[…]decision to return the €25m withheld from colleges in the 2013 and 2014 budgets is good news for education – but represents a drop in the ocean of required investment for third level education – which will experience a 1% cut in wage related and non-wage related expenditures. However, less positive in the budget for students is the decision to stick by pre-planned increases in the student contribution fee – a major increase in the cost of college, on top of already historically high accommodation rental prices. USI welcomes announcements on provisions to build more housing, which should in due […]
[…]collectively by society through general taxation, corporation tax and a higher education levy. The market model of student loan schemes is not appropriate; it places an unacceptable individual debt burden on students and commodifies higher education into a product which can be sold.” The magnitude of the funding cut over a relatively short period of time is having a profound impact on the sector’s capacity to function. In addition to the budget cuts, student tuition fees for undergraduate programmes have increased to €3,000 per year. The new proposed student loan scheme would deter students from applying to college and place […]
[…]developments. Students wishing to participate in this Challenge are invited to write a 250 word contribution “What would you have talked about if you had been a speaker?” on one of the four issues of the conference. Participating students are invited to send their texts before January 31, 2019. A jury of DG Competition officials will select the best three entries for each panel category. Entries will be assessed on analysis and originality and on their relevance to the arguments debated in the panel category of choice. The winning students will be invited to Brussels to receive the awards and […]
[…]Welfare USI said: ‘Having sex with someone who cannot consent, because they are too drunk or are in fear, is rape. USI’s recent ‘Say Something’ study showed victims do not report incidents of sexual violence because they thought that they would be blamed for what happened (22 per cent). Additionally, in over six in ten cases (64 per cent for Women, 62 per cent for Men) the victim themselves were under the influence of alcohol at the time. This belief is dangerous. It is never the fault of the victim even if they have been drinking or taking drugs. It is important […]