“More than 1,300 students have listed the Limerick Institute of Technology as their first preference for third level education. New figures from the Central Applications Office place the Limerick Institute of Technology as the fourth most popular college in the country for level eight programmes …” (more)
[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 20 March]
“With third-level fees in England on the rise, increasing numbers of students from the UK are applying for places in Irish colleges. According to CAO figures, there has been an 11% increase in applications from the UK in comparison with the same time last year …” (more)
[Cían Nihill, Irish Times, 19 March]
“Growing numbers of college applicants have decided that science, technology and agriculture are smart study choices for future careers …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 9 March]
“Figures released by the Central Applications Office show no increase in numbers applying for third-level courses this year compared to last …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 9 March]
“Over on University Diary, Ferdinand Von Prondzynski calls for a reassessment of the systems for University admissions in Ireland, the dreaded Points System. It’s a worthy call, and reform of the Points system was a curious omission of the recent Strategic Review of Irish Higher Education …” (more)
[Robert Cosgrave, Tertiary21, 9 February]
“This is going to sound very grand, but over the past few years I have been trying to persuade the education sector and politicians of two things: the socially undesirable and financially unsustainable nature of ‘free’ higher education that is not adequately funded; and the damage being inflicted on Ireland by the Leaving Certificate examination …” (more)
[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, February]
“Mature students are being forced to abandon plans to go on to third-level education as a result of Government cutbacks, it has been claimed. The deadline for receipt of applications to the Central Applications Office for college places in 2011 passed on Tuesday …” (more)
[Marie Madden, Galway Independent, 2 February]
“Demand for college places this year has increased dramatically, raising the prospect of increased college admission points for students this year…” (more)
[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 10 January]
“Decision time! Listen to DCU President Prof. Brian MacCraith speak on The Tubridy Show about making your CAO choice. http://bit.ly/hbUjm7” (podcast)
[DCU Dublin City Uni, Twitter, 5 January]
“CAO points requirements for almost all agricultural courses rose significantly this year as the level of demand from students ratcheted up …” (more)
[Independent, 7 December]
“On October 21 the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) Joint Committee on Education and Skills had a discussion on ‘Second Level Curriculum Reform’ …” (more)
[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 4 December]
“The Council of Irish Universities Association announced last month that they will operate a pilot bonus-points scheme for higher level maths in the Leaving Certificate for a four-year trial period from 2012 …” (more)
[Independent, 24 November]
“Two Mayo Gaeltacht schools have a 100 per cent record when it comes to sending their pupils to college while 97 per cent of St Gerald’s College’s 103 Leaving Cert pupils went onto third level education …” (more)
[Anton McNulty, Mayo News, 23 November]
“What chance do you have of securing a place in one of the five medical undergraduate programmes in 2011? Recent data compiled by UCD gives some indication of the real picture with regard to undergraduate medical entry in Ireland …” (more)
[Brian Mooney, Irish Times, 9 November]
“Madam, – The recent decision to award bonus points to students achieving higher than a D1 in Leaving Certificate honours maths seems to me discriminatory against other forms of ‘knowledge’ …” (more)
[Marc Morgan, Irish Times, 8 November]
“The 2010-2011 online CAO application facility has opened today at a reduced price, to encourage students to submit their third-level educations sooner rather than later …” (more)
[Cork Student News, 3 November]
“It is a sledgehammer measure aimed at making the Irish population better at sums. The implications of the universities’ decision to offer hefty bonus points to students who manage a pass in higher-level maths are beginning to sink in …” (more)
[Independent, 27 October]
“An institute of technology is to introduce a ‘safety net’ for students who fail higher level Leaving Certificate maths. The ‘second chance’ maths exam will help students get into college who fail the exam and don’t then have the minimum college entry requirements …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 25 October]
“… Do these people have any idea of how just how weak a student must be to achieve an E after two years of study? How on earth does this represent an improvement in our mathematics skills? As for the 25 bonus marks for honours maths? Sure, but it looks as though we are attacking everything except the root problem …” (more)
[James McGrath, Independent, 22 October]
“A major third-level college has decided that Leaving Certificate students who get a failing E grade in higher level maths will now be deemed to have passed the subject. Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has announced the concession for the 2012 exams on top of also agreeing to introduce 25 points for a pass (minimum D3) at higher level …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 20 October]
Ninth Level Ireland 