“Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference approved by the HEA and a company (details supplied) for the mid-term review report at GMIT County Mayo campus; the progress on the implementation of the working group’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 14 January]
“At €200 million, the recent Human Capital Initiative is one of the largest investments ever in Irish higher education. It aims to increase the capacity of universities to meet priority skills needs at this pivotal time and in the disruptive aftermath of Covid-19. To fully deliver on this investment, a seismic shift is needed in the relationship between Irish universities and enterprise …” (more)
[Deirdre Lillis, Business Post, 8 January]
“The government will extend internet access for students to 90 new locations across the country in order to create ‘extended virtual campuses’, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris announced today. HEAnet will lead the initiative, rolling out eduroam – a WiFi connection that students can automatically connect to – to locations accessible to students, such as libraries, museums, public offices, coffee shops and shopping centres …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 5 January]
“… the development of the proposed TUSE between WIT and Carlow IT will be a tremendous political challenge. Many people here are afraid of a shabby political betrayal. A recent Zoom meeting between the heads of WIT, Carlow IT and staff from both institutions, facilitated by Tom Boland, demonstrated the extent to which Carlow IT has been allowed to dominate the proceedings although it is by far the smaller institution …” (more)
[Waterford News and Star, 21 December]
“When The University Times reported on a survey conducted by the Higher Education Authority this week that revealed dramatic inequality in higher education institutions, hardly anyone was surprised. The findings of the survey revealed that Trinity fared the worst when it came to equality in higher education: it came joint last, in an embarrassing tie with University College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in terms of having the fewest students from disadvantaged backgrounds …” (more)
[University Times, 13 December]
“Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a further eligibility criteria sample process review report was prepared by auditors for the Munster Technological University consortium after 28 May 2019 (details supplied); if so, if he will make the report available; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 3 December]
“The class gap in higher education is revealed in new figures that show affluent students dominate high-points courses such as medicine, finance and engineering. By contrast, students from disadvantaged areas are more likely to study courses in areas such as childcare, sport and secretarial studies …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 7 December]
“Data covering 94% of all enrolments in 2018/2019 creates a socio-economic profile of Irish higher education students. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has today (Monday, December 7) published detailed data which offers an insight into the Spatial and Socio-Economic profile of the Higher Education Population …” (more)
[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 7 December]
“The University College Dublin Students’ Union (UCD SU) rejected a proposed rebate of €50 on the student levy from the University Management Team (UMT) on Monday. The offer came as a counter proposal after president Andrew Deeks rejected a request by UCD SU for a rebate taken from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) €11 million surplus generated from student fees …” (more)
[Stephen Kisbey-Green, College Tribune, 1 December]
“A survey is set to be carried out into harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the country’s higher education institutions. The survey, which will look into harassment and bullying of both staff and students, was confirmed by Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris …” (more)
[Michelle McGlynn, Irish Examiner, 26 November]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has confirmed a survey is to be carried out into harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both staff and students in our higher education institutions …” (more)
[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 26 November]
“All third level colleges are to be required to measure cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students as part of new ‘zero tolerance’ initiative to create safe campuses for all. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris TD is to announce on Thursday that higher education institutions will be required to record and report these statistics annually from now on …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 26 November]
“More students than ever before have taken part in the 2020 Irish Survey of Student Engagement and the results provide invaluable insights for the higher education sector as well as for the students themselves. The Irish Survey of Student Engagement National Report 2020 was published today, in partnership with the HEA, the IUA, THEA and the USI …” (more)
[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 24 November]
“University governing bodies will be smaller and feature more external members under new legislation to be published next year, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said. He said current legislation on higher education governance is ‘not fit for purpose and does not reflect the world in which we live’ …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 20 November]
“University College Dublin (UCD) has launched a Diversity Screen programme, asking staff to divulge personal information to track diversity progress. The voluntary scheme asks staff members to report their gender, sexuality, date of birth, ethnicity, nationality, religion, civil status, family status and disability. The information is not mandatory to divulge, however, UCD is seeking to track their progress on implementing Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) goals …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 20 November]
“Delighted to hear about the prospect for a cross border university, what stage is that issue currently at and how will it proceed? The establishment of a technological university (TU) in the north-west is being advanced through the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) TU development consortium composed of Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Galway Mayo IT and IT Sligo …” (more)
[IFUT, 13 November]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has announced a €5 million fund designed to drive teaching and learning innovation across the higher education sector. The aim of the fund is to improve how to teach and learn in a digital world …” (more)
[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 9 November]
“Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has revealed details of his top level talks with Minister of Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, GMIT president Dr Orla Fynn and Government departmental officials and members of the HEA as positive and progressive …” (more)
[Connaught Telegraph, 1 November]
“Stronger governance and accountability measures for third-level institutions will be contained in new legislation to be published next year, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said. Speaking at a conference organised by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), he said the agility and flexibility of colleges were key strengths, and this required an appropriate level of autonomy …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 23 October]
“Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says he wants to give universities more freedom over their affairs but that it must go hand in hand with greater accountability. It was one of the themes in his first major policy speech since taking on the role of leading the first full government department with responsibility for higher education …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 23 October]
