UNIVERSITY College Cork (UCC) aims to rise in the ranks of the world’s third-level colleges when it fills the vacancy in the president’s office, after advertising the job in the international press this week.

A RETURN to mass student protests cannot be ruled out as long as uncertainty remains about efficient grant payments, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Tony McDonnell warned last night.

THE future success of the higher education system is crucial to Ireland's national development objectives, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

THERE is to be a major increase in third-level funding as well as the creation of a new “fourth level” of learning as part of a strategy to ensure a skilled and well-educated workforce.

THE heads of the seven universities have called for over €150 million extra a year to expand higher education and help the country meet its goals as a knowledge-based economy.

COLLEGE fees will have to be reintroduced unless the Government significantly increases funding for third-level education, academic experts have warned.