Universities have a key role in producing the talent and skills pool for the health sector, where we graduate thousands of medical, nursing and other health and social care professionals each year. As our universities continue to expand the number of student places across the full range of these essential professions, Minister Stephen Donnelly gave us his pe...
The Irish Research Council (IRC) and the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office (IMSCO) joined forces bringing together 100 early career scholars and expert academics, facilitating the sharing of life journeys and professional tips. The speakers conveyed the message that grant-seeking strategies must be understood at all stages and are crucial to building succ...
The first prize winner of the competition will also have the opportunity to participate in the MT180 international final in Rabat (Morocco) on October 5th 2023, with travel and subsistence expenses covered by the competition organisers...
Date: Tuesday 28th March 2023 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (Irish time) The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office hosted a webinar on the 2023 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call. These Fellowships support researchers’ careers with a focus on training and skills development through excellent research and innovation projects. The call targets researchers hold...
IUA, THEA and USI have joined together to call on the Minister for Education to bring forward the date of the Leaving Certificate results. The three organisations, representing students and higher education institutions, are calling for this year’s results to be available on their traditional mid-August date. Their joint call follows recent meetings with D...
IUA Submission to the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by the IUA – Future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Irish Education...
North South Student Enrolment in Tertiary Education Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) Session 1: 11.00 – 12.30, Tuesday 21st February 2023...
Eight researchers from Irish Universities have been awarded under the European Research Council Consolidator Grant 2022 call, for a total value of approximately €16M. With projects ranging from gender violence to musicology, this amazing outcome will result in new research teams all over Ireland. ERC Consolidator Grants are aimed at distinguished scientist...
The DARE HEAR Application Information Online Sessions and Presentations took place on Saturday 14th January 2023. These webinars provided an opportunity students, parent(s)/ guardian(s) and guidance counsellors to meet members of the DARE and HEAR teams across the higher education sector online and find out how the schemes work. To access recordings of both ...
Following the recent publication of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, the IUA and EUA will co-host this event to raise further awareness at national level on the Agreement and the creation of the Coalition (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). We will explore and discuss the opportunities and challenges at national level of this...
The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office hosted a webinar on the MSCA Staff Exchange call which promotes innovative international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and innovation through exchanging staff and sharing knowledge and ideas. Exchanged staff benefit from new knowledge, skills and career development perspectives, while...
Applications for the 1916 Bursary Fund 2022-23 across 24 participating higher education institutions open today and close at 5pm Thursday 20 October 2022. Applications must be made online through participating colleges. Full details and guidelines on applying are available at the new website www.1916Bursary.ie The 1916 Bursary is a financial award, funded by...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes the launch today of the new National Access Plan 2022-2028, aimed at improving equity of access, participation and success in higher education for disadvantaged students over the coming six years. The Plan, which builds on the achievement of many years of widening participation for disadvantaged students across Iri...
IUA welcomes the findings of the National Survey of Staff Experiences of Bullying in Irish Higher Education Institutions report conducted by the DCU Anti Bullying Centre. The report provides not only insight into the prevalence of bullying and cyberbullying in our HEIs, but it also provides very interesting data into survey respondents’ experiences of witn...
The IUA welcomes the announcement of the results of the 2022 call for the European Universities Initiative (EUI). Six IUA Universities are members of the European Universities alliances – Dublin City University, NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, TU Dublin, University College Cork and University College Dublin, each with a range of long-term strategic ...
Delayed Leaving Cert results has negative knock on effects for Students and Parents Our universities will do their utmost to deal with the late Leaving Cert results and ensure that first years are supported in as far as possible. However, as a number of universities resume teaching from September 5th, it is clear that first year admissions will be del...
Are you interested in understanding more about how the universities can collaborate with Skillnet to develop and deliver programmes that address current and future skill needs and foster academia-enterprise partnerships? The Irish Universities Association, in association with Skillnet Ireland, hosted an online discussion event to hear from university collea...
On Friday May 20th 2022, in our first hybrid Future of Ireland event, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD gave his thoughts on the role of the universities in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis. Dr Cara Augustenborg then led a panel of experts in a discussion on greening the university footprint, contributing ...
The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office hosted a webinar on the MSCA Doctoral Networks call. The call is open to all disciplines and sectors and funds consortia of organisations (universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs, and other non-academic organisations) to implement doctoral training programmes. The objective of these networks is to trai...
The Irish Universities Association is pleased to offer an online policy dialogue workshop which will focus of the issue of leadership for strategic change and development in teaching and learning in European universities. This event is organised in the framework of the EUA-led project “Leadership and Organisation for Learning and Teaching at European Unive...
The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office hosted a webinar on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call for 2022. These Fellowships support researchers’ careers with a focus on training and skills development through excellent research and innovation projects. Researchers holding a PhD can carry out their research activities, acquire new skills and develop the...
The IUA welcomes the HEA Report that confirms a further improvement in progression rates for higher education students in 2019/20. While the overall non-progression rate is 9%, we note that it is lower still at just under 7% on average for the member universities of the IUA. This compares extremely well globally and is testament to the quality of our student...
The Irish Universities Association is pleased to announce the opening of applications for new senior academic positions funded under the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI). These posts were approved under the second cycle of the SALI scheme, and bring the total number of posts awarded under the initiative to date to thirty. Tony McMahon, Associate ...
IUA welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, of the second National Review of Gender Equality in higher education. The first such review, in 2016, was a watershed for Gender Equality in Higher Education, not just in Ireland, and this second review will provide the opport...
Statement following a meeting of Presidents of the universities represented by the IUA. As a community of universities, we are deeply shocked and outraged by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and condemn this unprovoked violence in the strongest possible terms. These actions are an assault on democracy and on the values of freedom, autonomy and respect that ...
Ready to face the challenge? New this Year Candidates will be offered training in public speaking by a professional in order to prepare their presentation! Participation All participants must be doctoral students at an Irish higher education or research institution and present their PhD thesis subject in French in 3 minutes (180 seconds), for a general and n...
The 1916 Bursary Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). The 1916 Bursary Fund was first announced by the Minister for Education and Skills on 30 December 2017 with the purpose of encouraging participation and success by students from sect...
The DARE HEAR Application Information Online Sessions and Presentations took place on Saturday 8th January 2022. These webinars provided an opportunity students, parent(s)/ guardian(s) and guidance counsellors to meet members of the DARE and HEAR teams across the higher education sector online and find out how the schemes work. You can still ask questions to...
To celebrate the International year of the Nurse and the midwife, the IUA Heads of Nursing and Midwifery group are hosting a seminar series which will run monthly throughout 2021 and 2022, to highlight the challenges, successes, research and innovations happening in academic and clinical settings nationally. This webinar on Monday, 29th November 2021, 12-1pm...
The Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office hosted a webinar on the MSCA Staff Exchange call 2021 (formerly MSCA RISE). This action promotes innovative international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and innovation through exchanging staff and sharing knowledge and ideas at all stages of the innovation chain. The event was open to a...
To celebrate the International year of the Nurse and the midwife, the IUA Heads of Nursing and Midwifery group are hosting a seminar series which will run monthly throughout 2021 and 2022, to highlight the challenges, successes, research and innovations happening in academic and clinical settings nationally. On October 22nd this seminar titled ‘Support...
IUA welcomes the publication of the report of the HEA survey on Race Equality in the Higher Education Sector. The evidence gathered by the survey, and the analysis and consideration of the issues raised in this report, along with the recommendations, provide a basis for universities to further develop policies and actions to address race inequality in higher...
The Irish Universities Association is delighted to launch Campus Living Labs, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a project aimed at reducing waste and increasing recycling on IUA University campuses. This two-year initiative, will design and deliver behavioural and infrastructural interventions targeting consumption and waste mana...
The Presidents of the higher education institutions represented by the IUA, THEA and HECA have joined together to urge college students to get vaccinated in advance of the start of the new academic year. The call comes on the back of the very encouraging uptake of vaccines by the younger age cohort. Latest data confirms that over 82% of the 16 to 29 age gro...
The higher education institutions represented by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, have joined together to announce their plans for a safe return to campuses this September with maximum on-site presence. The coordinated approach, which has th...
With the largest ever Irish student athlete, alumni and higher education staff involvement expected as part of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics the Irish Universities Association would like to congratulate and wish the very best of luck to all our university student athletes representing Team Ireland or their home country at the Games tomorrow. We hope tha...
IUA submission to the national development plan 2021
To celebrate the International year of the Nurse and the midwife, the IUA Heads of Nursing and Midwifery group are hosting a seminar series which will run monthly throughout 2021 and 2022, to highlight the challenges, successes, research and innovations happening in academic and clinical settings nationally. Each month a different HEI will host the seminar. ...
The IUA Part-Time/ Flexible Subgroup is composed of University and Institute of Technology representatives and other key stakeholders, to examine prevailing issues associated with part-time/ flexible higher education, and propose a set of principles to inform the development of a more coherent, systematic and viable approach. The resulting Position Paper ...
To celebrate the International year of the Nurse and the midwife, the IUA Heads of Nursing and Midwifery group are hosting a seminar series which will run monthly throughout 2021 and 2022, to highlight the challenges, successes, research and innovations happening in academic and clinical settings nationally. Each month a different HEI will host the seminar. ...
IUA welcome the announcement of 29 innovative research projects awarded under the third round of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar today. This Fund, established under Project Ireland 2040, drives collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base in the higher education sector w...
On Monday April 12th, ahead of the rescheduled Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, IUA welcomed a group of student athletes and sport and academic experts to discuss, Ensuring the Success of our Female Student Athletes. Keynote speaker Anna Geary and our panellists debated the current status of women in sport and the tangible actions needed by univ...
In recent years there has been a significant increase in initiatives aiming to encourage more women and girls in research, with the lack of visible female role models in science and technology continuing to be a major issue. Thus, to celebrate International Women’s Day we spoke to several female researchers in receipt of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MS...
For more information contact Kate Wood, Communications Officer, Irish Universities Association 01 676 4948...
The 30% Club has established partnerships with a number of learning institutions, including the seven IUA member universities, to address the under-representation of women pursuing postgraduate management education, by offering scholarships aimed at women. Through these partnerships, the 30% Club seeks to build a continuum of change, highlighting the impact ...
Back in 2015, the United Nations established February 11th as International Day of Women & Girls in Science to recognise the important role of women in science and technology and further gender equality and empowerment in these fields around the world. In order to achieve full and equal participation and access in science, technology, engineering and mat...
Irish universities support the development of talented student athletes and recognise their need to balance both sporting and academic commitments. Through university sport scholarship programmes students are rewarded for their dedication and skill and provide them further opportunity to shine. Today on International Day of University Sport IUA wants to high...
Higher Education Institutions in Ireland have unanimously welcomed the publication of the Implementation Guidelines for Public Health Measures in HEIs. The universities represented by the IUA, together with the Institutes of Technology represented by THEA, have joined with TU Dublin to welcome the clarity the Implementation Guidelines provide for the safe re...
The current health crisis, COVID-19, has shone a light on the civic spirit and hands-on approach of our third-level students to help fight the pandemic. It has had a profound impact on the student learning experience, many of whom have headed straight to the frontline to save lives, support statistical modelling, or contact trace. Students have, and are stil...
International Women in Engineering Day is an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of women in engineering and to show women and girls the diverse and exciting career opportunities available in this industry. As the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, critical skills shortages will emerge in the engineering and technology sectors. Th...
To celebrate World Environment Day 2020 we want to share some of the great environmental courses available in our universities as well as some of the research being conducted which aim to further our knowledge in this key area. The challenges associated with environmental change are being given growing priority, and there is now more than ever an increased d...
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Our universities have an incredible history of women making a difference to the higher education community as well as the wider, international community in which we work. However, across the globe, women are under-represented in the hi...
DCU: BA sa Gaeilge, Iriseoireacht agus Meáin Dhigiteacha (BA Irish, Journalism and Digital Media)...
In 2015, the United Nations established February 11th as International Day of Women & Girls in Science to recognise the important role of women in Science and further encourage girls’ participation in science around the world. In honour of this, the IUA and the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office today celebrate the achievements of female awardees. Th...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) has joined 36 other higher education and research organisations from across the European Union and the United Kingdom in a joint declaration of cooperation on research and student exchange. All 37 pan-European organisations have signed the statement calling on governments across Europe for their continued commitment t...
On International Day of Education we highlight how our education system is society’s greatest asset in tackling the world’s biggest challenge, climate change. The 2020 UN Celebration positions education and the learning it enables as humanity’s greatest renewable resource and reaffirms the role of education as a fundamental right and a public good. A k...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is happy to announce the expansion of the university scholarship scheme for the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE). Since 2015 more than 40 second-level students have been awarded entrance scholarships to their choice of IUA member universities – DCU, NUI Galway, MU, TCD, UCC, UCD and UL. ...
On International Migrants Day we highlight some of the researchers who have availed of EURAXESS Ireland services. EURAXESS Ireland offers free advice and assistance to migrant workers coming to live and work in Ireland as researchers in our Universities, IOTs and Industry. The office gives researchers and R&D personnel information on immigration, natural...
Launching UCD’s new five-year strategy today the Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, paid tribute to faculty and staff at UCD for “the great work that you do of enhancing the life chances of your students and indeed your graduates.” Referencing the four strategic themes set out in the plan, the Minister said “thes...
To celebrate International Volunteers Day 2019 Irish universities and institutes of technology have come together through the Campus Engage initiative to launch their first ever student volunteering annual report to highlight the activities and achievements of their students. “Student volunteers play such a constructive role in communities, often providi...
On Friday the 22nd of November five of our seven university members took away the awards for all categories at the 2020 gradireland Higher Education Awards & Symposium. Now in their ninth year, the awards are the blue riband event for higher education professionals, postgraduate admissions officers and course providers across the island of Ireland. For m...
The Presidents of Ireland’s seven universities, represented by the IUA, have called on the Government and the national research funding agencies to urgently address strategic deficiencies in how Irish research is funded, following the outcome of the latest European Research Council (ERC) funding programme. Only one Irish-based researcher was funded out o...
Minister McHugh has made clear that Fine Gael and the Government will not introduce student loans and will not increase fees. So, that tells us what the Minister will not do, we now need to hear what he and Fine Gael will do to solve the long-accepted funding crisis. The IUA would welcome a firm indication of what the Minister means by the “ultimate soluti...
As part of its submission the IUA, representing Ireland’s seven universities, is calling for €377m in funding across three key pillars to prepare universities for the looming demographic bulge in student numbers and the increasing demands of a knowledge economy. Commenting on the 2020 pre-budget submission, Jim Miley, Director General of the Irish Univer...
Irish Universities Association calls for increased investment across core funding and research and innovation...
The IUA welcomes the announcement of the Call for Proposals for the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI). Our member universities are enthusiastic about engaging in this positive initiative to address the gender imbalance at senior academic level. The SALI programme adds further to the efforts of universities to tackle gender imbalance which includes...
To mark World Refugee Day, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) are delighted to jointly welcome a rule change in the Department of Education and Skills Student Support Scheme for students living in direct provision, which will allow a greater number of young people in or having come through direct provision to gain a ...
As almost 124,000 Leaving and Junior Certificate students get ready to sit exams tomorrow (Wednesday), the Irish Universities Association is calling on the Government to set out a sustainable funding model to prepare for these and future generations of aspiring third level applicants. The numbers of students commencing exams are in the vanguard of a highly s...
Irish University Researchers Working with the Public to Address our Greatest Societal Challenges On Monday, 27 May, 2019, Campus Engage and the Irish Research Council will bring together civic, civil society organisations, researchers, social entrepreneurs, Government Department officials and funding agencies to discuss how we can better work together to ...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the pledge by the government in the National Planning Framework “Project Ireland 2040” to invest €2.2 billion in capital expenditure in the higher education sector over the next decade. This marks a significant milestone for the sector following almost a decade of under-investment in the building facili...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes Minister Bruton’s announcement today of €29.6 million investment by the Irish Research Council in ‘frontier research’ projects. Thirty-six researchers will receive funding under the Irish Research Council’s new Laureate Awards to conduct ground-breaking research in the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and...
IUA congratulates the universities who took home 6 awards in the Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) Impact Awards at a ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham today. The KTI Impact Awards recognise and showcase the success in knowledge transfer carried out in Irish Higher Education Institutions and publicly funded research organisations. The awards acknowled...
Biggest EU Funding drawdown to date of €12.9million for Innovative Training Network Call in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions / Horizon 2020 Today (Wednesday June 20th 2018) is World Refugee Day, held every year to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. The latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, show that at ...
TCD Release: A charter to promote gender equality in the university sector was formally launched by Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor at an event hosted by Trinity College Dublin this morning (May 15th, 2019). Designed to promote stronger action on gender equality and research, the SAGE Charter of Principles for Gender Equa...
Ibec, ICTU, USI, American Ireland and British Irish Chamber of Commerce support Irish Universities Association calls for action on funding Saturday April 27th: The top leadership of the employers union, trades unions, student unions and industry representative bodies have today called for government action on the long-awaited reform of the funding of Irish u...
Presidents and Vice-Chancellors of ten universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have met at Queen’s University Belfast. At this meeting, all universities confirmed their commitment to collaborating, on an all-island basis, across a broad range of research and education initiatives. This includes proposals for a new All-Island Doctoral T...
Breaking news Paris 11th April 10:15: The Irish Universities Association (IUA) are delighted to announce the election this morning of former President of University College Cork, Prof. Michael Murphy as the first ever Irish President of the European University Association (EUA). The announcement was made following election by representatives of all member u...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the announcement today by Ministers Joe McHugh and John Halligan of €12 million investment by the Irish Research Council in ground-breaking, basic research projects. Twelve researchers will each receive a maximum of €1million funding under the Irish Research Council’s Advanced Laureate Awards to conduct...
Indecon research identifies an average wage premium of 38% – 43% for university graduates over those with no formal education and a large cash payback to the State from investment in universities Universities generate €386 million per annum in export earnings and €1.5 billion in R&D impacts....
The IUA signed an agreement in Jakarta today with the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (MoRTHE) in Indonesia to participate in its overseas scholarship programme as a trusted partner. The programme places PhD candidates into Irish Universities who are currently lecturing in Indonesian Universities. The agreement is for 5 years and the...
“Universities in receipt of US federal funding are required to submit audited financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP to the US Dept. of Education within six months of the institution’s financial year-end. However, it is not currently possible for Irish universities to comply with this deadline as they are required to have their accounts...
The IUA welcomes the unanimous vote from Galway City Councillors which calls on the government to act on the Cassells Report and provide a sustainable funding model for third level education. Councillors are well placed to understand the real pressures that students and families are under as a result of a decade of under-funding and know how important univer...
Opportunities for Ireland in new European Universities Initiative also outlined by EU Commissioner for Education Tuesday 29th January – The Irish universities sector is one of just two European countries with a third level system ‘in danger’ resulting from a shortfall in funding and increased student numbers, according to European research presente...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is dismayed by the latest developments in Hungary involving attacks on university autonomy and academic freedom, resulting in the Central European University (CEU) moving a large part of its activities out of Hungary from the 2019-20 academic year. The IUA echoes calls from other concerned observers for the Hungarian ...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) today welcomed the Report of the Gender Equality Taskforce Action Plan 2018-2020. The IUA is fully committed to working with the Minister and Department of Education and Skills to implement the recommendations arising from the Report in order to bring about meaningful and sustainable change in gender equality in unive...
IUA warns inaction could lead to a serious drop in quality or a shortfall in places for students in the future Ireland’s seven universities have today (October 15th, 2018) launched a major campaign aimed at encouraging the public to demand that the Government tackles the funding crisis in third level education. State funding per third level student in Irel...
State funding per student remains virtually unchanged as the small allocation of extra funds is mopped up by increasing student numbers. State funding per third level student in Ireland at €5,000 is a fraction of that in Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, countries with whom we are in competition for investment. Jim Miley, Director Gener...
Students and staff unions join with third-level representative bodies to demand government response Dublin (27 September) In an unprecedented move, unions representing students and teaching staff have joined forces with the representative bodies of universities and institutes of technology to call on the government to respond to the growing crisis in higher ...
Commitment to six-point plan to achieve a sustainable, competitive university system for Ireland’s future talent. Ireland’s seven universities have today (September 17th, 2018) committed to a Charter to grow and develop the university education system for this and future generations of students. Ireland’s Future Talent – A Charter for Irish Uni...
The Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE) operates as a shared service funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for institutions under its remit and is co-sponsored by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The national partnership is seeking to a...
State’s future tied to adequate investment to ensure educational opportunity for all Jim Miley, Director General, Irish Universities Association As featured in the Opinion section of the Irish Times 06.07.18...
€130m increase in core current funding and €104m lift in capital investment. Future economic competitiveness threatened by government inaction. Budget 2019 must be used to inject essential resources into our universities according to Jim Miley Director General of the Irish Universities Association. “This Budget must urgently address the underlying qual...
Today is World Refugee Day. Held every year on June 20th it commemorates the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the public to show support for families forced to flee. The latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, show that at least 65.6 million people have been forcib...
(Biggest EU Funding drawdown to date of €12.9million for Innovative Training Network Call in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions / Horizon 2020) Today (Wednesday June 20th 2018) is World Refugee Day, held every year to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. The latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, show that a...
There has been an alarming fall in global rankings of Irish universities, a measure of our international reputation. From having 2 universities in the top 100, Ireland now has none in contrast to similar sized countries in Europe. Despite the ambition of having the best education system in the EU by 2026, there has been a decade of under-investment. The publ...
Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor today launched a new guide for the higher education sector to help institutions to measure the impact of their engagement with Government, civil society, community organisations and the public. This new guide will assist HEIs to map, measure, and report on an expanding variety of engagement act...
Universities are buzzing about bee research May 20th 2018 is the first ever World Bee Day. An initiative of the United Nations, it aims to highlight the importance of preserving bees and other pollinators and to ask everyone to take concrete actions to preserve and protect them. Bee populations in Ireland and across the globe have significantly decreased, m...
May 20th 2018 is the first ever World Bee Day. An initiative of the United Nations, it aims to highlight the importance of preserving bees and other pollinators and to ask everyone to take concrete actions to preserve and protect them. Bee populations in Ireland and across the globe have significantly decreased, making them more and more endangered. Of the 1...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes a new report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on progression rates. The latest data continues to show very strong levels of progression of first year students to second year with 86% of the 2014/15 first year undergraduate new entrants in publicly funded higher education institutions progressing to second ye...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes a new report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on progression rates. The latest data continues to show very strong levels of progression of first year students to second year with 86% of the 2014/15 first year undergraduate new entrants in publicly funded higher education institutions progressing to second ye...
Universities take home 6 awards in the Knowledge Transfer Ireland Impact Awards The Irish Universities Association congratulates the universities who took home 6 awards in the Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) Impact Awards at a ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The KTI Impact Awards recognise and showcase the success in knowledge transfer carried ou...
In the University of Limerick today (27th April 2pm) Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor will launch a report “Enhancing Mobility for Access Students Ireland” and online resource mobilitytookit.ie for higher education institutions in Ireland to widen student participation in international mobility opportunities, such as Erasmu...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is the representative organisation for the seven Irish Universities. The IUA is the voice of the university sector and is committed to: clearly and publicly articulating the importance and value of university education acting as an advocate for the university system providing effective liaison and dialogue with the...
Further to the recent decision to provide additional places in post primary initial teacher education programmes, the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. wishes to remind eligible graduates and undergraduates that there is still time to apply for entry to programmes in the priority subject areas of STEM (Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Ph...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes today’s announcement by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. of €29.6 million investment by the Irish Research Council in ‘frontier research’ projects. Thirty-six researchers will receive funding under the Irish Research Council’s new Laureate Awards to conduct ground-breaking research in...
Irish Universities Association launches 10 scholarships of €1000 available to Irish Students for summer school/internship in Beijing, China in 2018. Applications open on www.iua.ie/international on Friday 30th March. Over 570 Irish students studied in China in 2016 across a number of disciplines and in various cities. To further strengthen the links betwee...
Post primary undergraduate and postgraduate courses expanded for Targeted Subject areas of STEM, Irish and Foreign Languages The Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. today announced, following consultation with the Irish Universities Association, an expansion of the number of places on post primary teacher education courses at both undergra...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the pledge by the government in the National Planning Framework “Project Ireland 2040” to invest €2.2 billion in capital expenditure in the higher education sector over the next decade. This marks a significant milestone for the sector following almost a decade of under-investment in the building facili...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the publication of the HEA’s report “What Do Graduates Do? – The Class of 2016”. This report, which is an analysis of the first destinations of the 2016 class of university graduates, shows clearly the high levels of employability among Irish university graduates. Following on the trend of the last te...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes the publication of the Expert Panel Report on the Review of the Allocation Model for Higher Education Funding. The government has set out its initial response and we look forward to working with the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority to develop the detailed implementation of...
In his most recent role as Business to Consumer Director of The Irish Times, he led the successful launch and development of its digital subscription service. He was Project Director of the government funded Gathering 2013, following a decade as co-founder and CEO of MyHome.ie. He was previously General Secretary of Fine Gael and Chief Executive of Dublin Ch...
35,850 students took part in the 2017 Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE) – a national survey of students in twenty-seven public higher education institutions – bringing the total number of responses to more than 125,000 since the survey was introduced in 2013. The Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE) is designed to ask students directly a...
Dublin, Wednesday 22 November 2017: The IUA has announced that Jim Miley has been appointed to its newly created role of Director General. Mr. Miley has extensive experience across a variety of commercial and public-sector roles and brings a wealth of organisational and marketing experience to the IUA at a time of significant change and challenge for the se...
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D., Minister of State for Higher Education, today 2nd of November, 2017, launched an online resource to assist higher level institutions to create effective student retention strategies and to enhance student experiences. The Online Resource for Learning Analytics (ORLA) was developed by the National Forum for the Enhancement of...
Freephone Exam Helpline 1800 265 165 opens Wednesday 16th August to support Leaving Certificate students Hosted by the National Parents’ Council Post Primary (NPCpp), the helpline will open on Wednesday, 16th August to offer advice, information and support to the 60,000 Leaving Certificate students receiving their exam results. The 1800 265 165 Free...
The Irish Universities Association welcomes today’s Ministerial announcement of a comprehensive review of the National Training Fund. The terms of reference for the review support a commitment to greater transparency in the use of the fund and the determination of its expenditure priorities. We welcome the fact that the potential of the fund to contribute ...
Enhancement of learning and teaching has become a core priority for higher education. Many institutions are discussing innovative teaching methods on how to enhance curricula and improve students’ learning experience while several European countries have launched national initiatives in that field. The EU-funded EFFECT project support universities i...
From the 19th – 25th June 2017, the Irish Universities Association welcomed a group of senior academics from a number of Central American universities and higher education stakeholders on an Erasmus plus co-funded project called HICA. A highlight of the group’s two day Dublin visit was a reception held for them at Áras an Uachtaráin by President Michae...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) would like to express its deepest sympathy on the sudden death of Professor Patrick Johnston, Vice-Chancellor of Queens University Belfast. Professor Johnston, along with the 7 IUA University Presidents, and Prof Paddy Nixon of Ulster University was a member of Universities Ireland, founded in 2003 by the nine univers...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is the representative organisation for the seven Irish Universities. The IUA brings the university sector together to: • clearly and publicly articulate the importance and value of higher education • act as an advocate for the university system • provide effective liaison and dialogue with the State and its agen...
The Universities’ Right-Hand Man: Ned Costello on Loans, Leadership and Brexit. Kathleen McNamee FEATURES EDITOR The IUA is a key lobby group in the ongoing higher education debate and Ned Costello, its CEO, has big ideas about what the sector should look like. It was only around the corner from the offices of the Irish Universities Association (IUA) tha...
Irish researchers have just won €10 million in EU research funding according to recent results issued from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA). The funding will support the development of research talent across all sectors of the economy, creating 100 high-value research jobs in companies, civil society organisation...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA’s) Vice-Presidents and Deans of Research (VPDOR) Group moved to Brussels for one of its regular meetings on 31st January 2017. Facilitated by Enterprise Ireland under its Horizon 2020 liaison programme, the meeting is part of a two-day itinerary set up to enable the VPDOR to meet with key EC officials to discuss thei...
New phase will strengthen the knowledge transfer system in Ireland Funding programme will simplify the process of engagement for industry with public research Enterprise Ireland has approved the third phase of its Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative (TTSI) which serves to bolster the capability within the knowledge transfer system in Ireland. This ...
Launch of report “Engaged Research – Society & Higher Education Working Together to Address Grand Societal Challenges”....
Every year in Ireland thousands of students from our universities and institutes of technology carry out over 100,000 hours of volunteering. Ten third level colleges have now joined forces to develop studentvolunteer.ie – a brand new online resource which matches students’ interests with volunteering opportunities. The portal is the first of its kind...
Celebrating 20 years of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are Minister of State John Halligan with Jennifer Brennan and Suzanne Miller-Delaney from the Irish Marie Skłodowska-Curie Office. Minister Halligan joins Marie Curie and colleagues to mark 20 years of EU funding for business, academic and community-engaged research. Named after the Polish-born Nobel...
Opening Statement by Professor Don Barry, Chair, Irish Universities Association 1. Introduction On behalf of my colleague members of Council, I am grateful to the Committee for the opportunity to discuss the funding of Higher Education. We welcome the report of the Expert Group on the Future Funding of Higher Education and endorse its findings. We would also...
This morning in Beijing Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University and incoming Chair of IUA, signed a cooperation agreement with the China Education Association for International Exchange. The agreement will develop a joint working group involving the following areas; Information sharing, staff and student exchange, staff development, resea...
Budget 2017 announced that work is to commence on a new multi-annual funding model for higher education. For 2017, the published estimates show a 4% increase in the allocation for higher education. IUA Chair, Professor Don Barry said: “for the first time in almost a decade, we are seeing a turn in the tide of higher education funding. After years of cutbac...
The latest THE rankings simply confirm the decline already evidenced in the QS league table. The position is well summed up by THE’s Phil Baty: “Ireland is one of the lowest investors in higher education among all OECD countries and you simply cannot sustain world-class universities on the cheap.” While rankings are only one perspective on the standing...
The continued slide of the Irish Universities in the QS World University Rankings should be greeted with alarm. Strenuous efforts on the part of the universities has resulted in strong performance on some measures in the rankings such as those relating to research citations and internationalisation of the staff and student cohort. Unfortunately, this good wo...
The EUA official statement can be viewed here: https://www.eua.be/activities-services/news/newsitem/2016/07/19/eua-statement-condemning-the-forced-resignation-of-1577-university-deans...
IRISH MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE OFFICE: Ireland has secured over €57 million in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation projects which support the development of research talent across all sectors of the economy. Around 400 high-value research jobs and studentships will be created in these projects. They are funded by the ...
11th July 2016: The Irish Universities Association welcomes the publication of the report of the Expert Group chaired by Mr Peter Cassells. IUA Chair, Professor Don Barry commented “I wish to commend the work undertaken by Peter Cassells and his colleagues on this issue of vital national importance. The report is an excellent example of evidence based pol...
In the period of uncertainty following the recent UK referendum to leave the European Union, the Irish universities collectively wish to reassure all UK students currently enrolled in an Irish university that they will continue to enjoy the same conditions as other EU students regarding fees and contributions, for the duration of their degree. The Irish univ...
IUA welcomes the report of an Expert Group commissioned by the HEA to undertake a national review of gender equality in higher education institutions was launched today. The Expert Group was chaired by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. IUA looks forward to examining the report and its recommendations in detail. The report can be downloaded below: HEA-Review-Gen...
Students must be centrally involved in decision-making processes in higher education institutions. That’s according to the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which today (14.04.16) published the report of the Working Group on Student Engagement in Irish Higher Education. The Working Group was established by the HEA in 2014 to develop a set of principles t...
The Irish Universities Association expresses its support for the Government’s new research and innovation strategy. IUA Research Vice Presidents Group Chair, Professor Orla Feely[1] said: “I welcome the publication of the strategy today. It sets out a strong ambition for Ireland as a leader in innovation, underpinned by the excellence, talent and impac...
A National Framework for Doctoral Education was launched in Dublin on June 24th 2015. The development of this Framework was a recommendation from the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 (2011) and the National Prioritisation Research Exercise report (2011). The Framework was developed by QQI and the HEA with key stakeholders including IUA, IOT...
Irish Universities Association STATEMENT 29th April 2015 The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes and supports the announcement, by Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D, of the most significant reform of Leaving Certificate grades and the points system in the last 20 years. Prof. Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University and ...
MEDIA RELEASE May 2015 Universities agree revised model for converting A-Level grades to Leaving Certificate points The Irish Universities have agreed a revised model for converting A-Level grades to Leaving Certificate points for the purposes of entry to universities in the Republic of Ireland. Under the new model, which will be applied in 2016, the points ...
The Irish Universities Association is delighted to announce that all 7 Irish Universities will offer up to 350 ‘Generation Study Abroad’ scholarships to the value of $400,000 to students from the United States of America for entry 2016. The purpose of these scholarships to is support and encourage American students to gain an international experience th...
The Irish Universities Association wishes to extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the students who lost their lives or were injured in Berkeley California. Our thoughts are also with the staff and students of UCD, DIT and IADT where many of the students studied. If you wish to express your sympathy an online book of condolence is no...
13 November 2014: Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) has issued an open call for comments on The National IP Protocol entitled “Putting public research to work for Ireland” and its implementation in practice. The Protocol can be found at https://www.knowledgetransferireland.com/About_KTI/Reports-Publications/The-National-IP-Protocol.pdf. Issuing the ca...
Nearly 20,000 Students Provide Feedback in National Survey to Enhance their Higher Education Experience The results of a national survey of third level students, published today (Tuesday 4th November 2014), will help Irish higher education institutions to enhance the quality of education they provide. Over 19,800 students across 30 higher education institu...
IRISH MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE 17 October 2014 Irish SMEs and Higher Education Institutions collaborate in €9.1 million Horizon 2020 Success Research collaborations between Irish SMEs and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have secured over €9.1 million in the first outcomes from the Horizon 2020 EU research and innovation programme...
Press Release from IUA Symposium ‘21st Century Universities: Performance and Sustainability’ Dublin, September 29th, 2014 − A major International Symposium to be held in Dublin today, will throw the spotlight on a growing crisis in Irish Higher Education. The symposium, 21st Century Universities: Performance and Sustainability organised by the Irish ...
Lorraine McIrath, co-ordinator of CKI at NUI Galway, and member of Campus Engage Steering Committee, has been awarded €345,000 for an innovative EU project – Europe Engage. The project will deliver a number of key objectives to encourage a culture of civic engagement through the mainstreaming community-based learning as a Higher Education pedagogical...
Press Release – 16th June 2014 At a landmark event in Dublin Castle today 20 Presidents of Higher Education Institutions came together as leaders of higher education in Ireland, to publicly sign up to the 10 point Campus Engage Charter on Civic and Community Engagement. Under the charter the presidents underscore their commitment to the civic and com...
IUA Statement – 4th June 2014 The Minister for Research and Innovation Mr Sean Sherlock TD today welcomed the launch of a National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland. Ireland sits close to the world’s top research performing nations, in terms of research quality and impact related to its size and this policy statement aims to ...
Please note that the National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland has been updated as of 2019. You can access the updated policy here....
Today’s announcement represents the delivery of a key commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is a significant step in making it easier to commercialise, and ultimately create jobs from, ideas developed through publicly funded research, which currently receives total funding of over €800 million per year. The key service offered is a web-portal t...
Following a review of the executive management structure of the IUA, the Directors have taken a decision to restructure the organisation to ensure its alignment with the needs of our member Universities and to ensure its long-term organisational sustainability. On foot of that review, the Research Office within IUA is being restructured. The immediate outcom...
A more focused curriculum and improved learning through Threshold Concepts 12th Feb 2014 A new NAIRTL publication encourages teachers in Higher Education to focus on building students’ understanding of key concepts rather than teaching an ever expanding list of topics. This approach is more suited to creating high quality, engaged graduates. Featuring inte...
On behalf of the staff of the IUA I wish to express our regret at the untimely loss of Sean Flynn, Irish Times Education Editor. A graduate of UCD, he took up the post of education correspondent in 1999 and was at all times an informed and influential commentator and critic of higher education in Ireland. We had a very good working relationship with Sean o...
A new national survey of third level students, launched today (Friday 13 December 2013), will help Irish higher education institutions to enhance the quality of education they provide by asking students in detail about their experiences. This fully national survey is the first system-wide survey of its kind in Europe and will be rolled out by participating...
An action plan for participation of the Irish universities in Horizon 2020 was launched today by Minister for Research and Innovation Mr Sean Sherlock T.D. as part of the national launch of the European Union’s new Horizon 2020 Programme. Horizon 2020 Sustaining Excellence in University Research and Innovation 10.12.13 The action plan entitled “Horizon 2...
Deadline: 1st November 2013. 12 noon. Full details of jobs available by clicking on the links below: Learning Technologist Education Developer...
The establishment of the Office of Government Procurement is a key element in the Government’s Reform Programme. Procurement will deliver significant savings to the State by establishing new centre-led structures and by driving a programme of collaborative savings projects across the state sector, including Higher Education. The recently-appointed Chief Pr...
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) today announces the appointment of Alison Campbell as Director of Technology Transfer. Dr Campbell will head up the soon to be established central Technology Transfer Office at Enterprise Ireland, which will act as a focal point for the development of commercialisation in the universities and wider public research s...
The Irish Universities Association has appointed Kate Morris as Campus Engage National Coordinator. Campus Engage is a platform for the promotion of civic engagement activities in Irish higher education, and is funded by the Irish government through the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Campus Engage is open to all higher education institutions in Ireland, a...
On June 24th a major conference was held in NUI Maynooth on “Supporting a better transition from second-level into higher education”. The conference, organised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in partnership with the IUA focused on three themes: How to address problematic predictability...
The IUA wishes to announce changes to the HPAT-Ireland examination which is used for entry to all undergraduate medical courses at Irish Higher Education Institutions. The main focus of these changes is to enhance equity of access and transparency. The changes are as follows: Change 1: Revised Weighting of HPAT- Ireland Test Sections. Effective from 2014 The...
There are currently over 1500 Saudi Arabian students in Ireland studying and preparing for higher education under the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme. With their accompanying family members that number grows to over 3600. This represents a dramatic increase over the last 3 years from a couple of hundred students in 2009. According to UNESCO the King Ab...
Media Release Irish Presidency Conference on Researcher Careers and Mobility Dublin Castle, Tuesday, 14 May 2013 Ireland is playing an important part in helping the EU meet it targets for the creation of high-value jobs according to Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD. The Minister was speaking at a conference, hosted by the Irish Presiden...
MEDIA RELEASE 14th May 2013 Launch of study: “Attracting Researchers to Ireland: The Impact of the Scientific Visa” Ireland’s reputation as an innovation hub has been given a boost by the introduction of a fast-track scientific visa, a new survey of internationally mobile researchers reveals. The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Scien...
Media Release Tuesday, 14 May 2013 An important new web resource for business detailing R&D funding opportunities and jobs was launched today by Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr. Sean Sherlock TD. The new resource is an extension of the www.euraxess.ie portal and is specifically dedicated to business. The portal brings together a number of import...
The Irish Universities Association is delighted to announce the first call for Irish Universities to welcome Brazilian students to Ireland on 1 year study abroad programmes. Media Release February 19th 2013 The Irish Universities Association is delighted to announce the first call for Irish Universities to welcome Brazilian students to Ireland on 1 year stud...
IUA is one of 20 organisations that have backed the National Principles on Open Access Policy Statement launched on Oct 23rd 2012 at the Digital Repository of Ireland Conference in Croke Park by Sean Sherlock, Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research &am...
Meet representatives from the 7 Irish universities at the Education in Ireland fair in India during late November and early December 2012. Locations include Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai. Full details of these fairs will be available on the Education Ireland website. Bangalore Orchid Hall, The Oberoi Hotel, MG Road, Bangalore 24 November, 2012 – 11:0...
On September 6th The universities of Ireland, North and South, conferred an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) on Charles F. “Chuck” Feeney, founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies. The degree was conferred to give public honour and thanks to Chuck Feeney for his incredible support of the Irish universities over the past twenty years. It was also conferre...
IUA Op Ed for Irish Examiner August 22 2012 “Pointing the Way” Education is an immensely powerful force which enriches lives and is the cornerstone of civilised society. Ireland has a rich tradition of respect for education. One of our great successes has been the progressive democratisation of education, turning both second (and subsequently t...
The European Commission has today announced the final and biggest ever set of calls for proposals for research under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In total, €8.1 billion will support projects and ideas that will boost Europe’s competitiveness and tackle issues such as human health, protecting the environment and finding new solutions to grow...
Government of Ireland Scholarships to attract high calibre Indian students to Irish Universities Announcement of Winners….. IUA are delighted to announce the following Government of Ireland Scholarship Holders coming to study at one of Irelands seven universities: Hazim Hamza Amrita Manohar Nikhil Dubey Jayant Saksena Srishti Devarajan Madasamy Shanmug...
At a ceremony in Dublin Castle today (June 21st), An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D. will present aPublic Service Excellence Award to two college admission schemes the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) . The awards, which seek out improvements and innovative activities from the public sector, recognise t...
All projects involving Irish research organisations were recently awarded funding by the European Marie Curie research funding programme – International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The key aim of IRSES is to help researchers worldwide set-up or strengthen long-term cooperation with each other. Researchers in Ireland will now have th...
The overall global satisfaction rate of international students studying across 16 countries who participated in the International Student Barometer (ISB) was 88% with Ireland’s 7 universities ahead on 91%. Areas where the universities collectively scored significantly higher than the international average were Student Support, Language Support, Careers S...
Job Spec – Irish Marie Curie Office – National Contact Point Position: Marie Curie National Contact Point Organisation The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is the representative body of the seven Irish universities. The IUA seeks to advance university education and research through the formulation and pursuit of collective p...
The Irish Universities Association today welcomed the revisions contained in the redrafted Employment Control Framework. Chief Executive, Ned Costello said: “the revisions acknowledge that the response to the national financial crisis must be balanced by according universities the flexibility to manage their resources to best effect.” A key change is the...
REVISED EMPLOYMENT CONTROL FRAMEWORK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR The Ministers for Education and Skills and Public Expenditure and Reform have approved a revised Employment Control Framework (ECF) for the Higher Education Sector. This revised ECF confirms the previous clarifications provided by the Higher Education Authority and Department of Education and S...
IUA Press Release Clearing Obstacles for Researchers to drive National Recovery through R&D...
4th April 2011, 1.30-6pm Royal College of Physicians, No 6 Kildare St Dublin Promotional Leaflet – in Arabic Schedule of events 1.30pm: Opening address by Dr Hesham Khadawardi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau 1.45pm: IUA welcome 2pm – 6pm: Exhibition begins in Graves Room 2pm – 6pm: Discipline information sessions in Corrigan Room 6pm...
Irish Universities Education Fair for Saudi Arabian Students On April 4th the 7 universities will host an Education Fair for over 700 Saudi Arabian further education students who are considering their higher education options. The majority of students are government sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Ministry for Higher Education under the King Abdullah Scholar...
Enterprise Ireland Press Release Ministers Quinn and Bruton launch new International Brand for Education in Ireland The Minister for Education and Skills Mr Ruairí Quinn T.D. and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. today (24/03/2011) jointly launched “Education in Ireland” – the new umbrella brand for marketing...
IUA warmly welcomes the Student Support Act 2011, passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law by President MacAleese on 2nd February 2011. The existing arrangements for processing grants are hugely fragmented and needed radical overhaul, especially in light of ever growing demand for higher education. The new student grant scheme, which should be in place f...
IUA Welcomes HE Strategy Report The Irish Universities Association welcomes the publication of the report of the National Strategy Group on Higher Education. The report sets out a strategic framework for the development of Higher Education which establishes important parameters for how Higher Education in Ireland should evolve in light of the economic and de...
RIAN.ie – Ireland’s new Research Publications Portal was launched today by Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan T.D. The launch is the highlight of Ireland’s contribution to ‘International Open Access Week’. Open access is an international movement to increase the global knowledge base. Research knows no borders and...
The IUA welcomes the announcement of €358m funding for research through the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). Speaking today Ned Costello (CEO) stated that “in the midst of a major recession this is an investment to maintain the future competitiveness of Ireland. It will build on the €866m already invested over the past 10 ye...
DCU Press Release Vision based on transformation, enterprise, translation and engagement Enterprise Advisory Board, Early Stage Seed Fund, Nobel Laureate lecture series announced “Shrinking budgets and increased demands threaten quality of education – we must be agile, distinctive and relevant, and we must find diversified income” Dublin City Unive...
Mary Coughlan TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, today welcomed the report of the Project Maths Implementation Support Group – an industry/education partnership set up to examine how best stakeholders from business, second level and higher education can work together to achieve the objectives of Project Maths. Project Maths is a program...
Formal launch October 20th 2010 – Convention Centre Dublin. Ireland’s new national portal for Irish ‘Open Access’ published research goes live today. RIAN – https://www.rian.ie will act as a single point of access to [open access] national research output, and contains content harvested from the institutional repositories o...
The Irish Universities Association expresses its concern at recent statements calling into question the quality of Irish university graduates. The general implication of these statements that the grades awarded to students are unmerited is largely based on the fact that the proportion of students achieving higher grades has increased over time. This detracts...
In the face of declining Exchequer allocations this year, the Universities have pursued a wide range of measures to achieve savings, value for money, and reduce dependence on the Exchequer. These measures will continue to pay dividends in 2010 and help mitigate the further reduction in government funding for higher education. Overall funding for higher educa...
IUA Chief Executive Ned Costello said; “this is a critical portfolio with huge significance for the future growth of Ireland and Europe. The Commissioner will be responsible for the multiannual Framework Programme and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT).” Through the Smart Economy and the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innov...
The seven university Presidents expressed their surprise at the statement in the Renewed Programme that the Government will not proceed with any new scheme of student contribution, given the need to invest in higher education and stimulate economic growth. The IUA (Irish Universities Association) has stressed the need for a better balance between individual ...
IUA Chief Executive Ned Costello welcomed the improvements in the standing of Irish Universities in the Times Higher rankings. “OECD data shows that Irish higher education produces above average performance with a below average level of resources”, he said. These latest rankings from the Times Higher are clear evidence that our universities are continu...
The campaign to attract more students with disabilities to Higher Education has been given a boost as President Mary McAleese lends her support. The President sent the following message: “It gives me great pleasure to send my best wishes to the Disability Access Route to Education initiative. Through the DARE initiative, the participating third-level insti...
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), aimed at all school leavers with disabilities, is being launched by the seven universities, Athlone IT, DIT, National College of Ireland and the Mater Dei Institute of Education. This supplementary admissions scheme recognises the impact of disability on educational attainment and on progression to higher ed...
The Presidents of the seven universities today expressed their strong collective support for Ireland’s positive engagement at the heart of the European Union, in the context of the coming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. “It is now more vital than ever to secure the effective functioning of the Union and Ireland’s place within it”, they said. The...
European Commission Director General for Research launches euraxess.ie web portal for researchers in Ireland
Third Level Access Scheme extends to all secondary schools The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is being extended by the seven universities, DIT and the seven colleges of education from 305 to all 730 secondary schools in Ireland. The scheme will broaden access opportunities to third level education for school leavers from disadvantaged socio-economic ba...
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The IUA welcomes the support of the Taoiseach and Government for the initiative taken by Trinity College and University College Dublin to develop an Innovation Alliance. The Universities have recently written to the Taoiseach expressing their commitment to Government’s plans for the Smart Economy and indicating how they can help drive those plans forward. ...
The IUA requires an Administrative Assistant to provide support for the organisation which currently employs 14 members of staff. The position will be based at the IUA Office on 48 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Duties will include, but can not be limited to carrying out such secretarial, clerical and administrative work as may be required including – General R...
The IUA now invites applications for the position of IUA Access Project Manager. Based at the IUA office on Merrion Square, the person appointed will report to the IUA Director – Academic Affairs and will work in concert with the Project Advisory Group and other key stakeholder groups. This is a fixed term contract, ending June 2010. A secondment arrangem...
“The Irish Universities Association welcomes the commencement of the process to develop a long term strategy for higher education within a tightly focused timeframe. “We are especially glad to see that the process is to have a strong international, forward looking dimension. This initiative represents an opportunity to ensure our higher education...
University Presidents met today to consider the implications of the Budget/Estimates 2009. Speaking after a meeting of the IUA Council, President Dr Hugh Brady said: “while the budgetary decisions will challenge us all, we appreciate the Minister’s efforts to sustain investment in higher education in challenging circumstances”. We look forward to wor...
Universities welcome increased focus by Joint Committee on the future of higher education The Irish Universities today had an extensive exchange of views with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science. Speaking after the meeting IUA Chief Executive Ned Costello said: “we were glad to have the opportunity to meet with the committee. It was an ...
The Presidents of the Seven Universities today called on the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Batt O’Keeffe to commit to a new “bold and imaginative” approach to the funding of Irish Higher Education. The Presidents noted the success of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, as shown by recent high tech jobs announce...
Research Information Systems Conference: a look at EU Best Practice Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Jimmy Devins will today open a Research Information Systems Conference at the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. The conference is an integral part of the Irish Universities Association (IUA) project to develop a national research ...
The President of UCD and IUA, Dr. Hugh Brady, today launched the Irish Universities Study. Using advanced internet survey techniques the longitudinal study will capture key information from undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers in our universities. Areas covered include the education experience, economic expectations, per...
The President of UCD and IUA, Dr. Hugh Brady, today launched the Irish Universities Study. Using advanced internet survey techniques the longitudinal study will capture key information from undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers in our universities. Areas covered include the education experience, economic expectations, per...
4th March 2008. The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) will be officially launched in Brussels today in a move designed to improve the quality of European higher education and to promote greater student mobility. The new register is a landmark for European cooperation in quality assurance of higher education in the context of t...
The Governing Authority (Údarás na hOllscoile) of National University of Ireland, Galway has today (15 February 2008) announced the appointment of Professor Jim Browne (55) as the incoming President of the University. Currently Registrar and Deputy-President at NUI Galway, Professor Browne’s appointment will come into effect on 6 March 2008. Professor Br...
Press Release – Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science, 6th Dec 2007 Extra investment in teachers, classrooms, school funding & higher education “Extra investment of more than €690 million in education next year will enable us to put about 1,200 extra teachers in place, to deliver improvements in school buildings, and to increase day-...
Over 70 years after her death, Marie Curie is helping Irish researchers carry out ground breaking work due to a funding programme that bears her name. The Marie Curie ‘People’ Programme, as part of the EU’s Framework Programme 7 for R&D (FP7), was launched today by the Irish Universities Association. The aim of the launch is to encourag...
The Board of Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC) is delighted to announce that Dr Ruth Barrington has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr Barrington will take up the position on 1st October 2007, following the end of her contract with the Health Research Board, where she has been a very successful CEO for nine years. Welcoming Dr...
€8.5 million is being provided to ensure that ideas, research and technology generated in Irish Universities and Colleges are used to keep Irish companies at the cutting edge of the knowledge economy, according to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The funding, announced at University College Cork as part of the IUA Council meeting, will al...
At its meeting of 2 April, the Council of Irish Universities Association considered the recent report by the Royal Irish Academy “Advancing Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Ireland”. Council President and Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr John Hegarty remarked: “the report paints a convincing picture of the value of HSS resear...
Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of Irish Universities Association, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ned Costello as the new IUA Chief Executive Officer. He will replace Mr. Michael Mc Grath who is retiring after 10 years with the IUA. Mr Costello, who will take up duty in early January 2007 is currently Assistant Secretary General at...
The Heads of the seven Irish universities have agreed a Co-operation Accord. The Accord sets out the agreed grounds for a step change in the already high level of collaboration across the sector necessary for the universities to deliver on the Government’s objectives set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. The Accord has been se...
Businesses, the public service and the media now have unprecedented access to the experts and researchers across the island of Ireland thanks to a dynamic portal expertiseireland.com.This searchable database now contains detailed profiles of over 5000 Irish experts as well as information on funding, technology transfer and commercial expertise.The site prov...
Speaking as President of the Irish Universities Association Dr. Iggy O Muircheartaigh congratulated the Government on the announcement of the “Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation” (SSTI). He said that this research investment plan was a ringing endorsement by the Taoiseach and his Ministers of 4th level skills as the key driver of development ...
The South African Senior Science and Technology representative in Europe, Dr Mandi Mzimba, called on Irish researchers to develop linkages with their South African counterparts. She was speaking at a workshop in Dublin today hosted by the Irish Universities Association. The event was organised in partnership with ESASTAP – the European South African Scie...
Building the Nation’s Capital Stock In seeking value for money, we must also build up our capital stock to improve our competitiveness and help the economy to develop and expand. This is vital if we want to lay the platform for future growth and good quality employment. I am today providing some €43.5 billion for capital investment over the period 20...
Ground-Breaking Investment Package for Fourth Level Ireland Welcomed The Irish Universities Association warmly welcomes today’s ground-breaking Budget statement by the Minister for Finance on investment in “Fourth-level Ireland” IUA President Ferdinand von Prondzynski said “Minister Cowen in his ringing endorsement of the pivotal contribu...
Strong partnerships between industry and academia needed Issued on behalf of IBEC and the Irish Universities Association (IUA) Leaders from business and universities met today to plan for a huge increase in the number of research scientists and engineers coming on stream in Ireland over the next seven years arising from the Government’s Science Technology ...
The Irish Universities Association today announced the successful funding of research in Irish Universities and Industry to the tune of €10million in the current EU Marie Curie funding round. This brings the total amount of funding, secured by Ireland from the European Commission’s highly competitive Marie Curie Programme, to €42 million. The funding w...
At a reception today, the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (C.H.I.U), the representative body of the seven Irish Universities, announced the change of its name to the Irish Universities Association (IUA). Also unveiled was the organisation’s new website www.iua.ie. The new name better represents the objectives of the organisation and its work ...
C.H.I.U has organised the first national conference to explore the role of the postdoctoral researcher, its place in the development of a research career and its recognition both internally in research institutions and externally. The Irish government has set the target of doubling the number of researchers in academia and industry. Creating a system that wi...
The Estimates 2005 provision for universities has to be viewed in the context of cumulative cuts of 14.5% in core state funding of universities over 2003 and 2004. Against a rise of 9.5% in stand-still costs the 6.3% increase is effectively a further 3.2% cut in university funding for 2005. The impact of the 2005 provision will be more cutbacks in quantity a...
The Estimates 2005 provision for universities has to be viewed in the context of cumulative cuts of 14.5% in core state funding of universities over 2003 and 2004. Anything less than a 9.5% increase in university funding for 2005 is tantamount to a further cut. The impact of the 2005 provision will be further cutbacks in quantity and quality of services and ...
At a meeting held to-day (17th December 2003) between the Heads of Universities and the Minister for Education and Science, Noel Dempsey TD, the Chairman of C.H.I.U. (Conference of Heads of Irish Universities), Dr. Seamus Smyth outlined the serious damage that the failure of the Minister’s estimates to allow for benchmarking was causing to the sector. ...
It is obvious that, for the second year in a row, the universities have been singled out for punitive treatment with a 0% increase in the context of an overall 12% in the Education Budget. No provision whatever has been made for benchmarking or other pay increase costs. The effect is the equivalent of €55m to €60m cut in university recurrent funding. The...
Speaking to-day, 3rd November, 2003 at the publication of a paper on the Future Funding of the Irish University Sector, Dr. Seamus Smyth, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (C.H.I.U.), highlighted the deteriorating funding situation for Irish universities and cast doubt on the Government’s aspirations for the sector international...
The Conference of Heads of Irish Universities [C.H.I.U.], at a recent Council meeting considered the Terms of Reference for the OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland announced by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D. The Council welcomes the Review as a positive and constructive initiative taken by the Government and the univers...
C.H.I.U. expressed grave disappointment at what it described as a crude and unsophisticated Estimates’ process which at its heart shattered coherent strategic economic planning by the Government. C.H.I.U. said that the process had resulted in the Minister for Education and Science being backed into a corner where, within the narrow confines of an ̶...
While commending the Minister for Education and Science for his commitment to funding for the disadvantaged, Dr. Art Cosgrove Chair, C.H.I.U on behalf of University Heads expressed deep concern over the extent and impact of cuts in recurrent and capital funding for university education and research. He criticised the government for the economic short sighted...
Dr. Roger Downer, Chairman, speaking on behalf of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities [C.H.I.U.] welcomed the publication “Towards a National Framework of Qualifications – A Discussion Document” by the National Qualifications Authority. He said that the establishment of a national framework of qualifications was a key strategic un...
Monday, 24 July, 2000 @ 10.00 a.m Announcement of funding for research proposals under Cycle 2 of the Programme for Research In Third-Level Institutions [PRTLI] Research investment to result in radical reduction in the brain drain from Irish Universities Dr. Tom Mitchell, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities warmly welcomed the announcem...
Dr. Patrick Fottrell, Chairman, C.H.I.U. Tuesday, 27th July, 1999 @ 11.00am Dr. Patrick Fottrell, Chairman, C.H.I.U., speaking on behalf of University Heads, today welcomed the announcement of the allocations for research projects amounting to a total investment in excess of £100m. It was, he said, a momentous development for basic research in Ireland, whic...
Dr. Danny O’Hare, Chairman, C.H.I.U. Thursday, 19th November, 1998 @ 10.00 a.m. Dr. Danny O’Hare, Chairman, C.H.I.U., speaking on behalf of University Heads today welcomed the £180m investment initiative for basic research, announced by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science. C.H.I.U. considers this programme to be an historic ...
Dr. Danny O’Hare, Chairman, C.H.I.U. Thursday, 19th November, 1998 @ 10.00 a.m. Dr. Danny O’Hare, Chairman, C.H.I.U., speaking on behalf of University Heads today welcomed the £180m investment initiative for basic research, announced by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science. C.H.I.U. considers this programme to be an historic ...