Universities ‘diverting money from teaching’

A LEADING economist yesterday demanded the State’s spending watchdog probe the use of taxpayers’ money by universities.

Sean Barrett, senior lecturer in Trinity’s economics department, raised concerns that money intended for university teaching costs is being diverted to fund management-heavy and research-focused changes.

The country’s seven universities — particularly University College Dublin, University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin — have begun major reforms in recent years, consolidating academic faculties into smaller colleges, replacing elected academic officers with managers and increasing research spending.