Archive for the 'Department of Education and Science' Category

HEA Chairman ‘losing touch with reality’, says IFUT

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Commenting on remarks by the Chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), John Hennessy, that changes to HR management practices would help improve the status and functioning of Irish universities, Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), said his remarks reveal the extent to which some persons in the HEA [...]

Minister for Education must tackle breach of European and Irish law by universities, says IFUT

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, TD, should move to protect the rights of thousands of researchers, librarians and other staff who are being placed on temporary contracts by universities, in violation of European Directives and related legislation here in Ireland, the General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Mike Jennings, states [...]

Universities are ‘fit for purpose’, says IFUT President

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

Recent suggestions regarding the public service being ‘not fit for purpose’ do not apply to the universities and their academic staff; instead, levels of productivity are being increased amid income cuts of up to 25%, Dr Hugh Gibbons, President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), states in an address to be delivered to [...]

IFUT disputes contention that Department of Education has ‘lost patience’ with the Federation

Sunday, March 6th, 2011

IFUT has received no ultimatum from the Department of Education threatening pay cuts unless the Croke Park Agreement is accepted.
Commenting on a report in The Irish Times on 4 March last, IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said there is [...]

IFUT calls for clear commitment to Higher Education by election candidates

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

The Higher Education system is like a first-class, high-performing car that is running out of petrol and requires an immediate injection of funding and resources, IFUT said today in a message to all political parties and candidates in the General Election.
IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said that staff numbers in Higher Education are down well [...]

IFUT’s initial commentary on the National Strategy for Irish Higher Education (”The Hunt Report”)

Monday, January 10th, 2011

IFUT welcomes the unequivocal call in the National Strategy for Irish Higher Education (“The Hunt Report”) for a substantial increase in funding for Higher Education.
IFUT is also very pleased to see throughout the Report repeated acknowledgements of the current quality and high international reputation of Irish higher education. According to IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, [...]

IFUT responds to survey on salaries in Education

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

In response to the story of 9 November 2010 in The Irish Times on salaries in third-level education, The Irish Federation of University Teachers says that of the more than 20 000 people that work in Higher Education, fewer [...]

Narrowing of gender gap at higher level welcome but highlights increase in demand, says IFUT

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

The Irish Federation of University Teachers has welcomed the increase in the percentage of male students enrolling for third-level education announced by the HEA today, but warned that it highlights ever-increasing pressure on staff and resources in third-level colleges.
Recent data show that the numbers of mature and international students, as well as the traditional school [...]

IFUT’s “utter astonishment” at threat of more funding cuts to universities

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

The Irish Federation of University Teachers has reacted with utter astonishment to the prospect of more funding cuts to universities as reported in The Irish Times today, 2 June 2010.
“I note that in a panic reaction to the prospect of more cuts, some university sources are allegedly considering redundancies for academic staff”, said Mike Jennings, [...]

IFUT rejects Croke Park proposals by two-to-one majority

Monday, May 24th, 2010

IFUT today rejected the Croke Park proposals on pay and conditions for public servants.
In the ballot, 67.68% of the membership voted ‘No’, while 32.32% voted in favour.
IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said the vote “reflects the strong determination of our members not to have their job contracts put forward for binding arbitration.
“IFUT will be casting [...]