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

College heads hold talks on creation of ‘super IT’ (via Ninth Level Ireland)

The Hunt Report starts to raise its head

"Secret talks have begun between four colleges which could lead to a combined 'super institute of technology' for the greater Dublin area. The Irish Independent has learned that the four presidents and chairs of the governing bodies of the respective colleges met recently, and more meetings are expected …" (more) [John Walshe, Independent, 17 June] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland