UCC and CIT

“Watched Memorandum of Understanding signed between the region’s two third level education institutions – UCC and CIT. It’s a step forward.” (tweet)

[Dan Boyle, Twitter, 30 November]

Students to learn how to protest

“At one time student protest was as much a part of university life as getting drunk on Freshers’ Week. Now a university is giving some of its politics students lessons in how to campaign and take direct action …” (more)

[Hannah Richardson, BBC News, 30 November]

Irish research

“NUIG has more “sources for Irish research” than Trinity College in this map (via @lorcanD) http://bit.ly/61DGNK Cataloging backlog or truly?” (tweet)

[Jodi Schneider, Twitter, 30 November]

UCC/CIT: A Decade of Collaboration

“A decade of collaboration between University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) was celebrated today (Monday, November 30th 2009) by UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy and the President of CIT, Dr Brendan Murphy …” (more)

[UCC Media and Communications, 30 November]

University To Release All Climate Research Data

“The Climatic Research Unit whose emails were leaked to bloggers has said all data will be released to defuse the furore. The University of East Anglia has promised to release all its raw climate change data to the public, and launch an inquiry into how private emails from climate scientists were leaked to anti-climate change blogs …” (more)

[eWeekEurope, 30 November]

Provost refuses to talk as SU speaks of further action

“Students’ Union Education Officer, Ashley Cooke has spoken with The University Times about the next step in the campaign for better library facilities. ‘If our demands aren’t met by the end of the occupation, the Students’ Union will intensify its campaign’, Cooke said. Asked to specify what this further intensification would involve, Cooke mentioned that the SU had ‘plans for further alternative action’ …” (more)

[Emma Keaveney, University Times, 28 November]

Resources or places: decision time for colleges

“We are a most fortunate country. While many other countries (our nearest neighbour included) struggle to convince their young people of the benefits of higher education, we appear to have an insatiable appetite for it …” (more)

[Tom Boland, Irish Times, 30 November]

Third-level places may be capped due to funding crisis

“A cap on the number of students entering third level may be necessary as colleges struggle with a deepening funding crisis, according to the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland …” (more)

[Sean Flynn, Irish Times, 30 November]

Pensions timebomb ticks on as bill predicted to top €2bn

“The cost of 400,000 public sector pensions is projected to balloon to over €2bn per annum in the next decade or the equivalent of €38m a week, according to a new report compiled for the Government …” (more)

[Ailish O’Hora, Independent, 30 November]

Silliness in Irish universities?

“My goodness, a symposium organised by the Royal Irish Academy recently on the standing of academics in the public sphere seems to have turned into a right old whinge-fest. A report on the event and the contributions made was carried in the Irish Times, and as far as I can tell every one of them used the occasion to moan about how little they were listened to by the general public, the politicians and the great and the good. And I wouldn’t mind, except that virtually all of those mentioned are hardly ever out of the media …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 30 November]

An Appreciation

“Alan Anderson Tait, honorary fellow and former associate professor of economics at Trinity College, Dublin, died of cancer on October 19th at the age of 75 …” (more)

[Irish Times, 30 November]

Intel chief emphasises the importance of education

“The European head of Intel has warned that the government must continue investing in education in order for Ireland to remain a competitive location for multinational investment. Christian Morales, general manager of Intel’s operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said the company would continue to invest in Ireland as long as it could find staff with the right engineering qualifications …” (more)

[Dick O’Brien, Sunday Business Post, 29 November]

Public sector deal could centre on unpaid leave

“Compulsory unpaid leave could disrupt service delivery in health, social services and welfare offices, while the government has doubts it would deliver sufficient savings in the December 9 Budget, according to sources close to the public sector pay talks …” (more)

[Niamh Connolly, Sunday Business Post, 29 November]

TCD library

“TCD library just been occupied by 70 students over hours cutbacks for next 24 hrs. Facebook group has updates: http://bit.ly/6yHfnf” (tweet)

[Michael Dowling, Twitter, 28 November]

TCD students occupy library in protest over cuts

“A group of around 80 Trinity students are occupying the university’s library this evening in protest over cuts to the library’s book-buying budget …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 28 November]

Home study?

“The Irish Independent reported on Saturday that a majority of students are choosing a university or college in their vicinity. University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin all have well over 60 per cent of their students coming from their own city or county or those immediately adjacent; they are, perhaps oddly, Ireland’s most regional universities …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 29 November]

Intervarsities

“GO UCD! Intervarsities finals!!!! UCD! UCD! :)” (tweet)

[Julie Galloway, Twitter, 28 November]

Governors urged to quit after £36 million student scam

“The body which funds English universities has taken the unprecedented step of calling for the mass resignation of governors at a university accused of misusing public money. It follows two damning reports which revealed that London Metropolitan University falsely claimed funding for thousands of students …” (more)

[Lucy Hodges and Richard Garner, University World News, 29 November]

Rectors defend their Bologna stance

“A meeting of German university heads in Leipzig attracted further angry student protests. Around 4,000 students joined a demonstration in the East German city to emphasise their frustration over the Bologna reforms. The Rectors’ Conference, representing university heads, claimed the protests were unjustified …” (more)

[Michael Gardner, University World News, 29 November]

Universities call for fee delay

“Top university academics have called on the Swedish government to delay plans to introduce fees for foreign students. The pro-rectors said making students pay fees would affect their internationalisation work and erode international masters degrees taught in English …” (more)

[Jan Petter Myklebust, University World News, 29 November]