Ninth Level Ireland

“Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris this week granted Trinity a golden opportunity to avoid harsh blows to its autonomy. In the heads of a bill to reform university governance structures, Trinity was the only university specifically mentioned as being potentially excluded from some of the proposed reforms to college governance. How exactly this will affect changes to College Board down the line is yet to be seen …” (more)

[University Times, 9 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]

“On Wednesday April 28th, Dail Eireann was presented with The USI’s Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Act 2021 by Sinn Fein and signed by 56 opposition TDS. In a statement from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), they outlined the changes that would take place under the proposed Bill …” (more)

[Luke Murphy, College Tribune, 28 April]

“Government TDs are being urged to support the student accommodation bill which will be debated in Dáil Eireann on Wednesday (April 28), by the Union of Students in Ireland and Students’ Unions all over Ireland. The USI’s Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Act 2021 was tabled in late February by Sinn Fein and signed by 56 opposition TDS …” (more)

[USI, 27 April]

“Sinn Féin TD for Carlow Kilkenny Kathleen Funchion has urged cross-party support for the USI calls to provide greater protections for student renters, particularly those attending IT Carlow. The motion will be heard in the Dáil on Wednesday …” (more)

[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 26 April]

“This week, The University Times reported on Trinity’s submission to the government on the proposed reforms of drafted legislation which would overhaul College’s governance structures. In the submission, Trinity outlined a swathe of reasons as to why it should be exempt from the proposed legislation, including existing traditions and a ‘distinct context and legal heritage’ that distinguishes it from other universities …” (more)

[University Times, 28 March]

“The basis for these changes is of course, familiar enough, throughout the English-speaking world. The important thing, apparently, is to ensure that academics can never ultimately be masters of their own house. At the most strategic level of governance, academics must always be outvoted by non academics. You don’t hear the same demands made of doctors or lawyers …” (more)

[conradbrunstrom, 27 March]

“Universities are concerned that sweeping Government reforms aimed at strengthening the accountability of higher education institutions will restrict their autonomy. The Irish Times reported on Thursday that Trinity College Dublin has expressed alarm that the planned reforms could damage its academic standing and end its tradition of collegiate governance …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 25 March]

“Trinity College Dublin is seeking private legislation to exclude it from sweeping Government reforms aimed at strengthening the accountability of higher education institutions. In an unpublished submission to Government, it says planned changes threaten to undermine its autonomy, damage its academic standing and end its tradition of ‘collegiate governance’, which has served the college well for over 400 years …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 25 March]

“Anyone seeking to improperly influence the Leaving Certificate calculated grades process is likely to face sanctions. Cabinet discussed the matter as part of an Education Amendment Bill which is focused on the accredited grades system, operated by the State Examinations Commission …” (more)

[Mícheál Lehane, RTÉ News, 9 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]

“Trinity College Dublin has expressed alarm over Government plans to reform university governance which it says could threaten its autonomy and independence. The university said it wants to be excluded from planned legislation that would give regulators ‘dawn raid’ powers to conduct audits and abolish its long-standing systems for resolving internal disputes which date back hundreds of years …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 8 March]

“Tomorrow Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris will close the door for submissions to his document on the reform of Higher Education Authority (HEA) legislation. The minister opened consultations on February 23 …” (more)

[Sean Barrett, Independent, 4 March]

“Some 59 of Trinity’s Fellows, Fellows emeriti, non-Fellow academic staff and support staff – alongside the Scholars’ Committee – have launched a blistering attack on a proposed reform of governance structures in universities, which would give the Higher Education Authority (HEA) wide-ranging influence over the highest levels of Trinity …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 3 March]

“We, the undersigned, write as Fellows, Fellows emeriti, non-Fellow academic staff, support staff, and Scholars of Trinity College Dublin to express our opposition to the Government’s proposed change to the College’s governance structure. The current Board of Trinity is composed of elected representatives of a broad range of constituencies from across the College as well as of external members …” (more)

[University Times, 3 March]

“The Students Union at NUI Galway is voicing its support for a new bill aimed at protecting student renters during the pandemic. The proposed bill is supported by Sinn Fein, Social Democrats, Labour Party, Solidarity-People Before Profit and Independents for Change …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 25 February]