[…]social consequences”. Over-optimistic repayment assessment It is understood the presentation to the Oireachtas today will be predicated on a 10% non-repayment rate for loans, which USI says is hopelessly optimistic. An Institute of Fiscal Studies report in 2016 assessed that 70% of all graduates with loans in the UK will never finish repaying their fees – with the remainder written off as bad debt after thirty years of […]
[…]in Ireland (USI) welcomes meaningful investment of €310 million available to 2021 to address the infrastructure needs of higher education sector, and an increase in National Training Fund levy to add €47.5m of additional investment next year. However, the union is raising concerns over any meaningful investment in improving access to education through increasing SUSI grant thresholds, or improving on-campus mental health services, declaring Budget 2018 as ‘leaving students behind’. Speaking outside the Dáil, USI President Michael Kerrigan said, ‘No income-contingent student loans were announced today, but neither was any meaningful new funding model on how third-level education should be […]
Another scandal engulfing the JobBridge scheme today- A minimum of a PhD required for a synthetic chemistry role. Doctorates required for €50 and a dole payment already reduced significantly for many young people. USI recently called for JobBridge to be phased out in our ‘Vision for Post-Bailout Ireland’. This bridge is broken beyond repair. It is past time to end this scheme and the displacement of paid labour, exploitation of workers and unregulated carnage it consistently produces. We need proper internships, training opportunities and upskilling in Ireland. But they need to provide adequate monitoring, oversight and regulation. Clearly, in far […]
[…]Advisory Committee. Further advancements have been made in the academic year of 2020/2021 with the the development of the IUA Guidance for University Consent Framework, THEA PROPEL project and HEA Advisory Group on Gender-Based Violence aiming to develop best practices for HEIs through action plans, robust policies and effective procedures. Congress therefore mandates: The adoption of the USI Sexual Consent Strategy 2021. Congress further mandates: The Vice President for Welfare and the Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to coordinate survivor support campaigns, alongside lobbying for a better legal system and support services. These survivor support campaigns should include toolkits for MOs with information on reporting and local […]
[…]a Pre-Budget submission to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform before the end of the week, which will set out proposals for additional public investment in the Higher Education system. USI President Joe O’Connor said: “The USI welcome the Minister’s announcement of the establishment of a review group on the future funding of Higher Education in Ireland. It is a group that USI intend to fully engage with, as it is crucially important that an open and frank discussion about future funding options for Higher Education in Ireland takes place as a priority. In the context of […]
