The Lowdown on the J1

Summer is slowly approaching, and if you’re thinking about participating in the J1 programme, I’m telling you book it now. I experienced the J1 last year, and I am again partaking this year with the new system. I’m going to highlight here the main dos and don’ts in my eyes in relation to the J1,…

USI Hosting General Election Hustings Today

The Union of Students in Ireland will host a General Election in UCC today, Wednesday 27th, in Boole 2 at 6pm. The hustings will be on the subject of graduate employment, enterprise, zero hour contracts and living wage. This will be a chance for students to question political representatives on their priorities for the third-level…

“N-Bomb” Drug Leaves Six in Hospital

Last Tuesday, six young people, aged 18 to 37, were admitted to hospital after taking a psychoactive substance, called 25I-NBOMe, while at a house party in Cork. The HSE confirmed that emergency services were called to the property on the South side of the city in the early hours of the morning. Gerard Banks, who…

93% of Student Nurses Consider Emigrating Upon Qualification

USI has released new survey information which shows that 93% of student nurses have considered emigrating when they finish college. Over 600 student nurses were surveyed across the country and 564 said they have thought about emigrating when they qualify. USI President, Kevin Donoghue, stated that “If the vast majority of student nurses emigrate Ireland…

Union of Students in Ireland Launch General Election Campaign

The Union of Students in Ireland launched their General Election manifesto outside the Dáil last week, which emphasises the deciding impact young people will have on the makeup of the next government. The manifesto focuses on areas such as accommodation, Higher Education Funding and Repealing the 8th. USI President, Kevin Donoghue, stated that “The 32nd Dáil…

Calls for Intervention to Tackle Root of Domestic Abuse

Ireland is failing victims of domestic abuse by not adequately intervening with the perpetrators, international experts will urge at UCC this Friday. a conference hosted by the School of Law at UCC will suggest existing state responses to domestic abuse are typically reactive and under-resourced. The need for a domestic abuse intervention system which seeks…

J1 Regulations Set to Hamper Students

Starting in 2016, Irish students participating in the J-1 Work & Travel USA Program will be required to have a summer job vetted and approved before travelling to the U.S. The new regulation, introduced by J-1 visa sponsors CIEE and Interchange, will affect more than 7,000 Irish students every year. The new stipulation will affect all 38 countries currently…