Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn TD has today published a Bill aimed at the amalgamation of education and training bodies.

IT was a question of ‘eyes right’ as 20 potential Non-Commissioned Officers took centre stage in the parade ground at Haulbowline naval base for a passing out ceremony yesterday.

A new university grades watchdog is being set up after US multinationals complained about the standard of Irish graduates, it was revealed today.

ABOUT 1,200 students attend full-time agricultural courses in Ireland. At Clonakilty Agricultural College, Michael Stack, from Farran, Co Cork, is a third-year student, from a non-farming background.

THE heads of universities are to be given special advice on how to cut costs as part of the review of spending by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The proposed amalgamation of three accreditation bodies announced in last year's Budget is not now expected to take place until next year.

I refer to your report (November 11) of the outcome of the case between Warnborough College and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). The report was not entirely factual and and left out some important details. Warnborough College was obliged to seek leave for a judicial review against HETAC’s decision not to agree quality assurance procedures.

GRADUATES of the Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) third-level programmes in sales and journalism were conferred with their diplomas yesterday at two awards ceremonies at the media group’s headquarters at South Mall, Cork.

THERE is no need for the development of specialist supports for families bereaved by suicide outside of general bereavement services, a report prepared for the National Office for Suicide Prevention says.

MEDIA group Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) last night conferred diplomas on 25 graduates of its Higher Diploma in Journalism Practice course in the company headquarters at South Mall, Cork.

The Government today sought builders for multi-million euro contracts to construct decentralised offices for a total of 720 staff in Dungarvan, Edenderry, Roscommon and Tipperary.

MEDIA group Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) Ltd last night conferred diplomas on 20 graduates of the Higher Diploma in Journalism Practice in the company headquarters on the South Mall in Cork.

A Northern Ireland firm has been awarded a €3.9m contract to supply 45 prison vans to the Irish Prison Service, it emerged today.

THE good news for Munster rugby continues, with the Higher Education and Training Awards Council announcing yesterday that it has validated the Diploma in Professional Rugby run by Munster Rugby.

HETAC, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, has formally recognised the award of Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) as being at the same standard level of a Masters degree on the National Framework of Qualifications.

LEINSTER welcome back three of their Lions into the squad to face The Dragons in tomorrow’s Celtic League clash at Donnybrook (7.10pm).

Chinese higher education qualifications will be fully recognised in Ireland by the end of the year.

NINETEEN students were yesterday presented with Diploma in Journalism awards by the TCH Group.

HUNDREDS of primary teaching students marched on the Department of Education to protest against the approval of an on-line teacher training course yesterday.

CORK Institute of Technology (CIT) is to award its own degrees up to postgraduate level in a major development announced yesterday by director Dr Patrick Kelleher.