Ninth Level Ireland

“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]

“A year ago this week, the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed. An election promise of Micheál Martin, the new department was quickly brought to the fore when it was announced that outgoing Minister for Health Simon Harris – one of the most high-profile politicians in the country – would be leading it …” (more)

[Jody Druce and Emer Moreau, University Times, 1 July]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Monday, 28 June 2021) welcomed the publication by higher education institutions (HEIs) of their action plans aimed at ending sexual violence and harassment …” (more)

[DFHERIS, 28 June]

“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]