An insider's guide to education

A ferocious battle about the future of the Irish university sector is building. The recent decision by fellows of Trinity College Dublin to vote against reform plans - floated by the Provost, Dr John Hegarty - is a portent of what is to come.

Out in UCD, the radical reforms proposed by president Dr Hugh Brady are also being bitterly opposed by some senior academics. As one academic put it last week: "Brady has assembled a war cabinet around him" in order to deal with the expected opposition.

In Trinity, there is bitter resentment that departments could be closed down and the number of faculties reduced, as part of the "modernisation" process.

Academics in both universities accuse their leadership of "buying into" what one called the "plc agenda" where universities are assessed on their economic value with little regard to their wider contribution to society. Make no mistake, said one academic, these reform proposals are an "attack on the very essence of the unviersity".

Things look a little different from the perspective of the university leaders, who are struggling to cope with greatly reduced State support. Senior figures in the universities believe the Minister, Noel Dempsey, is determined to push through very radical changes. These will see the colleges much less dependent on State support and more dependent on private funds.

The OECD review on third-level, expected in the autumn, is expected to rubber stamp the Dempsey agenda and help pave the way for his reforms. The universities believe the Minister has very little empathy with their plight and tends to see the leading colleges as bastions of privilege.

Some senior figures accuse him of damaging morale across the entire sector. One said: "In other states, for a fraction of the cost, we have world-class universities. Here, where people are working flat-out to achieve the highest standards there is no acknowledgement of this. Instead, there is a focus on cost-cutting."

Much interest in who will emerge as CEO of the new Teaching Council, the group that will help maintain teaching standards. Some big names were mentioned in connection with the post. But the level of pay (the same as a principal officer in the public service) is unlikely to attract high-profile figures.

Got any education gossip? E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.com