“The Union of Students in Ireland has today published two documents outlining the union’s priorities for the new Government and what students need for the new academic year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic …” (more)
[USI, 8 July]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called for ‘an immediate reduction’ of the student contribution charge by €500, as well as the elimination of the residency criteria on the free fees initiative. Today, USI has published a document that it presented to Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, outlining the union’s ‘priorities for the new government’ and what students need in light of the pandemic …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 8 July]
“This afternoon, Annie Hoey, who is a former Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) President, has been announced as the Labour Party spokesperson on Higher Education, Innovation and Science. Hoey is a Labour Party politician who has been a Senator for the Agricultural Panel since April 2020 …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 7 July]
“This afternoon, Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) President Lorna Fitzpatrick and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin McStravock had a ‘constructive’ meeting with the new Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 2 July]
“Several Irish universities, including University College Dublin (UCD), have ruled out fee reductions for students this Autumn semester despite fundamental changes in how courses will be delivered as a result of COVID-19 disruptions …” (more)
[Rowan Kelleher, College Tribune, 2 July]
“This week, the results of a survey conducted by NUI Galway and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) showed us what many students unfortunately already know – sexual harassment and assault are scarily common on campuses …” (more)
[University Times, 28 June]
“This evening, both the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) have welcomed the appointment of Simon Harris to the new position of Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation. In a statement, IUA expressed their ‘warm welcome’ to Simon Harris as Minister for Higher Education, Innovation and Research …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 27 June]
“Several Irish universities say they have no plans to reduce fees for courses beginning this autumn, even though some may be fully or partially moved online due to the impact of Covid-19. As universities and colleges introduce more blended and online learning for the upcoming academic year, on-campus physical learning hours are likely to be significantly impacted for many courses …” (more)
[Brian O’Connell, RTÉ News, 24 June]
“Three out of 10 female students experience non-consensual sex during their time at college, as a national survey reveals high levels of sexual violence and harassment in higher education. One in 10 male students, and 28% of non- binary students, also reported experiencing non-consensual penetration, either through force or threat of force or while incapacitated and unable to give consent …” (more)
[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 22 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has expressed concern about the lack of a plan to reduce Irish student fees in the programme for government put forward by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party this week. In a statement issued today, USI said that while some elements of the programme were promising, there was a lack of detail on how a number of actions will be taken …” (more)
[Patrick Coyle, Trinity News, 18 June]
“Third-level students need clarity by the end of June on what to expect when colleges reopen in the autumn in order to make informed decisions about their next steps, the president of the Union of Students in Ireland has said …” (more)
[Éanna Ó Caollaí, Irish Times, 17 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called for clarity from the government on the details of a new funding model for third-level education, as well as criticising plans to keep Ireland’s highest-in-the-EU student fees at their current level …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has criticised universities and colleges for not showing ‘alignment’ in their decisions to cancel or go ahead with exchanges abroad in light of the coronavirus pandemic …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 5 June]
“The Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) has called for the government to allocate adequate unemployment payment to students who will miss out on summer work due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This follows Taoiseach Leo Varadakar’s statement yesterday that the unemployment payment is due to be cut for some part-time workers …” (more)
[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 5 June]
“Ireland’s national students’ union will back students working to set up tenants’ unions calling for a ban on evictions in the wake of the coronavirus, in a show of support for a radical approach to student rent amid the pandemic …” (more)
[Ciaran Molloy, University Times, 27 May]
“Lorna Fitzpatrick has been re-elected president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) for the coming year, having run unopposed for the position. Fitzpatrick, who served as USI’s vice-president for the southern region before being elected president last year, received 193 votes …” (more)
[Emer Moreau and Cormac Watson, University Times, 27 May]
“Students are being warned not to hand over deposits for college accommodation until they know if they need it. There is still no clarity on what the college year will be like, and how often students will need to attend campus …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 27 May]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will lobby the government to introduce free public transport for students, after its national congress voted today in favour of a motion to reduce and ultimately abolish public transport costs for students …” (more)
[Molly Furey, University Times, 26 May]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will lobby the government for reform of the SUSI grant system, after its national congress voted today in favour of a motion to push for changes to SUSI’s eligibility criteria …” (more)
[Ciaran Molloy, University Times, 26 May]
“The government’s decade-long underfunding of universities has presented the sector with a myriad of issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed unreliable non-exchequer sources of income. Staff and students nationwide are crying out for the government to take action and reintroduce the funding levels seen before the last recession …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 25 May]
