Ninth Level Ireland

Politics and markets and public intellectuals

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:57:06 +0000

“The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, this week used the occasion of a speech delivered at the London School of Economics to develop a little more his theme of a society that has lost its way, and of an academic profession that should accept the responsibility of restoring it to intellectual health …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 22 February]

For Sale: Ireland’s Scientific Heritage

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:55:11 +0000

“George Boole’s former home at Grenville Place in Cork City is now up for sale as an investment ‘site’. For €350,000 you can purchase this large city centre building which was once home to Queen’s College Cork’s first Professor of Mathematics …” (more)

[Eoin Lettice, Communicate Science, 22 February]

Launch of Higher Education Key Facts & Figures 2010/11

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:52:51 +0000

“The HEA Key Facts and Figures 2010/11 provides an overview of data from the Irish higher education system. It provides a ‘picture by numbers’ of the sector, highlighting the key trends for the year as well as information on: New entrants to the sector; Enrolments; Graduate data; Student details; …” (more)

[Higher Education Authority, 22 February]

As ACTA support falters, treaty referred to European court

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:50:20 +0000

“The prospects for quick European approval of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement dimmed Wednesday as the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, announced plans to seek an opinion from the European Court of Justice about ACTA’s constitutionality …” (more)

[Timothy B Lee, Ars Technica, 22 February]

Teaching profession must not be downgraded

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:48:07 +0000

“The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today demanded that the conditions of service of new teachers must be protected from further attack. The union was speaking on the afternoon of a march of student teachers from all over the country to Leinster House …” (more)

[Teachers’ Union of Ireland, 22 February]

Languages and the NUI

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:45:36 +0000

“Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the requirement for a foreign language at leaving certificate level for a degree course at National University Ireland colleges; and if there are plans to change this criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 21 February]

Institutes of Technology

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:42:35 +0000

“Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the combined efforts of the Institute of Technology Tralee, Cork Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology in obtaining university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 21 February]

Third level institutes

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:39:16 +0000

“Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give a commitment that no decision will be made on the future of third level institutes by him or the Higher Education Authority prior all submissions being received, acknowledged and consulted with …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 21 February]

Hibernia College and Peking University agree joint academic venture

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:31:34 +0000

“On February 20, 2012, following the presentations from An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, and the Vice President of China Xi Jinping at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, the Irish Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, hosted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Professor Yang Ke of Peking University, China, and Dr Sean Rowland of Hibernia College, Dublin, at the Department of Education and Skills. This academic joint venture will see the two institutions collaborate to provide postgraduate education in Medicines Development and Regulatory Sciences across China and South East Asia …” (more)

[Irish Press Releases, 20 February]

Podcasting in Chemistry Education

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:28:41 +0000

“My article on podcasting for chemistry has hit the shelves and has made the cover of Education in Chemistry. They have put it online too for free so …” (more)

[Michael Seery, Is this going to be on the exam?, 22 February]

The unmourned death of the double coincidence

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:26:16 +0000

“Jumping in first, I want to recommend Debt: The First 5000 Years as a book that ought to interest just about everyone interested in the way societies are organized. I learned a lot from it, well beyond the core point about the centrality of debt …” (more)

[John Quiggin, Crooked Timber, 22 February]

The Imperfect University: More and more regulation

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:23:34 +0000

“A recent speech by the Universities Minister focused on his apparent desire to reduce regulation for institutions: ‘We are in a government that understands the value of autonomy’, Mr Willetts said. Mr Willetts talked about the possibility of reducing data collection requirements as well as the likelihood of universities escaping some EU regulation …” (more)

[Registrarism, 22 February]

Quinn’s U-turn on teachers to hit school spending

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:59:10 +0000

“Hundreds of primary schools face new difficulties in paying for basic utilities such as heating and lighting after a fresh cut in school maintenance supports. The cut in capitation support is designed to offset a Government U-turn on funding for disadvantaged schools …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 22 February]

Young emigrants queue for Higgins address

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:56:40 +0000

“More than 100 young Irish emigrants queued in the chilly London air last night to listen to President Michael D Higgins. Mostly students of the London School of Economics and Political Science, they made an eager audience as the President gave his thoughts on the role public intellectuals can play in the financial and political crisis …” (more)

[Danielle Moran, Irish Times, 22 February]

How cross-dressing is an essential part of student rag week

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:54:17 +0000

“Students at Exeter University have been told cross-dressing is offensive to transgender people – but history shows drag has been a part of student revelry for more than a century …” (more)

[Matthew Holehouse, Daily Telegraph, 22 February]

‘Intellectual crisis’ concerns Higgins

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:51:48 +0000

“Ireland and the European Union have been ‘living through a period of extreme individualism’ when the very existence of society itself has been questioned, President Michael D Higgins has told the London School of Economics …” (more)

[Mark Hennessy, Irish Times, 21 February]

Pressure on Quinn despite cuts reversal

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:47:46 +0000

“Education Minister Ruairi Quinn still faces political pressure over a number of budget cuts despite a significant rowback on the planned withdrawal of teachers from 132 disadvantaged primary schools …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 22 February]

Universities making ‘background checks’ on applicants

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:45:34 +0000

“Universities are increasingly employing data on teenagers’ family and education background to hit tough Government targets to recruit more poor students, according to research …” (more)

[Graeme Paton, Daily Telegraph, 21 February]

Higher Education Grants

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:42:10 +0000

“Deputy Seán Kyne: I am delighted to raise this issue of importance in my constituency and, I am sure, across the country. It has been raised time and again by a number of my constituents who are affected by it. Our student grant scheme, which was set out in the Student Support Act 2011 and SI 305/2011 and amended in previous years, has a flaw that has become particularly visible …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Topical Issue Debate, 21 February]

To Fix Student Lending, Rethink the Concept

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:39:10 +0000

“This past fall, Occupy Wall Street protesters around the country called for far-reaching changes in our society, including forgiveness of student-loan debt. While we believe loan forgiveness is a bad idea for a variety of reasons, we also think the protesters are right in calling attention to the nation’s Byzantine and inefficient system of student lending …” (more)

[Andrew Gillen and Richard Vedder,
Chronicle of Higher Education, 20 February]

An Emerging Field Deconstructs Academe

steve — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:36:47 +0000

“Over the past two decades in the United States, there has been a new wave of criticism of higher education. Much of it has condemned the rise of ‘academic capitalism’ and the corporatization of the university; a substantial wing has focused on the deteriorating conditions of academic labor; and some of it has pointed out the problems of students and their escalating debt …” (more)

[Jeffrey J Williams, Chronicle of Higher Education, 19 February]

Croke-22

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:52:16 +0000

“Somewhere in the Ministry of Magic or Death Star One, or wherever they Make The Decisions, someone is having a great laugh at our expense. According to the terms of the Croke Park Agreement, lecturers are required to meet with their students and that meeting slot must be a timetabled hour …” (more)

[Michael Seery, Is this going to be on the exam?, 21 February]

Some questions for Elsevier

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:48:40 +0000

“NPR ran a good piece on the Elsevier saga before the weekend. I found one part of the broadcast particularly interesting. A director of Elsevier, Alicia Wise, makes the case for Elsevier as follows …” (more)

[Crooked Timber, 21 February]

Angry students set to march against cuts

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:38:53 +0000

“In a press release issued yesterday, it has been announced by the Free Education for Everyone Galway Group that students are set to march against the arranged increase of third-level fees to €3000 by 2015 and the abolition of the Postgraduate grant …” (more)

[College Tribune, 21 February]

Croke Park games

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:38:42 +0000

“The Croke Park dance involving the government, public sector management and public sector unions continues apace. It’s a dance on so many levels. The unions are playing a very cute game. All the dancers are …” (more)

[The Cedar Lounge Revolution, 21 February]

Five UCD spin-outs to create 50 jobs by 2014

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:36:32 +0000

“Five new spin out companies came out of the commercialisation of research at University College Dublin in 2011 and plan to employ more than 50 people by the end of 2013 between them …” (more)

[Business and Leadership, 21 February]

Bridging the cultural divide in international higher education

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:34:34 +0000

“Universities talk about internationalisation and diversity, but often students voluntarily self-segregate on campus. Instead, institutions should be looking at how to encourage students to be more resilient and open to change and different ways of thinking …” (more)

[Viv Caruana, University World News, 19 February]

The flipped classroom: could we? Should we?

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:31:51 +0000

“I read a short guide by Educause Learning Initiative on the idea of a ‘flipped classroom’. The flipped classroom is ‘a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed’. An example is given, where students were assigned to watch some short lecture videos at home and complete a short quiz at home …” (more)

[Pardon My Ignorance, 21 February]

Rules for university must be applied

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:56:21 +0000

“As readers of The Irish Times know, there have been serious differences of opinion recently about the structure of Irish higher education. Put briefly, a number of institutes of technology – possibly all of them, by the time you read this – have declared in clusters that they are seeking a new status, that of a ‘technological university’ …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Irish Times, 21 February]

Colleges to face grilling on antisocial students

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:52:09 +0000

“The governing bodies of UCC and CIT are to be asked to attend the next meeting of Cork City’s Joint Policing Committee to answer allegations that they are not doing enough to counter the drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour of their students …” (more)

[Sean O’Riordan, Irish Examiner, 21 February]

Chatterbox

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:49:44 +0000

“WHAT EDUCATION REFORMS/IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? ‘I want to see a proper debate about how the Irish language is taught, starting with primary school. Either we equip teachers with a proper standard in the language to start with, and get them to teach it better and more, or we stop the farce …’” (more)

[Irish Times, 21 February]

A simple formula for education

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:47:14 +0000

“A chara, – In correctly praising Finland’s education system, Ivan Yates (Opinion February 2012) neglects to mention that ‘compulsory’ Finnish and Swedish are central to primary and post-primary education there. Students are also expected to, and do, learn two additional languages …” (more)

[Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh, Irish Times, 21 February]

The bureaucratisation of learning

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:44:22 +0000

“… The concept of ‘learning outcomes’ is a good example: a concept that completely misunderstands the process of learning by assuming that when you dress inputs as outputs something profound will happen. Learning should engage and stimulate the learner, and the result may (and in an ideal world will) be something unexpected …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 21 February]

When access to college changes lives

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:42:04 +0000

“It started in 1990 with just six students from Ballymun. Now 21 years later, DCU’s Access programme is the oldest in the country and it’s thriving: 170 students entered the university through the programme in September, the largest cohort yet …” (more)

[Grainne Faller, Irish Times, 21 February]

A parent writes

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:39:35 +0000

“I’ve put more than one child through the Junior Cert and I have one more waiting in the wings. I must admit that I am following the reform process with trepidation …” (more)

[Irish Times, 21 February]

UCD seeks cybercrime boss

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:36:17 +0000

“University College Dublin (UCD) is beefing up its cybercrime research unit by appointing a new head of cybersecurity. The university has announced that it is looking for applications for the a new permanent post …” (more)

[Dick O'Brien, Business Post, 20 February]

Les Ebdon and Millennium+

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:33:53 +0000

“I suspect that no one quite knows what Les Ebdon (above in academic rig) will do as the head of OFFA. In the run up to his appointment I have been torn …” (more)

[Mary Beard, A Don's Life, 20 February]

Canadian universities sign bone-stupid copyright deal with collecting society: emailing a link is the same as making a photocopy, faculty email to be surveilled

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:31:39 +0000

“Under a new deal signed by the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto, the act of emailing a link will be classed as equivalent to photocopying, and each student and faculty member will cost the universities $27.50/year for this right that the law gives them for free …” (more)

[Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing, 20 February]

Programme 127, Gabriel Fitzmaurice pt 2, & Census for School

steve — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:25:45 +0000

“Presented and produced by Seán Delaney. Census for School Report by Barry Hennessy. This programme featured the second of a two-part interview with practising poet and retired primary school teacher and principal, Gabriel Fitzmaurice …” (more, mp3)

[Inside Education on 103.2 Dublin City FM, 20 February]

University entry requirements must be revised to support job creation

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:38:28 +0000

“Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has warmly welcomed the Action Plan for Jobs and is today (Monday) commending the Government for recognising the importance of STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) as a means of boosting employment …” (more)

[Anthony Lawlor, 20 February]

End of an era as GMIT scraps raise and give week

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:01:58 +0000

“GMIT has officially voted to discontinue its Raise and Give week, after a similar decision was taken by NUIG authorities last year. The move has been heralded as the ‘end of an era’ in Galway …” (more)

[Roisín Callnan, StudentNews.ie, 20 February]

Israeli charm offensive in Ireland starts with UCD

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:54:57 +0000

“This week sees the launch of an Israeli initiative called Faces of Israel which essentially is a charm offensive designed to address what the Israeli government believes is a generally negative image of the country here in Ireland …” (more)

[Studenty_Galway, 20 February]

University policy – stranger than fiction

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:52:59 +0000

“Attempts to block the appointment of the new head of Offa, and changes to the tuition-fee regime, make higher education policy resemble an Alice-in-Wonderland world …” (more)

[Mike Baker, Guardian, 20 February]

Is History A Coherent Story?

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:51:09 +0000

“Is history a coherent story? This is not the sort of question that is likely to be either asked or answered in the milieu I normally inhabit. In the universities of Europe and North America (and much of the rest of the world as well), the agenda has veered away asking such big questions …” (more)

[Helena Sheehan, Critical Legal Thinking, 20 February]

Twilight of the Lecture

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:46:31 +0000

“In 1990, after seven years of teaching at Harvard, Eric Mazur, now Balkanski professor of physics and applied physics, was delivering clear, polished lectures and demonstrations and getting high student evaluations for his introductory Physics 11 course, populated mainly by premed and engineering students who were successfully solving complicated problems. Then he discovered that his success as a teacher ‘was a complete illusion, a house of cards’ …” (more)

[Craig Lambert, Harvard Magazine, Mar-Apr issue]

Sherlock praises continued success of Irish researchers

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:29:35 +0000

“The Minister for Research and Innovation, Séan Sherlock, TD, today Monday welcomed the continuing success of Irish researchers in winning €362 European funding for international collaborative research projects. ‘Irish researchers are engaging in pan-European research projects to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the EU, using funding from Europe’s €50 billion Research and Development fund, the Seventh EU Framework Programme FP7 …’” (more)

[The Labour Party, 20 February]

High Court to hear arguments on reversing changes to college grants

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:22:34 +0000

“The High Court will this week consider whether to order a reversal of changes to the student grant system imposed in the 2011 Budget – hearing from students who claim the changes have forced them out of college …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 20 February]

How should researchers talk about science to the public?

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:18:54 +0000

“After receiving recognition for her work in bringing science to a wider audience, Anne Osterrieder discusses how researchers and academics can make their work more accessible …” (more)

[Guardian Professional, 20 February]

UCD researchers make lung disease breakthrough

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:16:42 +0000

“Scientists at University College Dublin have identified a potential new treatment for life-threatening complications associated with chronic obstructive lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis …” (more)

[Business Post, 20 February]

Catching up with SFI in the news

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:12:55 +0000

“After a few very busy weeks, and little or no blogging, I had an opportunity to catch up on some recent articles related to SFI in the news over the weekend. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few of the stories that caught my attention …” (more)

[Steve Flinter, 20 February]

Resource Allocation Revisited: Higher Education Fees and the Courts

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:37:13 +0000

“Judges in England and Wales have long been sensitive of the boundaries of their authority under the Judicial Review jurisdiction. Lord Hope recently sought to highlight the limits of the judicial role in the Axa Insurance (2011) case, by contrasting it with the focus of Parliament …” (more)

[Colin Murray, Human Rights in Ireland, 20 February]

A simple formula for education

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:30:21 +0000

“Sir, – Ivan Yates’s opinion piece (Education Today, February 14th) made a lot of good, and spurious, points, but it was disappointing in one major respect. The entire focus was on the teaching side with not one mention of the student population …” (more)

[Greg Foley, Irish Times, 20 February]

Muslim students spied on by police

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:27:35 +0000

“The New York Police Department monitored Muslim students at universities far beyond the city limits, including the elite Ivy League colleges of Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, it has emerged …” (more)

[Independent, 20 February]

Minister calls for better ICT links with schools

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:25:29 +0000

“The ICT sector should link up with Irish secondary schools that have no access to IT innovation by offering work placements, according to Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn …” (more)

[Irish Times, 20 February]

Satan is coming for you (if you’re an academic)

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:22:24 +0000

“You may not have been aware of this, but one of the key dangers facing higher education, at least in America, is that it has come to the attention of Satan, and may indeed have already been taken over by him …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 20 February]

University admissions reform is ‘direct assault’ on academic quality say Tories

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:20:15 +0000

“The Coalition’s management of the university admissions system is a ‘direct assault’ on the academic quality of higher education in Britain and could do lasting damage to the UK economy, Conservative MPs declare today …” (more)

[Rowena Mason and James Kirkup, Telegraph, 19 February]

Survival in academia, the tenure track not taken

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:22:06 +0000

“Becoming a university professor requires a lot of work for very little financial reward, compared to most other professions. In STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields, the minimum requirement is four years of undergraduate education, plus anywhere between four and a half and eight years of graduate studies, followed by an (ever increasing) number of years of post-doctoral work …” (more)

[Matt Ford, Ars Technica, 19 February]

Chinese internet censors erase news of £3.7m donation to Cambridge

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:16:30 +0000

“Serious concerns about the donation from the unknown ‘Chong Hua’ foundation were raised last month by several Cambridge academics who feared that Beijing was using its vast resources to purchase soft-power influence at the university …” (more)

[Peter Foster, Sunday Telegraph, 19 February]

Dawkins slavery article becomes butt of jokes on Twitter

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:10:09 +0000

“Twitter users have been reacting strongly to an article in The Sunday Telegraph claiming that slavery is ‘at the root of the fortune’ of prominent theologian and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins …” (more)

[storyful, 19 February]

DCU students disrupting local residents at ‘Toxic Tuesday’

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:02:58 +0000

“DCU Student’s Union have launched a respect campaign in response to complaints against student behaviour at the college’s late bar. Some students are turning over bins and causing noise disruption on the way to the campus every Tuesday night …” (more)

[Dublin Studenty.me, 19 February]

Academic ebooks can succeed but publishers must play their part

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:45:08 +0000

“… The electronic revolution is edging its way into the classroom. The ebook is here, but it is not so obvious yet that it is here to stay. At a recent seminar, alongside the shiny new hardbacks and marked-up photocopies, a few ebook readers were to be seen. All was going swimmingly until someone mentioned a passage on a particular page …” (more)

[Jonathan Wolff, Guardian, 19 February]

Is it legal to teach gay hate in schools?

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:55:20 +0000

“Following the news recently it would seem that the UK is convulsed by a raging battle between religious observers and, in the words of Baroness Warsi, militant secularists. On the same day, the High Court ruled that Christian prayers held before a council meeting were unlawful …” (more)

[Adam Wagner, UK Human Rights Blog, 19 February]

Gay teachers to be protected by new legislation published by Fianna Fáil today

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:13:59 +0000

“Schools would no longer be allowed to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual teachers under new legislation published today (19th February) by Fianna Fáil’s Seanad Spokesperson on Education and Skills, Senator Averil Power …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 19 February]

What Are Universities For? by Stefan Collini – review

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:03:15 +0000

“The rhetorical question is a hollow-sounding device, much favoured by monologuising dons: asked for the sake of effect, it doesn’t feel obliged to provide an answer. Stefan Collini addresses the empty air in his title but then loses his nerve in the first paragraph of his book …” (more)

[Peter Conrad, Observer, 19 February]

Private schools fear ‘social engineering’ in university admissions

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:59:49 +0000

“When Professor Les Ebdon was once asked about his university’s lowly position in the national rankings, his response was swift and revealing. ‘It’s a snobs’ table’, he said, which guarantees that ‘institutions like Cambridge and Oxford are always at the front, while newer places bring up the rear’ …” (more)

[Julie Henry, Sunday Telegraph, 19 February]

Universities Agree To Email Monitoring For Copyright Agency

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:57:07 +0000

“… The universities of Western Ontario and Toronto have signed a deal with Access Copyright that allows for surveillance of faculty correspondence, defines e-mailing hyperlinks as equivalent to photocopying a document, and imposes an annual $27.50 fee for every full-time equivalent student to pay for it all …” (more)

[Slashdot, 18 February]

Academic publisher Elsevier hit with growing boycott

steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:51:36 +0000

“To publish or not to publish? That is the question medical and science academics are asking after 6,000 of their colleagues boycotted one of the world’s largest publishers …” (more)

[CBC News, 17 February]

The Open Access Irony Awards: Naming and shaming them

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:38:37 +0000

“… But there is still a long way to go yet, as much of the world’s scientific knowledge remains locked up behind publisher’s paywalls, unavailable for re-use by text-mining software and inaccessible to the public, who often funded the research through taxation. Ironically, some of the papers that are inaccessible discuss or even champion the very Open Access movement itself …” (more)

[O'Really?, 15 February]

Fighting Illiteracy Starts with Teaching New Literacy Skills

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:39:44 +0000

“Ireland’s hope to cultivate a Knowledge Society actually starts with ensuring teachers can play an active role in it. That’s a big hurdle because it means empowering digitally literate teachers …” (more)

[Bernie Goldbach, Inside View from Ireland, 18 February]

Offa’s Irrelevance

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:37:21 +0000

“… A laudable aim, but doomed to failure at the outset. The reason for this is that the system of post-16 education is fundamentally flawed (as it clearly is), then no ‘Access Czar’, however powerful, can hope to accomplish the vast amount of reverse-engineering required to ensure that universities can cope with failures earlier in the system …” (more)

[In the Dark, 18 February]

Minister wants to scrap test for medical schools

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:26:11 +0000

“Health Minister Dr James Reilly wants to axe the controversial aptitude test for those who want to study medicine. Students who get 600 points in their Leaving Cert have ‘bloody earned’ their right to study medicine, he said …” (more)

[Eilish O'Regan, Independent, 18 February]

UCC loses payment appeal

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:22:38 +0000

“University College Cork has lost its legal challenge to a Labour Court order requiring it to pay a former full-time researcher, who was employed on a fixed term contract, an ex gratia redundancy payment in addition to her statutory redundancy entitlement …” (more)

[Mary Carolan, Irish Times, 18 February]

‘Nuclear winter’ if Croke Park deal axed

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:20:29 +0000

“One of the ministers charged with overseeing the reform of the public service has warned of a ‘nuclear winter’ of industrial action if the Croke Park deal is abandoned …” (more)

[Stephen Rogers, Irish Examiner, 18 February]

Irish colleges outside top 50 for finance courses

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:17:55 +0000

“If you want to make a career in finance, Irish universities are not the place to do it, according to a new report. The latest QS Top Universities ranking for careers in accounting and finance shows no Irish university in the top 50, with Trinity the highest ranked at 55 …” (more)

[Peter Flanagan, Independent, 18 February]

A simple formula for education

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:15:21 +0000

“Sir, – Like anybody else, Ivan Yates is entitled to his opinion. However, this opinion loses all credibility when built on the crumbling foundations of inaccurate, poorly researched and misleading pseudo-analysis …” (more)

[Bernie Ruane, Irish Times, 18 February]

Students’ details on Eircom online study service hacked

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:12:45 +0000

“Thousands of teenagers who use Eircom’s online study tool StudyHub have had their registration details hacked, with the theft of user names and passwords …” (more)

[Dan Buckley, Irish Examiner, 18 February]

Do teachers make better parents? How teachers’ children do better at school

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:10:29 +0000

“My doctor used to have pictures of his kids on his surgery wall and it occurred to me, during a consultation, that they must be very healthy. Well that is what you would expect I think? One would expect them to have a healthy lifestyle and generally not to go short on medical care …” (more)

[Kevin Denny: Economics more-or-less, 18 February]

Reform chief ‘stalling’ Croke Park deal probe

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:08:26 +0000

“The chief civil servant in Brendan Howlin’s Public Expenditure and Reform department is under fire for trying to stall a probe on the Croke Park deal …” (more)

[Anne-Marie Walsh, Independent, 18 February]

College loses redundancy case by former researcher

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:01:06 +0000

“University College Cork has lost its legal challenge to a Labour Court order, requiring it to pay a former full-time researcher on a fixed-term contract, an ex gratia redundancy payment in addition to her statutory redundancy entitlement …” (more)

[Ann O’Loughlin, Irish Examiner, 18 February]

A studied response: Minister replies to request to ban homework

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:58:11 +0000

“And now, a message from the Minister for Education for boys and girls everywhere. Ruairí Quinn received a letter recently from 11-year-old James Culhane, asking him to ban homework …” (more)

[Irish Times, 18 February]

Student loans: entry fees

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:52:33 +0000

“The likely appointment of Professor Les Ebdon at Offa is a step in the right direction – but does not solve the underlying problem. University entrance is in a mess. It is a mess that is damaging to individual students whose potential is wasted, and damaging to an economy which cannot compete without an expanding, well-educated workforce …” (more)

[Guardian, 17 February]

Who says scientists aren’t creative?

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:48:35 +0000

“One of the things that people tends to think about scientists is that we are all machine-like robots who are technically advanced, but without an ounce (or gram) of creativeness. I’m planning in this brief blog to dispel this criticism with a few choice counterpoints …” (more)

[No Comment, 17 February]

Grants – Masters degrees and PhD

steve — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:45:25 +0000

“Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grants or funding will be available for students going to take masters degrees and PhD, 4th level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 16 February]

ASTI supports student teachers

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:38:48 +0000

“ASTI representatives will meet PDE students in Trinity College and UCD next week in order to discuss the unfair treatment of new teacher entrants by government. The meetings come ahead of a protest by student teachers against government decisions to cut the pay, cap the allowances, and – most recently – freeze the allowances of new entrants to teaching …” (more)

[ASTI, 17 February]

Equal prospects for both sexes in science

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:36:13 +0000

“Difficulties in hiring and retaining women scientists and engineers are worrying universities. A study published in Science has tracked several thousand science and engineering faculty members over 19 years to unpick where the barriers lie …” (more)

[Natasha Gilbert, Nature News & Comment, 17 February]

Historic High Court ruling means higher redundancy payments for fixed-term workers in universities

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:04:14 +0000

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has warmly welcomed a High Court decision regarding redundancy payments for fixed-term workers in universities. In the High Court on 17 February, Mr Justice Kearns rejected an appeal by University College Cork (UCC) against an earlier Labour Court Determination …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 17 February]

High Court rejects UCC appeal over lecturer’s redundancy

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:00:26 +0000

“The High Court has rejected an appeal from University College Court over the terms of a lecturer’s redundancy package. The lecturer, who had come to the end of her fixed-term contract, has been awarded six weeks’ pay for every year of employment at the university by the Labour Court …” (more)

[Business Post, 17 February]

Will England adopt Scotland’s university reforms?

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:43:23 +0000

“If the Scottish government implements new recommendations on governance and pay at its universities England will be under pressure to respond …” (more)

[Kim Catcheside, Guardian Professional, 17 February]

Technological Universities

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:40:52 +0000

“Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent discussion paper by the Higher Education Authority on the future of higher education; and the likely timescale for decisions on the structures that are likely to emerge …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 16 February]

UCC loses fixed-term contract case

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:13:54 +0000

“University College Cork has lost an appeal to the High Court in a case dealing how staff on fixed-term contracts are treated. In a ruling issued this morning, the High Court upheld a Labour Court decision to direct the college to make an ex-gratia payment to a fixed-term worker who had been made redundant …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 17 February]

UL and NUIG in research alliance with Silicon Valley start-up

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:29:54 +0000

“Silicon Valley start-up Compact Imaging has just signed a two-year research collaboration with University of Limerick (UL) and National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG). The two universities will be working with Compact Imaging on the area of biophotonics and will also gain a stake in the tech start-up …” (more)

[Carmel Doyle, Silicon Republic, 17 February]

CIT president remains committed to proposted multi-campus university

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:26:18 +0000

“President of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Dr Brendan Murphy remains committed to the planned Munster Technological University – which would see the amalgamation of CIT with Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) – despite his criticism of the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) blueprint for such an institution earlier this week …” (more)

[Brian Byrne, Studenty_Cork, 17 February]

Tuition fees rise does not breach human rights, high court rules

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:23:40 +0000

“Two teenagers who took the government to the high court claiming that the near-trebling of tuition fees this year breached their human rights have lost their case …” (more)

[Jessica Shepherd, Guardian, 17 February]

What are universities for?

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:21:54 +0000

“Poor English universities. No one knows what they’re for anymore. But it’s so obvious! So here’s my handy guide to help you figure it out …” (more)

[PhD Octopus, 17 February]

‘Consensus statement’ on research integrity released

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:20:05 +0000

“The UK Research Integrity Office has welcomed calls for it to be placed at the centre of a toughened research integrity oversight regime in the UK. The call came in a ‘consensus statement’ agreed following a high-level summit on research misconduct earlier this year, organised by the British Medical Journal and the Committee on Publication Ethics …” (more)

[Paul Jump, Times Higher Education, 17 February]

Higher education funding crisis will ‘damage’ students

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:24:13 +0000

“A university president has warned that any more delays in solving the funding crisis in higher education will damage thousands of students …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 17 February]

Salaries linked to success in education

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:20:55 +0000

“Education systems in the highest-performing OECD countries tend to prioritise higher salaries for teachers over smaller class sizes, according to the organisation’s monthly assessment notes …” (more)

[Pamela Duncan, Irish Times, 17 February]

Warning of ‘mediocrity’ if higher education not funded

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:17:39 +0000

“‘Equivocation’ around funding for higher education ‘has done lasting damage’ to the institutions and to students, the president of NUI Maynooth has said. Prof Philip Nolan warned a failure to adequately fund higher education would result in ‘an inevitable mediocrity to the detriment of generations of students’ …” (more)

[Fiona Gartland, Irish Times, 17 February]

Major boost for academic freedom

steve — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:14:52 +0000

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers IFUT has welcomed a new report recommending all third-level colleges in Scotland to ‘adopt and incorporate the definition of Academic Freedom which is contained in Ireland’s Universities Act, 1997′ …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 16 February]

PhD student database

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:28:04 +0000

“Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish a database or network of PhD students at universities in the country and details of their work so as to create a portal into this important state resource …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 15 February]

In My Opinion: New kind of technology university will address the needs of society

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:20:39 +0000

“It is the demand for higher education that is of the highest quality which is providing the impetus for reform at third level. A key conclusion of the National Strategy for Higher Education (Hunt Report) was that, notwithstanding many strengths, Ireland was not best served by a system of stand-alone universities …” (more)

[Tom Boland, Independent, 15 February]

Milburn proposals on university access could fuel ‘social engineering’ row

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:17:06 +0000

“Growing Conservative anger over the way in which universities may be asked to play a role in promoting social mobility is likely to be reignited by proposals due shortly from Alan Milburn. The former Labour cabinet minister is now the independent reviewer of social mobility and child poverty for the coalition government …” (more)

[Patrick Wintour, Guardian, 16 February]

Minister welcomes European court ruling against filtering content

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:50:39 +0000

“The Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock said he ‘welcomed’ a decision from the European Court of Justice which ruled that social networks cannot be obliged to install a filter for user-generated content to prevent copyright infringement, saying it will guide Irish courts when looking into similar matters …” (more)

[Laura O'Brien, Silicon Republic, 16 February]

NovaUCD companies to create 300 new jobs over next two years

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:48:34 +0000

“NovaUCD has announced the proposed creation of 300 new jobs over the next twenty-four months. Thirty-seven companies based at or strongly linked to the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at UCD will be looking to increase their work force after individually securing substantial equity investment, totalling €40m collectively …” (more)

[Kate Rothwell, University Observer, 16 February]

Teachers’ pay impacts education quality: OECD

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:46:16 +0000

“Countries that invest more in their teachers have better education outcomes than those who do not, according to an OECD study published today …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 16 February]

WIT must prove it’s worthy of university status

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:42:50 +0000

“It’s getting close to crunch time for Waterford Institute of Technology, as the conditions for applying for Technological University status were published yesterday …” (more)

[Sandra Quinn, Waterford News & Star, 16 February]

ECJ says web hosts can’t be forced to install anti-copyright filters

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:39:27 +0000

“The European Court of Justice has ruled that web hosting companies and services cannot be ordered to install filtering software monitoring uploaded content for potential copyright infringement …” (more)

[Business ETC, 16 February]

New twists in Italian seismology trial

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:37:26 +0000

“The courthouse in L’Aquila, Italy, yesterday hosted the most anticipated hearing in the trial of six seismologists and one government official indicted for manslaughter over their reassurances to the public ahead of a deadly earthquake in 2009 …” (more)

[Brian Owens, Nature News Blog, 16 February]

Sherlock: Court decision provides clarity on copyright laws

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:34:50 +0000

“The decision by the European Court of Justice that an online social network cannot be obliged to install a general filtering system to prevent copyright infringement has been welcomed by Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock …” (more)

[Business Post, 16 February]

Student loan penalty plan ditched

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:22:43 +0000

“Plans to impose penalties on students who pay off university loans early are being ditched, the Government is expected to announce next week. Ministers were considering introducing annual charges of around 5% on payments above a certain limit to prevent wealthier students avoiding interest charges on the new standard 30-year repayment plans …” (more)

[Sam Lister, Independent, 16 February]

Why I go to other people’s lectures

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:20:32 +0000

“I have a confession to make. I have been going to the wrong university lectures. That is, classes in which I’m not enrolled. I know, I know, I’m a terrible student. I should be doing as little work as possible, drinking and partying. But instead, I’m learning. And what’s worse, learning stuff I shouldn’t even be learning. Shame on me … (more)

[Lu-Hai Liang, Guardian, 16 February]

Students could afford €10k fees, says UL study

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:40 +0000

“Most students could repay a €10,000 college fees loan within 15 years of graduation if the Government decided to introduce such a scheme, according to University of Limerick research …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 16 February]

Quinn doesn’t ‘feel great’ about breaking promise

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:25:07 +0000

“Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD visited the University of Limerick today as part of the Issues in Irish Journalism Seminar and discussed the economic concerns facing Irish students …” (more)

[Kelly O'Brien, An Focal, 15 February]

Dublin college chief defends policy on Bahrain

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:22:34 +0000

“The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland wants to be part of the solution in Bahrain rather than part of the problem, the college’s chief executive said yesterday …” (more)

[Deaglán de Bréadún, Irish Times, 16 February]

Over-qualified graduates?

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:19:38 +0000

“The European Union publishes an annual report entitled Key Data on Education in Europe. In the 2012 issue there is some interesting statistical analysis of the structure and nature of Europe’s education systems …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 16 February]

Anatomy of a medical class: minister opens TCD’s €131m institute

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:17:12 +0000

“Trinity College Dublin’s school of medicine, the country’s oldest medical school, was yesterday formally moved to the university’s new Biomedical Sciences Institute on Pearse Street …” (more)

[Eoin Burke-Kennedy, Irish Times, 16 February]

Occupy publishing

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:14:48 +0000

“Timothy Gowers is boycotting Elsevier and hopes to spark reform that will replace expensive journals with a more rational system. For many years, I, like several other mathematicians, have been careful not to submit papers to journals published by the huge publishing conglomerate Reed Elsevier. Our reasons will be familiar to many readers of Times Higher Education …” (more)

[Times Higher Education, 16 February]

Combination acts

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:12:00 +0000

“Why isn’t co-authorship more prevalent in the arts? At a recent promotions committee meeting, I was struck by the extent to which sole-authored publication remains the norm – even though there can be genuine intellectual benefits when collaboration succeeds …” (more)

[Stephen Mumford, Times Higher Education, 16 February]

A simple formula for education

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:09:53 +0000

“A chara, – There is, of course, merit in some of the 10 changes recommended by Ivan Yates for Irish education (Education Today, February 14th) but unfortunately whatever merit there is, is undermined by the author’s underlying view that the role of education is to serve the needs of the so-called free market …” (more)

[John Glennon, Irish Times, 16 February]

UK postgrads ‘shocked’ at sight of foreign peers

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:07:36 +0000

“‘I was a bit bewildered at the beginning. It was like, ‘ooh’, surprise, no English people!’ This was one of several negative reactions from British students asked to reflect on the large number of international students on some postgraduate courses …” (more)

[John Elmes, Times Higher Education, 16 February]

IADT students to vote on future of USI affiliation

steve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:05:12 +0000

“Students of the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology IADT, in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, will be asked to vote today, Thursday February 16th, on the future of their Students’ Union’s affiliation with the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) …” (more)

[Sarah Bermingham, Dublin Studenty.me, 15 February]

Contact hours – Economics departments

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:28:16 +0000

“Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will inform Dáil Éireann of the mean and median class contact hours for professors, associate professors and senior lecturers in the departments of economics of the following third level institutions: University College Dublin, University of Dublin, National University of Ireland Maynooth, National University of Ireland Galway, University College Cork, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 14 February]

Higher Education Grants

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:25:01 +0000

“Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the centralised office for higher education grants will be in place; the location of same; when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 14 February]

New €21m School of Medicine opens at TCD

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:18:10 +0000

“Trinity College Dublin’s (TCD) new School of Medicine was officially opened today by the Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock. Set in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, the school got funding of just over €21m from the Higher Education Authority/Department of Education & Skills …” (more)

[Carmel Doyle, Silicon Republic, 15 February]

Chomsky slams modern education: designed to control and create conformity

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:12:55 +0000

“In a wide ranging interview Noam Chomsky attacks education for creating conformity. ‘It does not matter what a course covers, it’s what a student discovers’, he says …” (more)

[Stephen Matchett, The Australian, 16 February]

Why rank student cities?

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:10:28 +0000

“University rankings have been stirring up debate for a good few years, but everyone knows that going to university is about more than just choosing the most famous or prestigious institution. While we all naturally base much of our decision-making on identifying the best university and degree program, the city in which you choose to spend three or four years living and studying will shape your university experience …” (more)

[QS Intelligence Unit, 15 February]

Spanish changes are scientific suicide

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:04:32 +0000

“Spain no longer has a ministry of science. In the last days of 2011, its new government transferred national science policy to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, a duty for which this ministry seems most unsuited …” (more)

[Amaya Moro-Martín, Nature News, 15 February]

Philip Nolan at IGNITE Dublin #8

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:24:14 +0000

“Philip Nolan gives his talk at the IGNITE night at the Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin in December 2011.” (video)

[YouTube, 15 February]
[HT: Conor Houghton]

Libraries Receiving a Shrinking Piece of the University Pie

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:10:44 +0000

“… The simplest explanation to describe this trend is that the library has lost its coveted position as the intellectual hub of the university; that administrators don’t think of the library anymore — after all, information that arrives on one’s desktop must be free; and that students value the library more as a quiet place to nap …” (more)

[Phil Davis, The Scholarly Kitchen, 15 February]

British universities are in need of a teaching revolution

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:50:11 +0000

“Teaching in universities has often played second fiddle to research in terms of university rankings, public funding and institutional prestige. Governments and the press have often pigeon-holed institutions by research activity rather than recognising that teaching, research and knowledge exchange are integral to the role of all universities …” (more)

[Pam Tatlow, Guardian, 15 February]

Dublin is the 8th best place in the world for students

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:14:44 +0000

“… at least, according to the latest ranking by QS. They’re quiet about the method, but if you click on any of the cities, you will find what matters to them …” (more)

[Richard Tol, Irish Economy, 15 February]

LIT Creative Multimedia

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:12:33 +0000

“Along with three other multimedia lecturers, I spent most of Valentine’s Day, including the dinner hour, revising Ireland’s longest-running third level creative multimedia degree programme …” (more)

[Bernie Goldbach, Inside View from Ireland, 15 February]

Capital among top student cities for education … and craic

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:04:49 +0000

“Dublin has been rated as one of the best student cities in the world – and ‘the craic’ has a lot to do with it. It shares eighth place with Berlin in a table topped by Paris, followed by London, Boston, Melbourne, Vienna, Sydney and Zurich …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 15 February]

Copyright enforcement and the Internet: we just haven’t tried hard enough?

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:01:19 +0000

“On Tuesday, Mother Jones blogger Kevin Drum suggested that we don’t have effective copyright enforcement on the Internet because we just haven’t tried hard enough …” (more)

[Timothy B Lee, Ars Technica, 15 February]

Is data misuse finally becoming a criminal matter?

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:58:38 +0000

“There’s a long and ignominious history in Ireland of personal data abuse by employees in the public sector and insurance industry. Sometimes it’s a garda using phone records to spy on her ex, sometimes it’s nosiness on the part of Revenue staff …” (more)

[TJ McIntyre, IT Law in Ireland, 15 February]

Technological universities

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:56:29 +0000

“Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: … I welcome the publication yesterday of the criteria for the designation of institutes of technology as technological universities. Let us make no mistake about it, this is a major development which needs to be debated because there are fears to be allayed and questions to be answered. For example, will this development lead to a lowering of standards? …” (more)

[Order of Business, Seanad Éireann, 14 February]

‘Truth’ in Science

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:53:50 +0000

“Reviewing papers for journals can be a chore sometimes, especially if the submission is from a non-English speaker and you spend all of your time trying to decipher what the authors are trying to say. However, it is an aspect of my job that I enjoy as it makes me think about some of the deeper, philosophical issues that arise in science …” (more)

[educationandstuff, 14 February]

Drink driving student ‘deeply embarrassed’

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:51:51 +0000

“A student who was just over the limit when stopped for drink driving by the gardaí was ‘deeply embarrassed’ by what had happened, Balbriggan District Court has heard …” (more)

[Fingal Independent, 14 February]

German Professors’ Salaries Ruled Unconstitutional

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:49:20 +0000

“As reported today in several German newspapers (see sources below), many German professors should be getting raises next year, thanks to the complaints of a chemist …” (more)

[Chelsea Wald, Science Careers Blog, 14 February]

EU official who resigned over ACTA explains how the treaty will result in invasive border searches of personal devices, privacy-invading dissemination of public’s personal information

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:47:10 +0000

“Kader Arif is the former EU official who served as rapporteur on ACTA (the secretive copyright treaty pushed by the US Trade Rep) on Europe’s behalf. He made headlines when he handed in his report on ACTA …” (more)

[Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing, 14 February]

Colleges and universities must merge or lose funding

steve — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:44:45 +0000

“The Education Minister is beginning to play hardball with the universities and colleges, finally. There’s going to be a cut in the number of courses around the country that are almost exactly the same …” (more)

[Denis McEvoy, JOE, 13 February]

Reform of Irish education and ‘institute’ versus ‘system’

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:26:58 +0000

“The Higher Education Authority (HEA), since the appointment of chairman, John Hennessy, is largely seen as a kind of attack dog that has been set loose on Irish higher education, in order to force ‘efficiencies’ and an industry focus upon institutes of technology (IoTs) and universities, and generally, in the words of the great and fictitious prime minister, Francis Urquhart, to put a bit of stick about …” (more)

[The Norman Wyse Commentary, 14 February]

IT Sligo’s Technical University ambition

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:18:07 +0000

“The President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said it is the ambition of IT Sligo to be part of a Technological University in the Border Midlands and Western Region …” (more)

[Donegal Democrat, 14 February]

SFI Call for Proposals on Collaborative Research Centres

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:15:20 +0000

“The SFI Research Centres Programme will consolidate the existing Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) Programme and Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) Programme into a ‘single-entry’ competition …” (more)

[Sally Anne Hinfey, Ireland IP & Technology Law Blog, 14 February]

The USI Debate and Why I Oppose Disaffiliation

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:11:49 +0000

“On Wednesday TCD Students’ Union (SU) and the Philosophical Society combined to host a debate on TCD’s proposed disaffiliation from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The motion, ‘that this House would disaffiliate from the USI’, was proposed by Phil speaker David Byrne and opposed by USI President Gary Redmond …” (more)

[Rónán Burtenshaw, University Times, 14 February]

The Netherlands Looks to Take the Lead in Relaxed Copyright Legislation

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:08:47 +0000

“US copyright laws are designed to protect the ‘fair use’ of copyrighted content such as mash-ups and remixes—or they were, at least, until the advent of DMCA Takedown Notices. The Dutch government has taken notes on America’s IP failures and is reportedly looking to explicitly protect such DMCA fodder, much to the chagrin of the European Union …” (more)

[Gizmodo, 14 February]

Mandarin ducks, UCD lake

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:05:57 +0000

“Des saw 2 Mandarins swimming out in the middle of the lake!! Typically I chose this lunchtime to work through, but when I saw his email, I looked at my work, thought sod that and pulled on my jacket. Didn’t see any Mandarins swimming around in the open by the time I got over, but a closer look on the little island where the swans always nest gave a glimpse of a male mandarin’s head! …” (more, video)

[Drimnagh Birdwatch, 14 February]

Clean up your ACTA, says Prendergast MEP

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:03:47 +0000

“ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is a misnomer with a wrongheaded approach. Targeting copyright infringements with the same enforcement tools used against fake goods is both inappropriate and dangerous to our liberties and innovation potential, stated Phil Prendergast Labour MEP for Munster in Strasbourg today …” (more)

[Labour Party, 14 February]

Obama shoots for science increase

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:01:28 +0000

“… A year ago, Obama proposed bold increases for science agencies, but a Congress intent on curbing government spending refused to back many of them. This time, the White House has scaled back in several areas but boosted overall funding for non-defence research and development by 5%, pushing it up to US$64.9bn …” (more)

[Ivan Semeniuk and others, Nature News & Comment, 14 February]

A Tech-Happy Professor Reboots After Hearing His Teaching Advice Isn’t Working

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:04:12 +0000

“… To be fair, Mr Wesch always pointed to the downsides of technology (it can be a classroom distraction, for instance). But he saw tech-infused methods as a way to upgrade teaching. Then a frustrated colleague approached him after one of his talks: ‘I implemented your idea, and it just didn’t work’, Mr Wesch was told. ‘The students thought it was chaos’ …” (more)

[Jeffrey R Young, Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 February]

IFUT comments on HEA college merger proposals

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:59:49 +0000

“The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has demanded that any proposals from the HEA to merge structures of third-level colleges must be subject to full consultation with staff in advance of any HEA submissions to the Minister for Education …” (more)

[Irish Federation of University Teachers, 14 February]

Colleges given six months to spell out their strategic plans

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:11:00 +0000

“All third-level institutions have been given six months to respond to official proposals which would result in the merger of many smaller colleges and the development of regional clusters of universities or institutes of technology …” (more)

[Carl O'Brien, Irish Times, 14 February]

University criteria dismissed by college president

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:06:51 +0000

“The president of Cork Institute of Technology says the standards needed to become a technological university are too focused on research and not enough on meeting the needs of industry and the regions …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 14 February]

The formula is simple: real change

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:02:26 +0000

“It’s time to end the monopoly of educationalists determining the future of Irish education. Vested interests of religious structures, the Department of Education, third-level institutions and teacher unions have acted in pursuit of their own narrow goals. The results? Unsustainable costs, the shortest school year, the highest-paid teachers …” (more)

[Ivan Yates, Irish Times, 14 February]

Reconfiguring the Irish system of higher education

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:59:48 +0000

“The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has, as part of its programme for implementing the national higher education strategy in Ireland (the Hunt report), has issued a paper setting out how it hopes to develop the structure of the system from its present state …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 14 February]

Art college appoints head of design

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:56:59 +0000

“The new head of design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin is Alex Milton, a Londoner who originally trained as a car designer. He replaces Prof Angela Woods, who retired last December, and will take up his appointment in April …” (more)

[Deirdre McQuillan, Irish Times, 14 February]

Teacher’s Pet

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:54:22 +0000

“Is new General Secretary ready for fire fighting? The appointment of Seán Ó Foghlú, pictured, as the new Secretary General in the Department of Education was not unexpected …” (more)

[Irish Times, 14 February]

Colleges in race to gain university status

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:50:37 +0000

“Institutes of technology are in a race to become Ireland’s first technological university. The proposal for one, or more, technological universities is part of a major shake-up in Irish higher education unveiled yesterday …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 14 February]

Hikes in third-level fees

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:46:22 +0000

“CHATTERBOX: What’s the talk of education ‘Three THOUSAND, you say. *Calls kids. Suggests new career choices: chimney sweeping/door to door selling/marrying millionaire*’ …” (more)

[Irish Times, 14 February]

Programme 126, Gabriel Fitzmaurice pt 1 & Modern Languages

steve — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:43:57 +0000

“Presented and produced by Seán Delaney. Modern Languages Feature by Barry Hennessy. This programme featured the first of a two-part interview with practising poet and retired primary school teacher and principal, Gabriel Fitzmaurice …” (more, mp3)

[Inside Education on 103.2 Dublin City FM, 13 February]

Students must be the focus of third level reform plans

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:07:42 +0000

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education and Skills Brendan Smith has welcomed the publication of reports from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) today aimed at achieving greater cohesion within the third level sector in this country …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 13 February]

Cameron admits defeat in battle to block new university access tsar

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:03:53 +0000

“David Cameron has admitted defeat in his battle to prevent Professor Les Ebdon being appointed director general of Offa, the universities access body seen by some Tories as a threat to excellence in universities …” (more)

[Patrick Wintour, Guardian, 13 February]

Higher education reform

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:44:57 +0000

“The HEA has published its plans for reforming higher education in Ireland. A high level summary is here. There are two more substantive documents (here and here) that partly overlap …” (more)

[Richard Tol, Irish Economy, 13 February]

IBEC welcomes new HEA proposals for third-level education

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:14:48 +0000

“IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, today welcomed the new Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) proposals for a more coherent and integrated third-level system, but warned that there is important unfinished business with regard to putting higher education funding on a more sustainable footing …” (more)

[IBEC, 13 February]

MIT to begin sign-ups for free online course

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:12:36 +0000

“Massachusetts Institute of Technology will begin enrollment today for the first course in its enhanced online platform, where students around the world can take classes and get a certificate upon completion …” (more)

[Business Post, 13 February]

New rules will require colleges to merge or lose funding

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:02:51 +0000

“New plans for funding Irish colleges, published this morning, will require smaller colleges to merge with larger ones if they are to keep their state assistance …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 13 February]

Technological university status is to development of Limerick Institute of Technology says president

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:07:20 +0000

“LIT president Dr Maria Hinfelaar has declared herself ’100% confident’ the proposal to establish a Munster Technological University will go ahead. The plan, which would see LIT, Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Institute of Technology Tralee (IT Tralee) band together to form an amalgamated unit and thereby create the largest higher education institution in the region, would also bring Limerick’s tally of universities to two …” (more)

[Alan Owens, Limerick Leader, 13 February]

Initiation of Reform of Irish Higher Education

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:57:56 +0000

“The Higher Education Authority (HEA) today (Monday 13th February) publishes a series of papers that set out a roadmap for implementing significant reform in Irish higher education, following on from the recommendations of National Strategy for Higher Education …” (more, links)

[Higher Education Authority, 13 February]

Former UCC lecturer Dr Dylan Evans prosecuted for serious assault today

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:56:18 +0000

“Controversial UCC lecturer Dr Dylan Evans, previously found guilty of sexually harassing a female colleague, is being prosecuted by the DPP (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) for serious assault today …” (more)

[Brian Byrne, Cork Studenty.me, 13 February]

[For clarification, Dr Evans ceased to be a lecturer at UCC in August 2011]

Education targets – Academic autonomy is essential

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:07:26 +0000

“The publication by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of a blueprint for new strategic targets has the makings of a right rumpus between the Government and third-level institutions. The proposals will likely be perceived as a threat to autonomy of third level colleges …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 13 February]

Smaller third-level colleges face end of public funding

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:04:50 +0000

“Public funding of smaller third-level colleges is unlikely to continue as a more co-ordinated higher education system is developed, according to the Higher Education Authority. The authority’s warning is delivered in a discussion paper on the future of higher education published this morning …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 13 February]

Colleges face performance-related funding cuts

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:02:16 +0000

“Colleges face further cuts to funding if they fail to meet a range of targets, under controversial government proposals …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 13 February]

Institutes face high standards process

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:58:59 +0000

“The high standards that colleges will have to meet to become a technological university mean it could be at least two years before any such institution is created. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is publishing the process and the criteria that will have to be met today …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 13 February]

Most students having unprotected sex

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:56:15 +0000

“Almost three-quarters of Irish students surveyed have had sex without a condom, with 13% citing impairment due to alcohol as the reason for having done so, a survey has found. The survey, published today, was carried out by the Union of Students in Ireland …” (more)

[Pamela Duncan, Irish Times, 13 February]

Teacher allowances cut ‘would be end of Croke Park reform’

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:54:08 +0000

“Any cut to teacher allowances would be a breach of the Croke Park agreement and would result in the end of reforms under the deal, a union has warned …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 13 February]

500 college places for jobseekers

steve — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:51:29 +0000

“Another 500 free, part-time places are opening up on third-level courses for unemployed people under the Government’s Springboard programme …” (more)

[Independent, 13 February]

An Open Letter to Elsevier

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:12:26 +0000

“Since the beginning of the argument with Elsevier over their support of the Research Works Act (RWA) in the US and the announcement of the boycott of the publisher, I have been keen to stimulate dialogue. Elsevier seems to be interested in the same thing …” (more)

[Reciprocal Space, 12 February]

European divisions over ACTA deepen

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:16:06 +0000

“The international copyright treaty is meant to improve the protection of intellectual property. But critics fear the deal could severely restricts Internet freedoms. Supporters and opponents of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) agree that intellectual property must be protected. But European societies are divided over how this is to be achieved …” (more)

[Anne Allmeling, Deutsche Welle, 11 February]

#SOPAIreland: where’s the legal advice?

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:31:21 +0000

“The main reason – effectively the only reason – given by Minister Sean Sherlock for pushing ahead with a deeply flawed statutory instrument is that he is acting on the advice of the Attorney General. However, he has not revealed any detail of that advice and we are being asked to take it on trust both that it is correct (a matter which is open to debate) and also that it compels this particular course of action …” (more)

[TJ McIntyre, IT Law in Ireland, 12 February]

Irish technology sector stifled by lack of key staff

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:09:10 +0000

“Last year was one of the best years in the history of the IDA. A record 248 new investments were won, against fierce international competition and despite our generally negative economic commentary. There was a 30% increase in the number of companies investing in Ireland for the very first time …” (more)

[Chris Horn, Independent, 12 February]

Explaining academic integrity: it’s harder than it looks

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:04:32 +0000

“Tracey Bretag is annoyed when the media focus on plagiarism by international students because failures of academic integrity are much larger than that …” (more)

[Stephen Matchett, The Australian, 13 February]

Gaia theory: is it science yet?

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:40:30 +0000

“James Lovelock’s ‘Gaia hypothesis’ has challenged conventional thinking about the nature of the earth as an integrated system. Gaia proposes that the earth acts like a living organism — that life is part of a self-regulating system, manipulating the physical and chemical environment to maintain the planet as a suitable home for life itself …” (more)

[Ian Enting, The Conversation, 12 February]

Minister, universities are for the intellectual elite

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:18:48 +0000

“The HEA’s proposed academic conditions read like a horror list of inadequacy, writes Emer O’Kelly. Anybody interested in the progress and advancement of third-level education and beyond is familiar with John Henry Newman’s late 19th Century treatise The Idea of a University. That, of course, is a given. I joke: like hell it’s a given …” (more)

[Independent, 12 February]

[Blogmeister's note: Wouldn't it be nice if the conditions were published, so that we could each form our own view, rather than having to make do with rants from journalists with privileged access?]

What is Marc Coleman’s point?

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:11:42 +0000

“Madam – Marc Coleman obviously ‘has his knife’ in university professors. I say this because he regularly quotes professors’ salaries as a prime example of inflated salaries paid out of the public purse …” (more)

[William Reville, Independent, 12 February]

US university hands out 400 degrees by mistake

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:09:47 +0000

“A US university has revealed that hundreds of degrees given out over the past 10 years should never have been awarded, and may be revoked …” (more)

[Independent, 12 February]

Life after disengagement

steve — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:07:41 +0000

“In their follow-up to the book Academically Adrift, Richard Arum and colleagues recently released a report of their follow-up study of 1000 of the students involved in their original study. Readers will recall that the book documented massive academic disengagement …” (more)

[Lowering Higher Education, 11 February]

Europeans rally against anti-online piracy pact

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:41:39 +0000

“Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in cities across Europe to voice anger at a controversial international copyright treaty (ACTA), which they fear will lead to a curtailing of Internet freedoms …” (more)

[Deutsche Welle, 11 February]

TUI warns against government breach of Croke Park agreement

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:56:59 +0000

“At its meeting on Friday 10th February 2012 the Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland considered the possible serious implications of the review of allowances being undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform …” (more)

[Teachers’ Union of Ireland, 11 February]

In pictures: Anti-ACTA protests held across Europe

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:46:29 +0000

“Protesters gathered in several European cities today to demonstrate against proposed EU copyright protection legislation which critics claim could impair freedom of expression online …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 11 February]

TUI to ballot on withdrawing from Croke Park agreement

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:19:26 +0000

“The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has decided to ballot members on withdrawal from the Croke Park agreement. This follows confirmation by the Government to public service unions that allowances to all existing public servants are to be reduced …” (more)

[Irish Times, 11 February]

Universities ‘slow to act on concerns’, TCD forum told

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:17:38 +0000

“Universities in Ireland have been slow to respond to public concerns about the workload of academics and their pay levels, according to the former president of DCU …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 11 February]

Brophy appointed at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:11:41 +0000

“Former Connacht Gold executive Helen Brophy has joined her alma mater, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, as director of executive education …” (more)

[Joe Dermody, Irish Examiner, 11 February]

Students: ‘Better at cracking jokes than taking risks’

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:09:34 +0000

“Students are good at making friends and cracking jokes, but are poor at managing time and taking risks, a survey suggests. Research into 1,000 UK students’ strengths for an accounting firm suggests they are weakest at overcoming fears and being resilient …” (more)

[Hannah Richardson, BBC News, 11 February]

University Rankings

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:06:52 +0000

“Senator Jim Walsh: Following on from the previous discussion, the key to solving the problem of unemployment is undoubtedly education. However, there is a need to accelerate this, because there is a generation of people who cannot wait around. Their contributions, their talents and their lives will be lost as a consequence of not being able to obtain employment …” (more)

[Seanad Éireann, 9 February]

Croke Park Agreement: Statements

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:03:35 +0000

“Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Brian Hayes): I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this important matter. I am aware that a number of Senators have been seeking a debate of this nature for some time …” (more)

[Seanad Éireann, 9 February]

Trinity College students vote in favour of USI disaffiliation

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:31:38 +0000

“Students who attended the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) disaffiliation debate in Trinity College (TCD) on Wednesday evening voted in favour of the motion to disaffiliate themselves from the union …” (more)

[Dublin Studenty.me, 10 February]

Do Scholarship and Politics Mix? Stanley Fish and Howard Zinn on Academic Freedom

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:23:59 +0000

“Scholarship and politics don’t mix. At least not according to literary theorist and New York Times blogger Stanley Fish, who has been arguing for years that professors should ’save the world on their own time’. Just last week, he reiterated this point …” (more)

[PhD Octopus, 10 February]

TUI to hold ballot on exiting Croke Park Deal

steve — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:18:31 +0000

“The Teachers Union of Ireland is to ballot its members on withdrawing from the Croke Park Agreement. The TUI said that it made the decision following confirmation by government that allowances payable to all existing public servants are to be reduced …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 11 February]

Uni triggers ‘marriage mismatch’

steve — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:40:02 +0000

“Higher education gives students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds the biggest boost in the labour market. But it has the opposite effect on their prospects in the marriage market, an American study has found …” (more)

[John Ross, The Australian, 11 February]

Media diversity: Hours of on-line searching or trawling obscure channels and journals is not mass participation

steve — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:27:31 +0000

“There’s a lot of talk these days about media diversity. (On Monday last I was at a useful conference on the subject hosted by Nessa Childers, MEP.) A problem is that ‘media diversity’, like so many terms, is increasingly becoming drained of meaning …” (more)

[Colum McCaffery’s Weblog, 10 February]