Ninth Level Ireland

“The President of University of Limerick has called on political parties to ‘make third-level funding a national priority’ and accused the outgoing government of cutting supports to the sector. Addressing students at the start of UL’s Winter Conferring ceremonies, Dr Des Fitzgerald said: ‘Let’s be honest, our universities are good, but not good enough’…” (more)

[David Raleigh, Irish Examiner, 20 January]

“As the country prepares for a general election, University of Limerick President Dr Des Fitzgerald has said there is a need to ‘clearly hear from the political parties as to what will be done to make third level funding a national priority’ …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 20 January]

“A plan to dramatically reduce single-use plastic waste from the University of Limerick campus could take seven million water bottles out of circulation every year. As part of its drive to maintain its position as a leader in environmentally-friendly university management and gain the Foundation for Environmental Education’s internationally recognised Green Campus accreditation …” (more)

[Limerick Post, 15 January]

“The University of Limerick hopes to offer additional and cheaper on campus accommodation to students by giving them the option of doubling up in rented rooms. UL said the introduction of twin rooms will add 630 extra beds to its existing on-campus offering in time for the new academic year this coming September …” (more)

[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 13 January]

“This week saw the unveiling of ambitious new plans by NUI Galway (NUIG) to majorly revamp its campus in the coming years. Among the promises of NUIG’s latest strategic plan are another library, a new sports campus and the development of an innovation district – estimated to cost a hefty €200 million …” (more)

[University Times, 12 January]

“The University of Limerick’s (UL) fundraising arm has appointed a new chief executive. The UL Foundation, which has raised approximately €200 million for the university since its inception in 1989, said Harvey Duthie would take up the role of chief executive as well as UL vice president development later this month …” (more)

[Irish Times, 6 January]

“The University of Limerick spent almost €100,000 on flights for its staff members during 2018, it has been revealed. Information regarding the 36 trips overseas amounting to €98,961.33 purchased by UL was obtained by the Limerick Leader under the Freedom of Information Act …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 4 January]

“The ballot for industrial action which was set to be put to University of Limerick staff this week has been called off. The decision was announced to over 200 members of the university’s union, UL-Unite, at an emergency meeting this Tuesday …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 11 December]

“The President of UL has confirmed that the current restructuring plan of the university is now ‘paused’ and acknowledged that ‘mistakes were made’ in the formulation of the plan. In an email addressed to colleagues in relation to the restructuring plan of the university’s schools and departments, Dr Des Fitzgerald said …” (more)

[Ryan O’Rourke and Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 6 December]

“More than 300 University of Limerick staff members gathered at a public meeting earlier this week to discuss the university’s recent controversial restructural proposal. And it was followed this week by a letter signed by 50 professors at UL looking for the reorganisation proposals to be paused by the Governing body so they can ‘instruct that reorganisation proposals are only tabled after a thorough review of the academic structures’ …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 29 November]

“Management at University of Limerick (UL) is facing an academic revolt after 50 professors signed a letter calling for the suspension of restructuring at the college, which they said risks making it academically ‘not fit for purpose’. The university, which is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary, has published a plan to develop a new campus in the heart of Limerick city. It is aiming to cater for an additional 4,000 mostly postgraduate or international students …” (more)

[Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 27 November]

“A University of Limerick staff member has described how employees were ‘ambushed’ with plans of structural change within the university. This week it was revealed that industrial action could be taken in response to the restructuring of the university’s four main faculties under UL’s new strategic plan, UL@50 …” (more)

[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 22 November]

“Drivetime‘s John Cooke talks to students in UL about exam mills, and Deirdre Stritch, programme manager with QQI, talks to Mary about the new rules that have been introduced to clamp down on academic cheating …” (mp3)

[RTÉ – Drivetime, 18 November]

“Union members at the University of Limerick (UL) look set to be balloted for industrial action and have been warned against co-operating with key strategic projects management are seeking to roll out over what union officials have described as an absence of ‘proper consultation’ …” (more)

[Conor Pope, Irish Times, 16 November]

“Hundreds of UNITE union members at the University of Limerick (UL) are to be balloted on industrial action up to and including strike action. A letter seeking a formal ballot across all UL-UNITE staff grades was sent to the trade union’s headquarters earlier this week, Limerick Voice has learned …” (more)

[Nicole Glennon and Eoghan Moloney, Limerick Voice, 16 November]

“Sometimes to see something’s importance, you must imagine its lack. Imagine the University of Limerick was never fought for by a group of committed activists. Imagine the university was never developed over four decades by a group of visionary academics and administrators. Imagine the university was never there, just another series of housing estates in Castletroy, catering for the middle classes of the region. What potential would we have lost? …” (more)

[Stephen Kinsella, Limerick Leader, 12 November]

“The offer to house classical radio station Lyric FM in the University of Limerick by its president still stands, Independent.ie understands. The president of the University of Limerick (UL) wrote to RTÉ’s director general offering to house Lyric FM in an attempt to save the classical radio station in September …” (more)

[Gabija Gataveckaite, Independent, 11 November]

“The President of UL wrote to RTÉ’s director general, offering to ‘help sustain’ Lyric FM and accommodate the station on campus, in late September, the Leader can exclusively reveal. Last week, RTÉ revealed that it will be shutting down its Limerick studios in 2020, and will split Lyric FM between Cork and Dublin, a move which has been criticised by politicians, public and staff …” (more)

[Fintan Walsh, Limerick Leader, 11 November]

“At just 29, he seemed absurdly young to be given the job of leading Limerick towards university status – but anyone underestimating Ed Walsh was mistaken. Before we sit down to talk, he shows me around his period residence a couple of miles outside Newport …” (more)

[Alan English, Limerick Leader, 10 November]

“The founding president of the University of Limerick, Dr Ed Walsh, has said he was ‘ruthless’ in rejecting any proposals for a UL presence in Limerick city because he was determined to build up the campus in Plassey. Last week, UL finally unveiled its first base in the city centre, the former Dunnes Stores site on Sarsfield Street …” (more)

[Alan English, Limerick Leader, 9 November]