“Sir – Changes to the Constitution which governments initiate seem costly exercises in throwing shapes; they’re often not implemented. But now that the Senate elections are nearly upon us, there’s an opportunity to make them take remedial action. In 1979, we passed (92% for) a referendum …” (more)
[John Colgan, Independent, 23 February]
“Sir, – The Constitution originally permitted only TCD graduates and graduates of the three NUI colleges to take part in the Seanad ‘university panel’ election. Since 1979, after a referendum to amend the Constitution, this is no longer the case. However, in practice, for over 30 years Senators and TDs have refused to draft the required legislation …” (more)
[John Hughes, Irish Times, 18 February]
“The Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (1 January 2020) announced the granting of award making powers, with exception of doctoral awards, to all institutes of technology. In welcoming this announcement, the Minister said: ‘This is a significant step for the sector. The measures introduced today establishes all institutes of technology as autonomous awarding bodies, placing them on an equal footing with other designated awarding bodies such as the universities and the RCSI …'” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 1 January]
“The government today granted institutes of technology award-giving powers, in what amounts to a win for the autonomy of regional colleges. Institutes of technology will now be able to independently grant their students degrees, giving them equal rights to universities. The institutes won’t, however, be able to grant doctoral awards …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 1 January]
“We have had a very productive year in the Dept of Education and I worked hard with my senior officials and education stakeholders including the most important stakeholders of all: students, in 2019. The ‘student’ is at the epicentre of my agenda …” (more)
[Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, 31 December]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are encouraging their members to lobby Senators to make amendments to the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019 that would prevent international students from facing significant rises in the cost of health insurance during their time in Ireland …” (more)
[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 17 December]
“The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been formally authorised to use the title of ‘university’ for the first time in 235 years. The institution is to describe itself as ‘RCSI university of medicine and health sciences’ in future …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 December]
“Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (10 December 2019) announced that the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been authorised to use the title of university in Ireland …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 10 December]
“Drivetime‘s John Cooke talks to students in UL about exam mills, and Deirdre Stritch, programme manager with QQI, talks to Mary about the new rules that have been introduced to clamp down on academic cheating …” (mp3)
[RTÉ – Drivetime, 18 November]
“A legal crackdown on the growing number of services writing essays or other assignments for third-level students is under way. New anti-cheating laws came into effect last week making it an offence either to provide or advertise cheating services or to publish adverts promoting such services …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 15 November]
“The Higher Education Commission consultation is a missed opportunity to address all key issues in the sector. The current Government process and consultation aims to update the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, which sets out the functions of the HEA and provided for its governance. The Act provides for the funding and overall financial monitoring of designated institutions of higher education by the HEA …” (more)
[IFUT, 7 November]
“Trinity has appealed for an exemption to controversial government proposals for higher education, asking for time to implement ‘similar reforms’ itself rather than allow the state to make sweeping changes to its governance structures, The University Times has learned …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 6 November]
“Last week, this newspaper reported that the College had submitted a proposal regarding important university reforms to the government without the approval of the Board, the highest decision-making body in Trinity. The threat of government encroachment into Irish universities has hovered over the sector for years, and recent revelations about proposed reforms to the Higher Education Authority Act confirmed that change is indeed afoot for the College’s current governance structures …” (more)
[University Times, 20 October]
“Members of the College Board were not consulted on Trinity’s last-ditch submission to the government regarding proposed reforms that could see the governance structures of the College reshaped radically, The University Times has learned …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 15 October]
“Sir, – The proposed changes to university governance by the Higher Education Authority Bill will severely damage the academic authority of the Irish universities. The proposed modifications to the Universities Act of 1997 are particularly to be deplored …” (more)
[Sarah Alyn Stacey, Irish Times, 3 October]
“For many in higher education, fears around autonomy and government interference have lingered for years. Small wonder: by now, third-level institutes have had their cards marked on several occasions by a government that seems determined to exercise greater control over the administration of the sector …” (more)
[University Times, 29 September]
“The Government has proposed to reduce the membership of Trinity’s ruling body, the university board, from 27 to 15 in an act which some Trinity academics say would diminish College’s autonomy. The proposals come from Higher Education Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor and were discussed at a board meeting on September 11th. In addition to reducing the number of governors, the proposals look to change the structure of Trinity’s governance …” (more)
[Jessica Hobbs Pifer, Trinity News, 24 September]
“Senior academics at Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College Dublin, have railed against plans to reduce their influence on its board of governors, it can be revealed. In what is being described as a battle between academics and bureaucrats, Provost Paddy Prendergast is facing strong resistance and opposition to plans to reduce the board from 27 members to 15, amid major concerns from academics that the independence of the college is under threat …” (more)
[Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 24 September]
“Fianna Fáil has criticised Fine Gael’s ‘short-sighted and philistine’ approach to research funding in Ireland, after the country won just one of 400 grants from the European Research Council. Fianna Fáil spokesperson on science, technology, research and development James Lawless said the government’s approach is hindering research in Ireland …” (more)
[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 16 September]
“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Science, Technology, Research and Development, James Lawless, has said the short-sighted approach taken by Fine Gael in only funding research with expedient commercial outputs has greatly hampered the research and development ecosystem in Ireland …” (more)
[Fianna Fáil, 15 September]
