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Last Updated: July 11, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 Passes both Houses of the Oireachtas

The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 was today (Thursday, 11th of July) passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and will now be presented to the President for his signature.

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. said: “I am delighted to be able to say today that the Government has put in place protections for the staff and students of English language schools, with the passing of this Bill.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ministers publish the National Training Fund Expenditure Report 2019

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D., the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and the Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan T.D. today published the National Training Fund Expenditure Report 2019.

The National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act 2000 to raise the skills of those in employment, to give jobseekers relevant skills and to facilitate lifelong learning.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Consultative Meeting on Substance Abuse in Higher Education

Increasingly, we are all aware of the negative impact of substance and alcohol abuse, of alcohol and drug related behaviour, on the wellbeing of young people, and increasingly those young people are students in higher education.

It poses a real threat not only for the lives of our individual students and their families, but also the sector as a whole and wider society.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Launch of Strategic Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI)

Today (21st June 2019) I announced the opening of the call for applications to the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative; a targeted positive action initiative which aims to accelerate gender balance at senior positions in Irish higher education institutions.

I am delighted and proud to be able to launch the HEA’s call today to higher education institutions to apply for the new and additional professorial and senior lecturer level 3 academic posts that will now be made available under the senior academic leadership initiative.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Visit to US Universities 29-31 May 2019

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Sloan School of Management

Last week I visited five US universities over three days to discuss many aspects of Higher Education and connections and collaborations between these universities and Irish Higher Education Institutions. I also attended an important roundtable event with education stakeholders organised by the Irish American Partnership in Boston.

Though short, the visit was very productive.

Last Updated: June 6, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Yeats Academy of Arts, Design & Architecture @IT Sligo

I believe that culture and creativity are the greatest assets of any society.

The Yeats Academy will help students of IT Sligo to develop their critical and creative thinking, be innovative, be engaged, be collaborative and be fearless.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ministers announce Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers to continue for coming year

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. together with the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (04 June, 2019) announced a grant support scheme for asylum seekers in third level education will continue for 2019/20.

Last Updated: June 6, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Government announces €7.5 million capital funding to support Apprenticeship Programmes

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D., together with the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development John Halligan T.D. today announced capital funding of more than €7.5 million for nine Institutes of Technology and the Technological University (TU) Dublin.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Minister Mitchell O’Connor welcomes the delivery of rent predictability measures for students living in student specific accommodation

The Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (24 May 2019) welcomed the signing into law by the President of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018, which ensures that student-specific accommodation let under licence is included under existing Rent Pressure Zones.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 completes Report Stage in Seanad Éireann

RCSI recognition as a university, English Language College regulation, Learner and teacher protection amendments all welcomed by Minister

Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (22 May 2019) welcomed the completion of Report Stage of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 in Seanad Éireann.

This Bill will amend the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 which established Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency with responsibility for external quality assurance and qualifications across the further and higher education sectors.