“International students are worth about £260m to the Northern Ireland economy, a just-published report suggests. Two higher education bodies have analysed the economic effect of international students in the UK prior to the coronavirus pandemic …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News, 11 September]
“A major drive to vaccinate students in Northern Ireland against Covid-19 has been announced. The ‘Jabbathon’ initiative will involve 60 walk-in clinics across some 30 campuses – offering first jabs to students in universities and further education colleges …” (more)
[Jonathan McCambridge, Belfast Telegraph, 8 September]
“Northern Ireland’s six regional further education colleges have joined the call urging students to use Big Jab Weekend to get vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of the new term. The colleges said they want to provide all learners with the best opportunities in the new academic year and ‘return to college in the safest manner possible’ …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 19 August]
“Queen’s University, Ulster University and the National Union of Students have all stepped up to encourage students to get vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of a full return to studies in September …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 18 August]
“Half of all A-level entries in Northern Ireland this year were awarded the top A or A* grade. Students in the North received the results of A level, AS level and BTec exams on Tuesday after exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic for a second year in a row …” (more)
[Freya McClements, Irish Times, 10 August]
“A-level results are out in the UK. How did students fare this year? A-level results in the UK soared this year with record numbers achieving top grades. The proportion awarded at least an A grade (80% or more) increased from 39% to 45%. In Northern Ireland, almost 51% of entries were awarded top grades …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 August]
“A North-South Research Programme which aims to support the deepening of links between higher education institutions, researchers and research communities on the island of Ireland has been launched today by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The programme is a collaborative scheme arising from the Government’s Shared Island initiative …” (more)
[Maura O’Shea, HEA, 9 August]
“The number of students opting to take Open University courses has risen by almost a fifth in Northern Ireland in the last year, with more people deciding to start home study during Covid-19 restrictions …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 14 May]
“Northern Ireland students are ramping up their campaign to see the £500 Covid Disruption Grant received by other students in higher education extended to those who were excluded. The payment does not currently apply to students from Northern Ireland studying elsewhere, while those in further education are only able to receive a one-off payment of £60 to address digital poverty …” (more)
[Andrew Madden, Belfast Telegraph, 27 April]
“Around £2m is being paid to universities in Northern Ireland by Stormont to administer the £20m student Covid support scheme. All students attending universities here are eligible for the scheme, which provides a £500 grant …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 16 April]
“With recent polls in the North showing near-equal support for reunification and for union with Britain, it is important for those of us studying in the Republic to consider the effects a united Ireland might have on third-level education here …” (more)
[Fionnán Uibh Eochach, University Times, 16 March]
“Third-level students in Northern Ireland have reacted positively to plans to give them access to the Erasmus programme post-Brexit, Ireland’s Further and Higher Education Minister has said. Simon Harris said talks have been under way between higher education institutions (HEIs) on both sides of the border about Northern Ireland students taking part in the EU’s student exchange scheme through Irish colleges and that early indications are that students are interested in taking up the offer …” (more)
[Michelle Devane, Belfast Telegraph, 15 March]
“Almost 40,000 students at university or in full time education in Northern Ireland will receive a one off £500 payment to mitigate against the disruption caused by Covid-19. The scheme will cost £22 million and students have been told they can expect payment before the end of March …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 4 February]
“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to protect the access of Northern Ireland applicants to the Erasmus programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 3 February]
“Student doctors who put their lives on the line during the Covid pandemic are not getting a £2,000 bonus being given to other health service trainees. Last week, Health Minister Robin Swann announced that nurses in Northern Ireland are to receive a £500 ‘special recognition’ payment for their work during the pandemic, while some student nurses will get £2,000 …” (more)
[Lisa Smyth, Belfast Telegraph, 4 February]
“Economy Minister Diane Dodds is to meet the Republic’s Higher Education Minister to discuss NI students taking part in the Erasmus scheme for European study. UK students can no longer participate in the Erasmus programme, which funds third-level academic study in the EU and other projects …” (more)
[Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, 4 February]
“Northern Ireland’s two main universities have been urged to follow the lead of their counterparts in Great Britain and introduce a ‘no detriment’ policy to protect student grades against the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said he has written to both academic institutions, asking them to follow the policy …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 13 January]
“Sir, – The proposal to spend €2.1 million of tax money to fund Northern Irish students on the Erasmus scheme is unacceptable. The idea that our Government could contemplate funding students in the UK …” (more)
[Letters, Irish Times, 31 December]
“The two local universities are considering taking advantage of a new UK student foreign exchange programme while also being able to avail of the EU’s Erasmus scheme. The UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus has been described as a huge blow by the other devolved nations, which will no longer be able to participate …” (more)
[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 29 December]
“The decision for the UK to withdraw from the Erasmus student exchange programme has been described as ‘a huge blow’ by the Scottish Government’s Universities Minister. Richard Lochhead lamented the decision to leave the scheme as part of the UK leaving the European Union …” (more)
[Douglas Barrie, Belfast Telegraph, 28 December]
