Colman Noctor: Campus life is a vital learning opportunity for students to connect

Humans are wired for connection. Especially during late adolescence and early adulthood, peer relationships are vital to their identity. Campuses serve as fertile ground for this, acting as vibrant spaces to live, laugh, learn, and love

Young people need in-person interaction with peers to develop, and this cannot be replicated online. Picture: iStock

Last week, reports suggested the Department of Further and Higher Education wanted third-level institutions to reduce students’ time on campus by condensing timetables and increasing online lectures. 

The intention, we were told, was to ease ongoing accommodation pressures. However, James Lawless, the minister who heads the department, has since refuted these claims, stating there are no plans to reduce time on campus.