Publications
Micro Creds Final Report
Micro Creds Final Report Click below to view and download the report. For queries, please contact David Corscadden, Acting MicroCreds Project Lead, Irish Universities Association E: David.corscadden@iua.ie...
DARE and HEAR Impact Report 2025 – accesscollege.ie
This report brings together key information on applications, eligibility, and outcomes across both schemes for the 2025 cycle. It shows how DARE and HEAR continue to support students in accessing higher education....
IUA Statement: Commitment to Safe and Inclusive Campuses for All
Irish Universities Association Statement: Commitment to Safe and Inclusive Campuses for All As we begin the new academic year in Ireland, we want to extend the warmest welcome to all our students and staff who are coming to our Universities for the first time or returning to Ireland. We are proud that our Universities are places of shared learning, research,...
IUA Insights – Why Ireland’s Future Needs Investment in Research Infrastructure
A Nation Under Construction: Why Ireland’s Future Needs Investment in Research Infrastructure Ireland is rich in talent and ambition, with a research and innovation ecosystem that has consistently punched above its weight on the global stage. Yet, without robust, sustained investment in the infrastructure that underpins this success, these strengths risk b...
Building Ireland’s Competitiveness and Innovation Capacity through a Research Infrastructure and Talent Development Fund – Submission
The Research Infrastructure and Talent Development Fund is critical for restoring Ireland’s competitiveness in research and innovation, particularly against key European and global competitors. Ireland is falling behind in innovation performance. Between 2016 and 2023, Ireland’s innovation growth lagged at just 2.3%, well below the EU average of 8.5%, pu...
IUA Insights – What we do and why it matters – Quality Assurance
Understanding Quality Assurance and its importance to our universities Quality Assurance in universities is all about making sure that students get the most out of their education. It’s not just about meeting standards; it’s about creating an environment where learning is truly meaningful, and the experience is as enriching as possible. When universiti...
University Research for a Better Ireland: Developing Clean Energy
Developing Clean Energy Ireland’s energy future is at risk. With heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels, dwindling domestic gas production, increasing geopolitical instability, we face growing energy anxiety. Our researchers deliver groundbreaking research, with industry and communities, and are key to unlocking Ireland’s vast alternative energy poten...
University Research for a Better Ireland: Putting Patients First
Putting patients first Ireland’s health system is grappling with multiple challenges that affect every household and hospital across Ireland. Our university researchers are putting patients at the very heart of health care solutions. Our researchers are taking care of people across the lifecycle, from birth to later life, enabling them to pursue longer, ha...
University Research for a Better Ireland: Driving Climate Action
Driving Climate Action University-led research plays a crucial role in understanding, mitigating, and adapting to climate change. It provides the evidence needed to shape public policy commitments define the approaches and generate the technologies that safeguard the planet for future generations. Researchers also, critically, educate and engage local co...
University Research for a Better Ireland: Safeguarding Water Quality
Safeguarding Water Quality Water systems infrastructure across Ireland faces significant challenges, particularly in adapting to European environmental, and regulatory demands. Ireland must meet the rigorous requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and Urban WastewaterTreatment Directive or be penalised heavily. Our researchers are addressing these c...
Viva Voce Examinations_Guidance for Examiners and Supports for Doctoral Candidates_2025
The IUA Deans of Graduate Studies Group has developed guidance for Examiners of Viva Voce Examinations and supports for Doctoral Candidates....
How IUA Universities are ‘Accelerating Action’
I remember contributing to an analysis about 10 years ago, in preparing Equality Monitoring data for a university governing authority, where we projected that gender balance in the professoriate wouldn’t happen until 2098. This was the reality back then for Irish higher education. Fortunately, steps were underway by 2014/15 to shift gears from monitori...
IUA Insights – What we do and why it matters – Access
Since 2009 the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) have played a critical role as national pathways to access higher education with nearly 20% of all CAO applicants applying through these schemes each year. Recently, the HEAR scheme has been redeveloped, updating it to reflect the contemporary landscape of...
Climate Action Roadmap Delivery Submission
Carbon Emission Reductions – Leading by Example As custodians of large campuses and estates IUA universities are committed to delivering on their carbon emission reduction targets and in taking a leadership role in driving Climate Action. Collectively IUA universities manage over 750 buildings across 1,000 hectares of campus estates producing 102 ktC...
DARE HEAR Facts and Figures 2018 – 2022 Executive Summary
This is the DARE HEAR By Numbers 2018 – 2022 research report. This work was researched by Dr Abdellatif Atif and explored the admissions data trends during and leading up to the pandemic era on the DARE and HEAR Schemes. The report illustrated that during this period overall CAO applications increased by 7.3%, from 72,643 in 2018 to 78,012 in 2022. Tre...
Digital Investment in Universities to support Enhanced Teaching & Learning and Research Performance – Submission to DFHERIS & HEA
The scale of investment required for Digital Transformation is significant. In the recent EY/Times Higher Education Report ‘How are you balancing the books for a digital future?’, the scale of investment required was compared by an Australian university to “being the equivalent of spend on one new major building every 5 years”. We are, therefore, pro...
IUA Opening Statement to Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – on Pre Legislation Scrutiny for Research Bill
IUA Opening Statement to Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – on Pre Legislation Scrutiny for Research Bill...
IUA Submission – Future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Irish Education
IUA Submission to the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by the IUA – Future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Irish Education...
IUA Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee: North South Student Enrolment in Tertiary Education
North South Student Enrolment in Tertiary Education Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) Session 1: 11.00 – 12.30, Tuesday 21st February 2023...
IUA Submission on HEA Act Reform to the Oireachtas Education Committee 06.07.21
Irish Times 6th July New legislation must be backed up with better funding for third level, committee told University Times 6th July Universities’ Autonomy Must be Protected Under Governance Bill, Says IUA University Times 6th July Keep Councillors on College Boards, Oireachtas Education Committee Hears ...
IUA Submission to NDP 2021: Securing the talent & innovation needs for national development
IUA submission to the national development plan 2021
“A Student is a Student is a Student” Position Paper on Part-Time/ Flexible Study in Irish Higher Education
The IUA Part-Time/ Flexible Subgroup is composed of University and Institute of Technology representatives and other key stakeholders, to examine prevailing issues associated with part-time/ flexible higher education, and propose a set of principles to inform the development of a more coherent, systematic and viable approach. The resulting Position Paper ...
National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland
Please note that the National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland has been updated as of 2019. You can access the updated policy here....
