Ninth Level Ireland

“Report calls for access targets and supports to be focused on disadvantaged communities as well as expanding opportunities for part-time learning. The number of people aged between 15-64 years who have achieved a third-level qualification in Ireland has increased by 5% in the past decade, with educational attainment rates remaining high, new research has shown …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 14 June]

“Low numbers of mature students are entering higher education due to financial barriers, family commitments and a lack of flexible study options, according to a Higher Education Authority (HEA) report. The report also shows the number of 25-44 year-olds with a college degree has climbed above 50% …” (more)

[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 14 June]

“The HEA is launching its call for applications to the Gender Equality Enhancement Fund 2021. The aim of this fund is to advance gender equality initiatives in Irish higher education. Applications under the Fund will open on Friday, June 4, and the deadline for submission of applications will be 12 noon on Friday, September 24, 2021 …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 4 June]

“Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the technological university for the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 May]

“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve the working conditions for PhD researchers; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Debates, 20 May]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Monday) launched a new project, ‘Next Steps for Teaching and Learning: Moving Forward Together’, aimed at examining how higher level education can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will look at what we have learned so far in the shift to fully online/remote teaching and learning since 2020 and how the sector can move forward together …” (more)

[teachingandlearning.ie, 11 May]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contribution currently made by the Higher Education Authority towards graduate entry medicine per student; the cost of increasing the HEA contribution towards graduate entry medicine tuition fees by €5,000 and €10,000 per student, respectively based on the latest available student numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 6 May]

“The government has today left the door open to more flexibility in how Trinity is governed in the future, likely easing concerns that the department would grant the Higher Education Authority (HEA) sweeping powers to control how College is run …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 6 May]

“Colleges that do not comply with funding conditions will face sanctions, including having their grants withheld, under new published legislation aimed at reforming the governance of the Higher Education sector. Under the legislation, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) will be able to set conditions for funding third-level institutions and guidelines on how much of a university’s budget should be applied to its different activities …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 6 May]

“The Government has insisted that sweeping governance changes to the higher education sector will safeguard the autonomy of universities and protect academic freedom. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris published the Higher Education Authority Bill (2021) on Thursday which amount to the biggest shake-up in third level governance in 50 years …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 6 May]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (6th May) published legislation to reform and modernise the Higher Education sector. The Higher Education Authority Act, 2021 will advance equality, diversity and inclusion at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), while ensuring they provide accountability and transparency, as well as value-for-money for public funding …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 6 May]

“The Cabinet is expected on Tuesday to approve draft laws on university governance, which would increase centralised supervision and give a regulator the power to fine colleges for breaching rules. The laws, to be introduced by Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris, aim to redraw the relationship between government and the institutions for the first time since the 1970s …” (more)

[Pat Leahy and Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 4 May]

“A technological university for the south east has moved a step closer after Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and IT Carlow formally submitted an application to merge and create a new institution. The aim of the Technological University of South East Ireland consortium is that the new technological university – yet unnamed – will be established on January 1st next …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 30 April]

“The number of staff at Trinity College Dublin earning over €300,000 per annum more than doubled last year to 13. That is according to the 2020 annual report for the college which shows that TCD’s operating losses also more than doubled to €16.37 million as it grappled with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic …” (more)

[Gordon Deegan, Irish Times, 18 April]

“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]

“Sinn Fein’s Cllr Tom Forde delivered the welcomed news today: ‘It was great to hear the President of CIT Dr Patricia Mulcahy and her colleagues speak to Wexford County Council today. Dr Mulcahy confirmed that discussions about the site identified for a new Wexford campus is at an advanced stage of the approval process’, he said …” (more)

[Wexford Weekly, 12 April]

“A ground-breaking survey into staff and student experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions is being launched today (12 April) by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The survey, which will begin today and will be conducted by the Higher Education Authority, will be sent to every student and staff member by their Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). There are over 30,000 staff and 235,000 students in higher education …” (more)

[gov.ie, 12 April]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the data provided on foot of a recent freedom of information request (details supplied); the analysis his Department has carried out across third-level institutions which fall under the responsibility of his Department into the fining of students for the late payment of registration fees; if this issue will be examined as part of the ongoing review of Higher Education Authority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dail written answers, 1 April]

“Five institutes of technology and 10 departments have been recognised for measures to improve gender equality in higher education in the latest round of Athena SWAN awards, announced today (31st March). The institutes of technology in Athlone, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny and Sligo each receive a Bronze award, which recognises that the institutions have identified their key gender equality challenges and opportunities and have action plans to drive progress …” (more)

[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 30 March]

“Between 60% and 80% of students in some third-level computing and engineering courses are dropping out, new data shows. Young men with low Leaving Cert points are at a particularly high risk of failing to complete their college courses. The findings are contained in a study by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which tracked the progress of thousands of students who started third-level courses over a 10-year period …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 29 March]