Outgoing UCC chief suggests industry over-influence research agenda

Business and industry are allowed too much influence on Ireland’s research agenda, University College Cork’s outgoing president claims.

Michael Murphy believes that the sector is over-represented on bodies that award funding and decide what disciplines should be prioritised in higher education research.

However, he also wants to see a greater financial input from employers to third-level education, in the form of ringfenced levies or taxes, and from philanthropy which he believes can be leveraged more to help colleges.