Universities facing €1bn shortfall amid further slide in world rankings

University presidents have warned an urgent political decision must be made on how to provide the €1bn extra annual funding needed in higher education to protect the country’s future.

Another slide for Irish universities in the latest world rankings out today shows that, while four remain in the top 300, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has barely stayed in the top 100 and University College Dublin (UCD) is down 22 places to 176th.

Other than NUI Galway, the only one to make gains in the 2016 QS World University Rankings, all Irish universities have fallen substantially since 2009 due largely to funding and staff cuts.