Covid-19 has posed a range of challenges to each individual person, but it is imperative that we recognise the immense challenge the pandemic has placed on our mental health. In response to this, UCC Students’ Union (UCCSU) have recognised the importance of reaching out in a new highly digitalised world, and thus have launched a…

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, confirmed last week that third-level colleges can charge full fees, even in blended learning scenarios that include severe restrictions when accessing campus. This led to backlash from members of the opposition, as well as students and the general public. It was also noted that Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris,…

Decisions to be made around accommodation are compounding the stress and uncertainty of the upcoming term for students across the country. A blended learning model means that the number of times a student is on campus for lectures, as opposed to online, may only be a couple per month, decreasing the need to find housing…

Over six months after the university first closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCC is set to welcome students back on campus on September 28th. The format of the new academic term is unfamiliar to both students and staff and still, for many incoming and returning students, their plans for the semester remain…

It was announced this afternoon that Professor John O’Halloran has been appointed as interim President of University College Cork (UCC) for the coming academic year. The Governing Body of UCC made this announcement as a result of the unexpected retirement of Professor Patrick O’Shea. Professor O’Shea tendered his resignation as the fifteenth President of UCC…

A €25 million grant was announced on Thursday by Minister Simon Harris to fund capital works and equipment in the higher education sector. This investment in third-level education forms part of the Project Ireland 2040 initiative, which was launched in February 2018. The grant will provide funds to address small scale capital investments based on…

Over 37% of new clients who presented at the Sexual Violence Centre Cork last year were students. The figures come following the release of the Centre’s 2019 Annual Report today.  Three quarters of all new clients reported that they were 23 years or younger at the time of the sexual assault, and over 60% of new…

Local residents of UCC have asked landlords to include “no house parties” in their rent agreements with Cork students.  The Magazine Road Residents Association (MRRA) has called on the Government to “move on legislation to put an end to the Covid-19 house parties to deal with reckless landlords and tenants who ignore the Covid-19 regulators…

Over half a million euro in funding for the wellbeing and mental health of Cork students was announced today by the Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris. The €5 million national package, with €270,000 allocated to UCC and €234,000 allocated to CIT, is intended to support students in the return to college this…

A climate strike  is planned to take place at Opera Lane at 1pm on Saturday 18th June. This ‘die-in’ protest, staged by Extinction Rebellion, is a protest against the climate action plan in the programme for government endorsed by various political parties.  The government’s climate action plan is part of A Green New Deal outlined…