Ninth Level Ireland

“The flaws with college rankings are well documented. They are produced by commercial organisations which sell their expertise on how to perform better. They ignore key aspects of college life such as the quality of teaching and learning. And the science behind some of the indicators is suspect, at best. But there is no denying their influence …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 11 September]

“Trinity College Dublin has called for a ‘national strategy for university rankings’ after dropping 44 places in the World University Rankings today. The university is now rated as 164th best in the world in the Times Higher Education list compared with 120th last year …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 11 September]

“Sir, – The proposed conferring of university status on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is perhaps an opportune time to reflect on the appropriateness of the continued use of ‘royal’ prefixes by a large number of Ireland-based institutions …” (more)

[Tom Cooper, Irish Times, 29 July]

“A right of way dispute involving the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and siblings who own apartments adjoining the college’s property at Stephen’s Green in Dublin has come before the Commercial Court. The action arises out of the RCSI’s plans to demolish an existing building and build a new €88 million education and research facility at its property at the Ardilaun Centre, close to apartments at Ardilaun Court owned by Sharon O’Malley and her brother Conor O’Malley …” (more)

[Aodhan O’Faolain, Irish Times, 22 July]

“A dispute over an alleged right of way between the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) and apartment owners adjoining the college’s property at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin has been admitted to the fast track Commercial Court list. The action arises out of the RCSI’s plans to demolish an existing building and build a new €88m education and research facility …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 22 July]

“More than 200 years after it started training surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is set to become a university following passage of reforming education legislation. The legislation increases the powers of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) the agency which has responsibility for quality and qualifications in further and higher education …” (more)

[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 11 July]

“The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 was today (Thursday, 11th of July) passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and will now be presented to the President for his signature. Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said: ‘I am delighted to be able to say today that the Government has put in place protections for the staff and students of English language schools, with the passing of this Bill …'” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 11 July]

“John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail): I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill relating to Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI. It is important to note one of the contexts in which this is relevant. There are only five or six countries in the world that are English speaking and the English language education market is a significant market in that regard. With the pending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in some shape or form, Ireland is the principal English language speaking destination and therefore English language education destination in the European Union …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 13 June]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): Níl éinne eile anseo. B’fhéidir go gcríochnóidh an díospóireacht níos luaithe ná mar a chríochnódh sé de ghnáth. Fianna Fáil is committed to maintaining and improving the highest standards in education. It is intended to increase the number of international students and the number of students entering higher education in this country is increasing all the time. It is vital, therefore, that these students are supported by a high quality education system …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 12 June]

“Mary Mitchell O’Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael): I move: ‘That the Bill be now read a Second Time’. I am pleased to bring the Bill before the House. It will amend the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, which established Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further and higher education sectors …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 11 June]

“RCSI recognition as a university, English Language College regulation, Learner and teacher protection amendments all welcomed by Minister. Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (22 May 2019) welcomed the completion of Report Stage of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 in Seanad Éireann …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 22 May]

“A chara, – People have welcomed the prospect of Dublin’s Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) gaining official university status (News, March 5th). Some will be surprised it did not already have it. RCSI has long been drawing multinational students into the city. Its elevation now would extend that role and enrich the college’s academic culture …” (more)

[Diarmuid Ó Gráda, Irish Times, 15 April]

“The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is set to secure university status within months after the Cabinet approved a change in legislation. Legal restrictions have prevented the 235-year-old Dublin college from being granted university status even though it is ranked among the top higher-education institutions in the world …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 5 March]

“RCSI in line for university status. Minister Mitchell O’Connor presents legislative changes which allow for new university status. The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, has today welcomed the approval by Government in seeking to advance university designation for the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 5 March]

“Mary Mitchell O’Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael): I wish to address the matter of stakeholder engagement, which has been of great concern to Senators. I also want to remedy and remediate the indiscretion in that regard. I wanted to ensure that it would be procedurally possible for the Joint Committee on Education and Skills to continue with its proposed stakeholder engagement once the Bill had been introduced in this House …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 7 February]

“What’s in a name? A lot, if you are a college trying to attract international students and lucrative research funding. The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland has long been a top global performer in medical education, but has felt hamstrung by the fact that it does not have university status …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 7 February]

“The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) is set to become the country’s eighth university under new legislation likely to complete its passage through the Oireachtas shortly. The 235-year-old Dublin college has been lobbying the government for many years to grant it university status to help boost its chances of attracting top international researchers and students …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 7 February]

“The fate of unpaid pharmacy placements remains unclear, after the Pharmacy Society of Ireland (PSI) declined to offer support for paid placements in spite of a march by hundreds of students from all over the country from the Dáil to the offices of the PSI this morning …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 24 January]

“Officials from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have been urging members of the Oireachtas to amend legislation, allowing the institute to describe itself as a university in Ireland and overseas. Under current legislation, RCSI may describe itself as a University of Medicine and Health Sciences overseas but may not do so in Ireland …” (more)

[Brían Donnelly, University Observer, 22 January]

“Officials at University College Cork are to meet with the pharmacy regulator amid concern about mental health issues and a lack of motivation among young pharmacists coming in to the industry. It comes as part of a remarkable row between the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and students coming into the industry …” (more)

[Wayne O’Connor, Independent, 16 December]