Ninth Level Ireland

“In December, the Education Minister Joe McHugh tweeted a picture from his office with the message, ‘Sign-off. Putting pen to paper on university status for @RCSI_Irl after a 235-year history’. It was a signature moment for RCSI, which could finally call itself a university in Ireland after years of lobbying. It had met the criteria under a new legal process …” (more)

[Catherine Reilly, Medical Independent, 17 February]

“The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been formally authorised to use the title of ‘university’ for the first time in 235 years. The institution is to describe itself as ‘RCSI university of medicine and health sciences’ in future …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 10 December]

“Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (10 December 2019) announced that the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has been authorised to use the title of university in Ireland …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 10 December]

“Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application by Sligo Institute of Technology for university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 21 November]

“WIT lecturer Dr Ray Griffin talks to Julie Smyth about the upcoming budget, what Paschal Donoghue can do to boost the South East’s economy and why, as an academic working in the region he is frustrated with the Taoiseach’s reported ‘frustration’ regarding the formation of a Technological University for the South East …” (interview)

[Spreaker, 15 September]

“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]

Abstract: This article aims to examine and analyse the perceptions of senior policy-makers, lobby groups representatives and both higher education academics and professional managers on the establishing of technological universities in Ireland, and its implications for the fabric of the Irish higher education system, in terms of the structure of the Irish higher education system, academic drift and the diversity of Irish higher education institutions.

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Ludovic Highman, Irish technological universities and the binary divide: a qualitative study. Higher Education. First Online: 4 July 2019.

“Sir, – Prof William Reville notes that many institutes of technology such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology achieved top ranking in the latest QS World University Rankings …” (more)

[Cormac O’Raifeartaigh, Irish Times, 28 June]

“Sir, – I read the report by Carl O’Brien on the 2020 QS World University Rankings with interest. I note particularly that institutes of technology are performing very well (‘Irish universities stay outside top 100 in world rankings’, News, June 19th) …” (more)

[Letters, Irish Times, 20 June]

“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]

“The Teacher’s Union of Ireland say their concerns regarding Dundalk IT’s application for Technological University status have only increased since a response by the institute to their recent statement expressing concern over what they describe as management’s complacency in relation to the matter …” (more)

[Talk of the Town, 7 June]

“Dundalk Institute of Technology have issued a response to a statement issued by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland this week regarding the institute’s bid for technological university status. DkIT’s TUI spokesperson Kenneth Sloane claimed that the Dublin Road institute was one of only two ITs in the country yet to apply for the status …” (more)

[Talk of the Town, 31 May]

“Fears that Dundalk IT will miss a historic opportunity to become a Technological University grew this week as it was revealed that DkIT is now one of only two Institutes of Technology in the country yet to apply for Technological University Status …” (more)

[Talk of the Town, 30 May]

“Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail): I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor. I remind Senators that they may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to discussion on the amendment. Each non-Government amendment must be seconded. Amendment No 1 is a Government amendment and arises out of committee proceedings. The amendment is consequential on amendment No 32. Amendments Nos 1 and 32 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed …” (more)

[Seanad debates, 22 May]

“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]

“Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for university status to be conferred on institutes of technology and in particular upon Athlone Institute of Technology; the timescale envisaged for such development; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 10 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]