Funding higher education (via Ninth Level Ireland)

Continued push on the fees agenda..

"The cabinet will shortly consider a report from an expert group, chaired by economist, Dr Colin Hunt, on a strategy for higher education. The report has been billed by successive ministers for education as a critically important document, charting a course for the sector until 2030 …" (more) [Irish Times, 28 August] … Read More

via Ninth Level Ireland

Registration Fees to increase by 1000 euro?

USI president Gary Redmond said the union was “gravely concerned” that third-level fees would be reintroduced “covertly” by increasing the existing €1,500 cap on the student services charge. (more from the Irish Times).

Third-level colleges urged to forge closer links-Irish Times

ANALYSIS: The Hunt Report calls for increased funding – but colleges are asked to be more efficient too, writes SEÁN FLYNN , Education Editor

THE LONG-AWAITED Hunt Report runs to over 200 pages and provides a comprehensive overview of the third-level system.

There is no Big Idea at its core and little that will surprise. The report draws freely – and sometimes at length – on earlier reports on higher education and the skills deficit. Its key finding – that a “persistently” underfunded system requires major additional supports – is an echo of the 2004 OECD report on higher education in Ireland. This also backed a quantum leap in funding and the return of student contribution through fees or loans. But it has never been implemented. (more)

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

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