Funding risk to third level colleges over ‘secrecy’ (via Ninth Level Ireland)

"The reluctance of third-level academics to open their work activities to scrutiny may put increased public investment at risk, the head of the Higher Education Authority warns …" (more) [Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 30 June] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

The 30th Annual MacGill Summer School: Reforming the Republic: Issues of Politics, Economics & Accountability (via politicalreform.ie)

The Summer School will analyse the political, economic and administrative systems that have allowed our economy to be brought to its knees and will propose solutions.  The nature and structures of our parliamentary democracy and our political culture will come under particular scrutiny. Questions will be asked as to how and why our political and economic institutions were unable to foresee the extent of the current crisis or were incapable of tak … Read More

via politicalreform.ie

TCD: research cuts will cost 1,000 jobs (via Ninth Level Ireland)

"Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is predicting that its new funding for research will collapse in the next five years, cutting spending on research by three quarters and leading to the loss of almost 1,000 research positions. A confidential document being prepared by the college also predicts that the combined fall in research staff and students could affect the college’s standing in international rankings …" (more) [Martha Kearns, Sunday Business … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

Red C Poll 27 June: How Do Figures Translate Into Seats? (via politicalreform.ie)

Adrian Kavanagh (28 June 2010) The latest Red C poll points to a remarkably consistent trend in terms of support for the three largest parties – again underlining the significant "Gilmore Gale" increase in support for Labour but also highlighting the strenght of Fine Gael support. But how would these figures translate into seats should these results be replicated in a general election? This analysis suggests that the link between party support an … Read More

via politicalreform.ie

TUI will not endorse Croke Park deal (via Ninth Level Ireland)

"The Teachers Union of Ireland has decided that it will not endorse the Croke Park pay and reform agreement. The union, which represents around 15,000 secondary teachers and lecturers, has rejected the agreement by a margin of three to one …" (more) [RTÉ News, 24 June] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

Lecturers face checks on the amount of time spent teaching (via Ninth Level Ireland)

Lecturing staff continue to suffer the indignity of being fed the Hunt Report third hand.

"University academics will no longer be able to get away with doing a few hours teaching and little or no research or other work. The Irish Independent has learned that a forthcoming report will recommend the introduction of sophisticated work-load management models to monitor what staff actually do in terms of teaching duties, administration, counselling students and research …" (more) [John Walshe, Independent, 22 June] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

Is IFUT’s no vote a warning bell for society?

Perhaps it might occur to others (obviously not Ms O’Kelly, article from SINDO below) that those who are entrusted with the formation of our young population at all levels might be genuinely fearful for the ultimate implications of the Croke Park Deal for their students. IFUT after all has only voted for Industrial action once in its history and its “no vote” is clearly a warning bell of the serious damage being inflicted on standards in learning and indeed on critical thinking in our society generally.
‘Copper-fastened’ deal all comes down to the nuts and bolts The cracks are beginning to show already in the Croke Park agreement, writes Emer O’Kelly
“The anti-democratic charge, with its potential to scupper the agreement, has been led by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT). It’s hard to believe that the men and women entrusted with the educational formation of many of our citizens at second level, and all of our citizens at university level, can behave in such an unprincipled fashion. At least, it’s hard to believe of the IFUT; we’re used to the outrageously selfish impropriety of teachers at primary and secondary level. But how uneasy does it make you feel to envisage the intellectual elite of the country being taught ethics, philosophy, and particularly, politics, by people who refuse to abide by a democratic, if reluctant, vote? “ (more )

The Irish Times/Ispos MRBI poll: A Geographical Dissection (via politicalreform.ie)

An analysis of the seat allocation countrywide. I comment on the situation in South Tipp..

Adrian Kavanagh (11 June 2010) The Irish Times/Ispos MRBI poll, published in The Irish Times on Friday June 11th (also discussed here), rates Labour as the most popular political party in the state at present and also suggests that Sinn Féin will win that party’s highest share of the national vote since the 1920s. The poll figures offer a more sobering picture for Fine Gael, whose support levels now stand at just 1% higher than what the party won … Read More

via politicalreform.ie

Need to cut costs has mergermania in the air (via Ninth Level Ireland)

The agenda of the Hunt review is revealing itself. Redundancies and redeployment are in the air.. More important than ever to resist the imposition of the Croke park Deal

"There are too many colleges, too much duplication (do we really need 30 engineering schools in the country?) and not enough development around selected priorities. These are among the many key messages expected in the forthcoming national strategy on higher education …" (more) [John Walshe, Independent, 17 June] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

‘Contact hours’ – the new dilemma (via University Blog)

Some thoughts for the university sector on Academic workload.

For anyone working in a higher education institution, one of the messages they they will have been hearing with increasing frequency is that the general public believes that academics don't work enough. To put it more precisely, there is a view out there that a university lecturer spends too much time doing other stuff, perhaps even important stuff, but far too little time actually teaching anyone or offering students direct help and support. Thi … Read More

via University Blog