“I study in Leipzig in Western Saxony. That’s in Eastern Germany between Berlin and Munich. When I finished secondary school, I worked as a volunteer in a children’s library for one year. I really liked that and decided a library career was for me …” (more)
[Theres Rudolph, libfocus, 30 March]
“Cuirfear tús le cúrsa nua i múineadh na Gaeilge ar líne in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad an bhliain acadúil seo chugainn. Díreoidh Teastas i Múineadh na Gaeilge ar an aosoideachas agus conas teagasc a chur ar fhoghlaimeoirí fásta …” (níos mó)
[Malachi Ó Marcaigh, University Times, 28 March]
“I’ve had the feeling that this blog is in danger of turning into some sort of plague diary so I thought I’d pass on a couple of examples of life going on. It’s not quite business as usual, but there’s no point in us sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves …” (more)
[In the Dark, 26 March]
“To nobody’s great surprise today we received official confirmation that there will be no face-to-face teaching for the rest of the semester at Maynooth University; teaching had been due to end in early May. There will also be no in situ examinations, with all assessments being switched either to homework or remote assessments …” (more)
[In the Dark, 24 March]
“Maynooth University (MU) will not be re-opening for face-to-face lectures for the rest of the academic year, it has announced. The university made the announcement today amid the uncertainty over how long the Covid-19 crisis will last …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 24 March]
“We’ve now had almost a week of campus closure here at Maynooth and it has now become clear that there will be no more face to face teaching for the remaining half of the Spring Semester. That does not mean that everything stops, just that all teaching from now on will be delivered remotely. There won’t be any in situ exams in May either. These will be replaced by assessments to be submitted online …” (more)
[In the Dark, 19 March]
“I’m indebted to colleagues from Maynooth University Special Collections & Archives for sending out the following bit of history. It is now over 100 years ago the 1918 “Spanish ‘flu’ influenza pandemic came to Maynooth College …” (more)
[In the Dark, 18 March]
“Not unexpectedly the (acting) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that from 6pm today all schools college and cultural institutions will close until 29th March. Indoor events involving more than 100 people will be banned, as will outdoor events involving more than 500 people. I think this decision is sensible, if perhaps a bit late …” (more)
[In the Dark, 12 March]
“It is now Week 6 of the Spring Semester at Maynooth University. My lectures on Engineering Mathematics take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so today I gave the 18th of the semester, which means I am halfway through the module. Next week is a scheduled Study Week so there are no lectures planned after this Friday until 23rd March. Just two days to go before the breaking …” (more)
[In the Dark, 11 March]
“I thought I’d share the above picture part of an occasional series of updates about the new building going up on the North Campus at Maynooth University. This artist’s impression of what the new building will look like has appeared on the fence surrounding the construction site; you can see cranes and part of the skeleton of the new structure behind the board …” (more)
[In the Dark, 6 March]
“There is no evidence fee-paying schools do better than others in maximising the academic performance of students, according to new research. The finding is contained in an academic paper, ‘Good Schools or Good Students? The Importance of Selectivity for School Rankings’, by a team of researchers at Maynooth University …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 5 March]
“This morning I was proceeding in a Northerly direction when I spied the local celebrity feline on post near the library. As I prepared to take a picture he turned to wash his rear parts. If he sits there when it’s raining or snowing it’s because he wants to be fed …” (more)
[In the Dark, 28 February]
“Some students in UCD are sleeping rough, in their cars and on their friends’ floors as they can’t afford accommodation, the university’s students’ union has warned. Yesterday, students at UCD took part in a tent protest after it emerged rents at campus accommodation are to increase by 12% in the next three years …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 28 February]
“The cost for students to rent on campus in Irish universities has almost doubled over the past decade, with protests held earlier this week at UCD against further planned increases. The university plans to increase rents by the maximum amount allowed, 4%, in each of the next three years …” (more)
[Sean Murray, TheJournal.ie, 23 February]
“Outsourcing group Mount Charles has picked up an estimated €10 million contract to provide food and drink services to Maynooth University. The deal will add to the Belfast-based company’s significant client portfolio in the Republic, which includes RTÉ, the Abbey Theatre, the Customs House, the Public Appointments Service, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the National Aquatic Centre and Griffith College Dublin …” (more)
[Peter Hamilton, Irish Times, 18 February]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has written to the Presidents of University College Dublin, Dublin City University, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, Limerick University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork requesting a meeting to discuss plans to increase on-campus student accommodation charges by up to 4% per year …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 17 February]
“Universities that are raising rents for on-campus accommodation have said the rises are due to the refurbishment and upgrade of their student residencies. In a statement, DCU said it has an ‘ongoing refurbishment investment programme’ in its student residences …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 14 February]
“It’s February 3rd 2020, which means that today is two days after Imbolc, a Gaelic festival marking the point halfway between the winter solstice and vernal equinox. The 1st Day of February is also the Feast day of St Brigid of Kildare …” (more)
[In the Dark, 3 February]
“On my way back from lunch today I saw the chance to get into shot both of the big cranes operating on the site of the new building going up on the North Campus at Maynooth University …” (more)
[In the Dark, 27 January]
“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and the Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today invited expressions of interest for a number of vacancies to governing authorities of higher education institutions. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for consideration for nomination …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 24 January]
