Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. Minister of State for Higher Education today (15th May 2019) formally launched a Charter to promote gender equality in the University sector.

SAGE – Systemic Action for Gender Equality – is an EU-Horizon 2020 funded project designed to seek stronger action on gender equality in higher education and research. SAGE devises and implements interventions to advance gender equality in European countries, and is being led by Trinity College Dublin.

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The Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Development Damien English T.D. today released the end Q1 2019 progress report on the National Student Accommodation Strategy.

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The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., has welcomed the Athena Swan awards that were announced this week.

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Minister of State with special responsibility for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (1 May 2019) opened an apprenticeship employer consultation event to hear ideas on current and future apprenticeship provision. The event, entitled Generation Apprenticeship – What’s Next?, was organised by the Apprenticeship Council and held in Dublin’s Gibson Hotel.

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The Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. formally launched the new GMIT Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023 at a reception in the Galway campus today (26 April) attended by Dr Michael Hannon, deputising President of GMIT, Cormac MacDonncha, Chair of the Governing Body, members of the Governing Body, students, staff, colleagues from the Connacht-Ulster Alliance and invited guests.

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Minister of State with special responsibility for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (25th April 2019) gave the closing address at a conference on Mental Health in Higher Education – Personal Wellbeing for Professional Development. Chaired by Dr. Patricia Frazer and hosted in the Dublin Business School, the conference was organised by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning.

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It was a great honour for me to deliver the European Mentoring Coaching and Supervision Conference 2019 opening address. The theme of the conference was reflect, learn, transform.

The European Mentoring and Coaching Council exists to develop, promote, and set the expectation of best practice in mentoring, coaching, and supervision globally for the benefit of society.

Conferences are vital, and in addition evidence based coaching training programmes are important to meet the demand for the skill set.
As we deliver training programmes we must also assess their effectiveness.

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Ireland’s membership of the European Union has played an integral role in building Ireland’s reputation as a location for world class research and as a centre of excellence in higher education. Ireland is deeply committed to its membership of the EU. Our place at its heart will ensure that Irish higher education institutions continue to access valuable EU funding. This will allow Ireland to remain at the forefront of research and innovation.

Ireland is perfectly positioned between the U.S. and Europe. It is the ideal place for young Chinese students to launch global careers. It is the destination of choice for many of the world’s leading firms. One thousand international companies – including Google, eBay, Intel and Facebook – have chosen Ireland as the hub of their European network.

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Apprenticeships prepare people for a career, not just a job. They change lives and prospects. The fact that apprentices earn while they learn makes them all the more attractive.

This is why this Government is committed to the expansion of our national apprenticeship system. We are driving onwards with our Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016 to 2020.

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