Latest news with #IrishUniversities
Irish Times
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Can you really be ‘coached' to pass aptitude tests for entry to medical school?
The deans of medical schools want to change entry requirements for studying medicine in Irish universities following concern that many applicants are being coached for tests aimed at determining their aptitude for working in the sector. Tell me more about these tests Applicants for undergraduate medicine are required to combine their Leaving Certificate results with the Hpat (Health Professions Admission Test), which was introduced in 2009 to assess skills deemed important for medicine, such as reasoning, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. While the 2½-hour test was initially envisaged as one that candidates could not study for, there is now an extensive private tuition industry where students can prepare for the assessment. How much are candidates paying for private tuition? There are lots of 'preparatory courses' available for students, who can spend up to €800 for a 15-week series of classes and mock exams. Typically, they are operated by so-called grind schools such as the Institute of Education in Dublin, Hewitt College in Cork and many others; in addition, there is something of a cottage industry among medical students who have done well in the test offering their services. READ MORE How widely used is the Hpat? About 3,000 students take the test each year, which is required to study undergraduate medicine at University of Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, UCC and UCD. University of Limerick also requires the Hpat for entry to its master's courses in occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Can you really be coached to do better in the Hpat? When it was introduced in 2009, the Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer), which devised the Hpat, said it did 'not endorse any training college and actively discourages candidates attending them. They are a waste of the candidates' (or their parents') money.' However, there is evidence that suggests they can pay off. A review by five medical faculties three years after its introduction found 40 per cent of successful applicants each year had improved their Hpat score after resitting it and so got a place in an undergraduate medical school. The report found the greatest improvement was in the non-verbal reasoning section. There have been adjustments to the weighting of components of the test and changes to rules around when candidates can sit the test over the years. Nonetheless, critics say those who can afford expensive preparatory and repeat courses retain a significant advantage. Is the issue of 'coaching' candidates a concern outside Ireland? Yes, it is an issue elsewhere. Studies highlight that in countries such as Germany and the UK, private companies offer expensive preparatory courses for similar medical aptitude tests. They, too, are grappling with ethical questions about equal access, as these courses may improve test results and thus increase the likelihood of admission for wealthier candidates. Interestingly, Australia combines the test with a structured interview process to help identify those suited to the profession. So, what changes are being planned to the Hpat? The Hpat is marked out of a total of 300 points, which is added to a candidate's Leaving Cert score. For example, a student who gets 500 points in the Leaving Cert and 200 points in the Hpat gets a combined score of 700 points. Under revised plans, the Hpat would be reduced to 150 points. This, say sources, means the test would carry the equivalent weight of about one extra subject for entry purposes. When will changes come into effect? The planned changes will require sign-off by the academic councils of universities. In theory, this should be simple, says sources. If implemented, they would probably have a two-year lead-in time from when the changes are announced. Why was the Hpat introduced in the first place? It was introduced following concerns that medical applicants needed to achieve 'a perfect Leaving Cert', while those with an aptitude for medicine were falling through the cracks. The system that came in – which is still in place – says that for school leavers to be eligible to compete for entry to undergraduate medicine they must achieve a minimum of 480 points, meet minimum subject entry requirement and complete the Hpat. Hpat scores are added to Leaving Cert points, although Leaving Cert points above 550 are moderated, with one point awarded for every five scored above that level.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Colleges to alter entry requirements for medicine amid concern applicants ‘gaming' aptitude test
Medical schools are planning to change entry requirements for studying medicine in Irish universities following concern that many applicants are 'gaming' tests aimed at determining their aptitude for working in the sector. Applicants are required to combine their Leaving Certificate results with the Hpat (Health Professions Admission Test), which was introduced in 2009 to assess skills deemed important for medicine, such as reasoning, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. While the 2½-hour test was initially envisaged as one which candidates could not study for, there is now an extensive private tuition industry where students can spend up to €800 over 15 weeks to prepare for the assessment. [ My daughter wants to study medicine. Are grinds for the Hpat worth it? Opens in new window ] The deans of Irish medical schools met recently and agreed to significantly reduce the weighting attached to the test, according to well-placed sources. READ MORE The planned changes, which will require sign-off by the academic councils of universities, would likely have a two-year lead-in time before they are implemented, according to informed sources. The Hpat is marked out of a total of 300 points, which is added to a candidate's Leaving Cert score. For example, a student who gets 500 points in the Leaving Cert and 200 points in the Hpat gets a combined score of 700 points. Under revised plans, the Hpat would be reduced to 150 points. This, say sources, means the test would carry the equivalent weight of about one extra subject for entry purposes. About 3,000 students take the test each year, which is required to study undergraduate medicine at University of Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, UCC and UCD. University of Limerick also requires the Hpat for entry to its master's in occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. The Hpat was introduced under then minister for education Mary Hanafin, following concern that only those scoring very high Leaving Cert points were guaranteed entry to medicine. She said at the time that students would no longer need a 'perfect Leaving Cert' to enter medicine. However, university sources say students who are able to afford extra support for their exams and Hpat tests are at a significant advantage when it comes to studying medicine. Latest Higher Education Authority data, for example, show about 33 per cent of medicine students are from affluent backgrounds, compared with 18 per cent of students overall. Only 3 per cent of medicine students are from disadvantaged backgrounds, compared to 11 per cent overall.
Irish Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
DCU took in nearly €13m from its student accommodation last year
DCU took in €12.92 million from its student accommodation in 2024, down marginally on the €12.97 million made the year prior. The figures, reported by a subsidiary of the university to the Companies Registration Office , bring the total income generated by Irish universities from student accommodation to €126 million for the year. An analysis of the financial accounts for Ireland's main universities by The Irish Times showed the income from student accommodation has nearly doubled since 2015 as third-level institutions have hiked fees and invested in new accommodation blocks. Universities made €117.6 million from student accommodation in 2023. Excluding Dublin City University, which had not published its consolidated accounts, the figure for 2024 stood at €113.5 million made from their residences. READ MORE [ Minister wants exemptions to new rent rules to be considered for students sharing houses Opens in new window ] The publication of the accounts for the north-Dublin college's holding company subsidiary, DCU Educational Supports DAC shows that the sector-wide figure broke €120 million for the first time. The company operates the renting out of student residences on DCU campuses, runs language and translation services, and a series of other commercial services for the university. Its accounts show that DCU pocketed €12.92 million from their student accommodation in the year to September 2024. A spokesman for DCU said a significant portion of the revenue from its student residences is generated 'during the summer months, when undergraduate beds are not occupied, when we charge full commercial rates' to visiting students, academics and tourists. The college is planning to add an additional 405 new beds aided by Government funding. This came after plans to construct 1,240 beds had to be paused and eventually scaled back due to what, DCU chief operations officer, Declan Raftery described as 'escalating costs of construction' resulting in the development 'simply not being viable in the absence of support from Government'. Income at the university-owned company increased to €51.5 million in 2024, up 2 per cent from a year earlier. Costs of sales decreased by more than €850,000 to €16.37 million, but the savings were absorbed by significantly higher administrative costs which rose €3 million to €30.07 million. As a result, the company saw profits drop slightly from €4.17 million to €3.57 million. The main income sources for the company are DCU's student residences, which accounts for a quarter of its income, as well as English language teaching and translation services – €9 million, and construction services transfers of €8.8 million. The company reported income of €5.6 million from its catering services. Staff costs rose last year to €10.8 million, and the company made a donation to its parent company, Dublin City University, of €1,29 million in the year ending September 2024, having made a slightly larger the year prior, of €1.55 million.
Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on AI and Ireland: the future will not wait
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept confined to Silicon Valley or science fiction. It is here, now, reshaping economies, transforming industries and prompting governments to rethink everything from education and employment to ethics and regulation. The question Ireland must urgently confront is whether it is truly prepared for the scale and speed of change AI is set to unleash. There are reasons both for cautious optimism and concern. Ireland has long positioned itself as a European technology hub, hosting the headquarters of many of the world's leading tech firms. Government agencies are actively courting AI investment. Research centres in Irish universities are leaders in developing cutting-edge AI applications. The recent launch of an AI Skills programme by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment signals a growing recognition of the need to upskill the workforce. But the evidence of the last decade also suggests that Irish regulators struggle to come to terms with the challenges posed by US tech companies which are not slow to wield their considerable political influence. The establishment of an Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which met for the first time this week, marks a step in deepening political and legislative engagement with the issue. The committee has the potential to initiate a broader public and legislative debate on AI policy that balances innovation with the safeguarding of democratic values and public interest. But for this to succeed, it will need to act in constructive coordination with education, enterprise and civil society. Because readiness is about more than strategy documents, it must reach into the heart of how we educate, train, and govern. Schools, for example, are already grappling with how to prepare students for a new world in which traditional educational metrics are no longer credible. The reformed Leaving Certificate, with its increased emphasis on project work, now faces an unexpected challenge: how to assess students fairly in a world where generative AI can produce plausible essays and design projects at the click of a button. READ MORE Equally urgent are the labour market implications. AI is set to displace roles in sectors ranging from transport and customer support to software development and legal services. Without a serious, joined-up national response, Ireland could face widening inequality, social dislocation and a growing digital divide. Nimble policymaking and innovative thinking are imperative. But this moment also requires political will and public investment. AI is not just a technological leap. It is a societal transformation. If Ireland is to thrive in this new age, it must act with speed, coherence and purpose. The future will not wait.
