Ninth Level Ireland

“Northern Ireland’s universities have hit back at claims they are not doing enough to provide students with the mental health and wellbeing care they need. Queen’s University and Ulster University responded to calls from SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin to step up student care services ahead of the new term, saying they are fully committed to providing the best services for students who may be experiencing difficulties as a result of Covid-19 …” (more)

[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 26 July]

“Queen’s University and Ulster University together spent over £500,000 on expenses for their respective vice-chancellors’ residences in the last five years. Both university chiefs lived in the luxurious properties rent-free despite their reported salaries of around £300,000 …” (more)

[Thomas Copeland, Belfast Telegraph, 21 June]

“Ulster University has been ranked inside the top 50 UK universities for the first time in the annual Complete University Guide – just 10 places behind Queen’s University, Belfast. After a third successive rise in the rankings, Ulster University has jumped 16 places from 60th to 44th out of 130 UK universities, its highest position in the league table’s 15-year history. Queen’s had dropped seven places though, falling from 27th to 34th overall …” (more)

[Mark Bain, Belfast Telegraph, 8 June]

“The Department for the Economy has defended a £50 administration cost which will be paid to universities for processing Covid disruption payments to students. It said it had allocated £9.56m to Ulster University and £9.8m to Queen’s University, including administration costs, out of the £22m fund pledged for student disruption grants …” (more)

[Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, 24 April]

“An investigation is underway at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) to ‘examine the background’ of the institution’s historical benefactors, to establish whether they had any links to slavery. The UK abolished slavery in 1833 and QUB said, as it was founded in 1845, ‘the university does not believe that there is any substantial legacy of links’ between it and the global slave trade …” (more)

[Rory Winters, The Detail, 8 April]

“Hundreds of young people are making up for the disappointment of a quieter St Patrick’s Day by partying harder than ever in the Holyland, residents said. It follows reports of ‘busloads being shipped in to view properties in the area’ – even though term has finished and there is no need for students to be there …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 30 March]

“Queen’s University, Belfast responded to The Gown that they did have Information Sharing Agreements with public agencies such as the Police and Belfast City Council, following concerns raised by students connected with the Student’s Union. Some representatives said that there were dangers for public trust if Queen’s University held any information on non-student members of the public who had breached Coronavirus laws …” (more)

[Peter Donnelly, The Gown, 25 March]

“Young people have been made scapegoats for the pandemic, a students’ union has said. Ulster University Students’ Union president Collette Cassidy made the claim after St Patrick’s Day passed off without major incident …” (more)

[Gareth Cross, Belfast Telegraph, 18 March]

“There was a heavy police presence on Wednesday evening in Belfast’s Holyland, following the closure of Botanic Gardens after large crowds had gathered in the park during the afternoon. A visible PSNI operation around the area has seen the Holyland experience a quiet end to St Patrick’s Day …” (more)

[Christopher Leebody, Belfast Telegraph, 17 March]

“Residents in Belfast’s Holyland area have voiced their anger after it emerged that the city council requested powers from Stormont to deal with issues in the area six months ago – but was blocked …” (more)

[Andrew Madden, Belfast Telegraph, 16 March]

“The PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned anyone planning to travel to the Holyland area of Belfast for St Patrick’s Day that police will deal robustly with Covid-19 breaches and anti-social behaviour. Mr Byrne is also backing a call by the area’s MP for a task force to oversee change in the main student area of Belfast – not just on St Patrick’s Day but all year round …” (more)

[Lauren Harte, Belfast Telegraph, 15 March]

“A task force is needed to oversee change in the main student area of Belfast – not just on St Patrick’s Day but all year round, the area’s MP has said. The Holylands area has become synonymous with anti-social behaviour on March 17, with large crowds, including those from outside the area, gathering to party …” (more)

[Mairead Holland, Belfast Telegraph, 15 March]

“More than 200 students have been suspended from Queen’s University, Belfast in just seven months for breaching coronavirus regulations, it can be revealed. In total, 252 students have been reported to the university by police, while 229 were suspended for a fortnight after flouting the health and safety rules …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 10 March]

“Residents of the Holyland have rounded on the First and deputy First Ministers for their ‘wholly inadequate’ response to concerns about house parties in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day. The south Belfast student area is notorious for revelry at this time of the year …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 10 March]

“The University continues to be proud of the exemplary way in which the vast majority of our students have responded to the challenges that the pandemic has posed. Although this has not been the academic year that we hoped for, we continue to be impressed by the commitment, dedication and adaptability that our students have shown to their studies …” (more)

[QUB, 8 March]

“Queen’s University says it is still working to resolve the after effects of an attempted cyber attack on its computer systems. The university has suspended access to a number of its systems as a precaution following the incident and an investigation has begun …” (more)

[Lauren Harte, Belfast Telegraph, 5 March]

“Queen’s University in Belfast (QUB) has had to suspend access to ‘a number of university systems’ as a precaution following an attempted cyber-attack. The university said, though, there was ‘currently no evidence’ that any data had been stolen …” (more)

[Robbie Meredith and Eve Rosato, BBC News, 5 March]

“Internal Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) documentation highlights senior university officials expressing concern at the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on international student recruitment. This documentation, seen by The Detail, also shows how the university values just eight international students as having an economic impact equivalent to £1 million …” (more)

[Rory Winters, The Detail, 24 February]

“Fears are growing that St Patrick’s Day celebrations will rage through Belfast’s student area after ‘alarming’ reports of multiple house parties on Monday night. Residents in the Holyland area said young people have been gathering ‘from far and wide’ for drunken festivities, and blatantly disregarding current lockdown restrictions …” (more)

[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 23 February]

“Queen’s University spent over £50,000 maintaining their vice-chancellor’s residence last year, it has been revealed. The vice-chancellor’s lodge, currently occupied by Professor Ian Greer, is a luxurious three-storey property set in its own landscaped gardens at Lennoxvale, off the Malone Road in south Belfast …” (more)

[Belfast Telegraph, 6 February]