Ninth Level Ireland

“I had a piece in the Irish Times today which I wrote a few weeks ago and which I’m still happy with. I believe the move to online learning will, on balance, benefit students’ education and I also feel that those in the digital learning ‘space’ have not been vocal enough in reassuring students and their parents that the move to online learning will not impact on the quality of the education that we deliver …” (more)

[Tales from Academia, 20 September]

“There is no doubt that the Covid-19 crisis has impacted hugely on education, especially at primary and secondary levels. The third-level sector, however, has been able to continue at close-to-normal pace, thanks to the fact that older students are more capable of adapting to online learning …” (more)

[Greg Foley, Irish Times, 20 October]

“As students move to the third week of classes, with the majority of classes being moved online until further notice, many students are still facing internet connectivity issues in their student accommodation. First-year students living in Trinity Hall (Halls) in particular have reported WiFi connection issues …” (more)

[Audrey Brown, Trinity News, 16 October]

“All students are grappling with the hurdles of online learning right now regardless of course, but for students in courses such as music, visual arts, and drama, the traditionally physical elements of their subjects have brought additional challenges to the shift online. A piano student needs a teacher to guide their fingers over the keys; a drama student needs to look into another performer’s eyes for full immersion …” (more)

[Olivia Flaherty-Lovy, Trinity News, 14 October]

“All full-time third-level students are to receive a €250 payment in the coming year to help compensate for the move towards greater online learning. It is one of a number of education measures set to be unveiled in Budget 2021 including the hiring of 565 additional teachers to bring the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level to a record low …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 13 October]

“It’s Freshers’ Week at Trinity College Dublin and a cold wind rattles through the empty front square. The only telltale sign a new academic year is underway is a lone student inspecting posters which dot the campus advertising the college’s 120 clubs and societies …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 13 October]

“International students in Irish third-level institutions feel they are not getting value for money due to current Covid-19 restrictions on colleges. Since the resumption of classes over the past few weeks, Irish third-level institutes have been told to operate under Level Three restrictions of the Government’s Living with Covid plan …” (more)

[Muireann Duffy, BreakingNews.ie, 3 October]

“With most Colleges and Universities returning to class this week there are understandable worries about how incoming new students will perform. In the 19th September edition of The Guardian newspaper, Anna Fazackerley writes about fears that UK universities predict record student dropout rate …” (more)

[Careful With That Axe, Eugene, 1 October]

“Students who have paid for English languages classes but must return to online learning in light of the latest restrictions should be entitled to a partial refund on their fees, the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) has said …” (more)

[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 23 September]

“Some Trinity students are forgoing Dublin accommodation this semester, opting instead for lengthy commutes to save money as Trinity shifts heavily online. In an email to the college community on September 18th, Provost Patrick Prendergast confirmed that all teaching and learning not requiring an in-person presence will be moved online due to tightened coronavirus restrictions …” (more)

[Jane Cook, University Times, 21 September]

“Record numbers of young people in the UK are starting a university course this autumn, with many anxious to escape a collapsing employment market. But as students embark on a very different university experience, vice-chancellors are worried that many may not last the year …” (more)

[Anna Fazackerley, Guardian, 19 September]

“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions in place for those with learning difficulties if all third level education is to be online; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 8 September]

“I’ve a letter today in the Irish Times today about the move to online learning in the coming academic year and I’m just going to expand on it in this blog. Much of the negativity surrounding the move to online teaching has been driven, it seems to me, by commentators championing the rite-of-passage aspect of higher education …” (more)

[Tales from Academia, 9 September]

“Sir, – While I completely understand that third-level students have a sense that they will be missing out by having so little on-campus time this semester, it really needs to be pointed out that the quality of their education can and will be maintained …” (more)

[Greg Foley, Irish Times, 9 September]

“Last Monday, NUI Galway (NUIG) published spreadsheets that indicated the percentage of hours students could expect to spend on campus compared to online in the coming semester. What erupted in the wake of the news was nothing short of a Twitter frenzy, as students that had been told they would only have a handful of hours on campus lashed out at the college for having previously told them to secure accommodation …” (more)

[University Times, 6 September]

“The ‘new normal’ is a phrase that has been bandied about in higher education circles throughout the summer. NUI Galway (NUIG) students were this week exposed to what this new normal will look like in a more practical sense, and the continued uncertainty that it may bring …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 6 September]

“Kasia O’Connor will fly into Dublin this Sunday with a few pangs about leaving Crete – and not just because the temperature is currently a sizzling 36 degrees. A third year English, Drama and Film student at UCD, she’s been wondering all summer whether the gamble of booking accommodation in Dublin last May for the year ahead would pay off …” (more)

[Marese McDonagh, Irish Times, 5 September]

“Leaving Certificate results are looming and with that comes a new batch of anxious first year third-level students. Adding to the yearly CAO chaos is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc on schools and colleges …” (more)

[Muireann Duffy, BreakingNews.ie, 4 September]

“Students will be allowed to take their course fully online only if they are facing exceptional circumstances such as ‘financial hardship, underlying documented medical condition, immunocompromised and/or any disabled student requests’, College has announced …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 3 September]

“UCDSU have announced their disappointment in certain courses in UCD being delivered fully online. This comes following individual students contacting UCDSU on this issue. It is presumed that students affected were informed that their courses were fully online by their school …” (more)

[Nathan Young, University Observer, 3 September]