan until December 2021 …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 16 April]

“The Department of Higher Education has launched a public consultation reviewing SUSI, with submissions closing on April 16th. The terms of reference of the public consultation include reviewing SUSI eligibility criteria, reviewing income thresholds, review of the SUSI maintenance grant, comparison of student supports with other European countries, examination of costs for postgraduate students and determining the real cost of attending higher education in Ireland …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 18 March]

“Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael): I am delighted to be here today again addressing Dáil Éireann on the work of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We have been working very hard in recent months to establish a new Department. Indeed, the Department was only formally set up in law last August and we have tried to pursue an ambitious agenda of work since then …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 10 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today marked International Women’s Day by launching the National Gender Equality Dashboard for Higher Education Institutions. The dashboard, developed by Maynooth University, provides an invaluable resource on gender equality in Higher Education Institutions …” (more)

[gov.ie, 8 March]

“Last November, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said that current legislation regarding higher education governance is ‘not fit for purpose and does not reflect the world in which we live’ – his bullish solution to this issue, however, overreaches and is a threat to Trinity as we know it …” (more)

[University Times, 7 March]

“The way in which students apply for third-level education is to be overhauled to include a connected system for a wider range of further education options and apprenticeships. The new process has been announced as part of the publication of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s three-year plan …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 8 March]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Further Education and Skills Niall Collins have today launched a three-year strategy for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science …” (more)

[gov.ie, 8 March]

“Economy Minister Diane Dodds is to meet the Republic’s Higher Education Minister to discuss NI students taking part in the Erasmus scheme for European study. UK students can no longer participate in the Erasmus programme, which funds third-level academic study in the EU and other projects …” (more)

[Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, 4 February]

“The government will this year consider passing a bill that would give the Minister for Higher Education the power to suspend and replace the governing body of state-funded universities, if there are very serious concerns about how the institution is operating …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 28 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has today re-affirmed Government’s commitment to a Technological University for the South East. Minister Harris was speaking at a new Regional Engagement Advisory Group, attended by Presidents of IT Carlow and WIT and business leaders for the area …” (more)

[gov.ie, 28 January]

“Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael): With the agreement of the House, I will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the impact of Covid-19 on the further and higher education sector. I was a little disappointed that, for the first time in my political career, some Members of the Dáil actually voted not to have me here today for questions and answers. I find that a little bit regrettable, as almost half a million people in this country are in further or higher education …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 14 January]

“Christopher O’Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for [Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science] the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 January]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, has confirmed a new working group will be established to examine how to enhance student wellbeing. The group will be chaired by the Union of Students in Ireland and will be tasked with identifying, refining and implementing strategies to enhance learner engagement and wellbeing …” (more)

[gov.ie, 14 January]