2019 was marked by shifts in policy that will significantly alter the higher education and research landscape in Ireland in the coming years. The most obvious result is that the number of universities will virtually double. This article looks at the arrival of Technology Universities and the future of science research policy in Ireland.

This article explores the scope of global engagement activities in Irish universities, and reflects on the need for Ireland’s next international education strategy to align more closely with the global strategies pursued by institutions.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent an ambitious, strategic framework which calls for concerted efforts from government, industry, and NGOs towards building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for people and planet. Education, research, and innovation are essential in sustainable development, making universities key contributors to achieving the goals. University College Dublin demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development by reviewing its educational offerings though an SDG lens.

Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhair breac
(Listen to the sound of nature and you will catch a trout)

In the modern world, specialised but inflexible thinking will no longer do. We are no longer preparing students for lifelong careers in specific areas. A new curriculum design at Trinity College Dublin gives students a chance to see beyond the intellectual confines of their chosen disciplines.

This article offers thoughts from the frontline: a reflection on activities spanning the boundary between higher education and enterprise, and some practical observations to support good practice in engagement. Not everything that is valuable can be counted, but we can certainly seek to evidence it. Not every interaction that can happen should happen – but how do we know what’s happening?

This article explores the development of a support framework for research supervisors in an educational environment heavily focused on impact. What really counts in doctoral training?

This article provides an overview of the approach to achieving the government’s vision for Ireland to be a world-leading country for gender equality in higher education by 2026. It looks at evidence gathered to date, strategies for improvement, and how Ireland compares internationally, among other areas of focus.

This article looks at student engagement and success in the current higher education context. What drives an increasing focus on student progression? Who benefits? How did we at Cork Institute of Technology set about taking up the challenge?