“SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 17th July) said that any proposed legislation to introduce greater regulation and reform to the governance of higher education cannot be used to divert attention away from the growing funding crisis facing the sector …” (more)
[SIPTU, 17 July]
“There has been a slight fall in the number of 18 year olds in Northern Ireland applying to go to university. That is according to figures just published by the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Almost half (46.9%) of all 18 year olds in Northern Ireland applied to UCAS by 30 June 2019, a fall of 0.7% from 2018 …” (more)
[Robbie Meredith, BBC News NI, 12 July]
“Margaret Murphy O’Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled in higher education in each of the years 2012 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 11 June]
“As almost 124,000 Leaving and Junior Certificate students get ready to sit exams tomorrow (Wednesday), the Irish Universities Association is calling on the Government to set out a sustainable funding model to prepare for these and future generations of aspiring third level applicants …” (more)
[IUA, 4 June]
“Universities say the surge in Leaving Cert candidate numbers evident this year must trigger an increase in Government funding to cater for student demand coming down the tracks. More than 124,000 students start the State exams today, the highest figure in years, and one that will continue growing until the mid 2020s at least …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 5 June]
“Leaving Cert candidate numbers have surged to their highest level in 15 years, with a hike in ambitious students planning to sit subjects at ‘honours’ level. The baby boom children from the turn of the millennium are now reaching the end of their school years, meaning entries are up 3% …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 4 June]
“The number of international students travelling to Ireland for third-level education has significantly increased, with China the most popular country of origin, a new study has found. Irish universities have dedicated more resources to promoting themselves abroad as a destination for international students in recent years. Non-European Economic Area (EEA) students pay higher fees, generally of between €9,000 and €25,000, but for some courses such as medicine as much as €54,000 a year …” (more)
[Jack Power, Irish Times, 21 May]
“The Teachers’ Union of Ireland is warning that a significant projected increase in the number of students in the country’s third level institutions will greatly worsen the current crisis in the sector unless urgent action is taken. Next week, the TUI hosts its annual congress in Killarney …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 19 April]
“A chara, – If there aren’t enough places in third level to meet demand I can understand why there are those who think the answer is to put more money into the sector (‘Shortage of college places looms unless State invests in higher education, say campaigners’, News, March 22nd) …” (more)
[Patrick G Burke, Irish Times, 23 March]
“There will not be enough college places over the coming years to cope with a demographic bulge unless there is more State investment in higher education, campaigners have warned. Third level students and lecturers across college campuses staged lunchtime protests on Thursday to highlight a ‘growing crisis’ in higher education funding …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 March]
“It’s almost beyond ironic that the original home of the navvy is so short of building workers that the problem is threatening the construction of badly needed homes and infrastructure …” (more)
[Irish Times, 16 February]
“Applications for college entry are up slightly on this time last year. The CAO received 73,157 applications when the main deadline passed yesterday. The final tally will likely be higher as there is a facility for late applications, and normally a few thousand more come in …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 2 February]
“The number of CAO applications this year has increased slightly with more than 73,000 people applying for a place in higher education. The modest increase of just over 400 applications, or 0.6%, reverses last year’s trend when the total number of applications fell by 5%. This was due mainly due a decline in mature applicants …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 1 February]
“Plans for almost 1,400 new student bed spaces have been submitted since the start of the year as the housing crisis continues to hit those in third-level education seeking accommodation. Like most demographics, the student housing sector is facing a significant shortfall with demand for spaces more intense than ever before. At the time of last year’s CAO offers there were 3,070 properties available nationwide …” (more)
[Michael Cogley, Independent, 27 January]
“Sir, – In ‘Numbers of students in higher education climbs to record high’ (News, January 18th), the Higher Education Authority claim that this will help the country meet whatever challenges it faces in the years ahead …” (more)
[Stephen O’Hara, Irish Times, 24 January]
“Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor has welcomed today’s release of key statistics from the Higher Education Sector in ‘Higher Education: Key Facts and Figures’ by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Student numbers in the sector have increased from 196,000 in 2011/12 to almost 232,000 in 2017/18, an increase of some 18% …” (more, download)
[Department of Education and Skills, 18 January]
“The growing reliance of Irish third-level colleges on fees from foreign students and other non-State funding is laid bare in a new report out today. Third-level enrolments hit a record high of 232,000 in 2017/18, including 17,237 non-EU students, according to data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 18 January]
“The number of students in higher education has climbed to a record high with almost a quarter of a million people studying a third-level course last year. The new figures look set to cement Ireland’s position within the EU as the member state with the highest proportion of school-leavers progressing to higher education …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 18 January]
“A rise in Leaving Cert student numbers this year could drive up points for college entry on popular courses. It will be some months before the final candidate figures are available, but it is understood an increase of 3%, or slightly more, is on the cards. It is the first significant increase in Leaving Cert exam candidates in many years and expected to translate into more CAO applications …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 January]
“With almost 47,000 CAO acceptances this year, most of them from the Leaving Cert class of 2018, school-leaver college entry rates are pretty much at saturation level. Many of those who did not go straight to higher education started on a post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course and will use that as a stepping stone …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 4 December]
