When a written exam exposed an uncomfortable truth in third-level education

An extraordinary exam saga has reignited debate about overseas student recruitment, English proficiency standards, and the pressures facing Irish universities

Ten years ago, as the school was embarking on expansion, a circular in UCC described the school as 'the awakening giant of business education'. Picture Dan Linehan

A lecturer accused of racism, the resitting of an Irish university exam in extraordinary circumstances on the far side of the globe, and major questions around whether some students have any idea what is going on in their lecture hall.

These are the components of an event that may have exposed a much bigger issue in University College Cork (UCC) and the wider third-level sphere. The matter concerns how much the college, and particularly its business school, has come to rely on the lucrative fees available from overseas students.