http___www.universitytimes.ie_2016_09_ni-feidir-le-colaiste-na-trionoide-a-uaillmhian-a-theorannu-ce-nach-saraitear-an-ghearcheim__1.xml
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The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), which is based in Trinity, celebrated ten years in existence this week. On Monday, the Trinity Biomedical Science Institute (TBSI), which opened at the height of the recession, marked its fifth-year anniversary. Commenting on the unfortunate context of TBSI’s opening, the Provost, Patrick Prendergast, said that it had “created national pride and excitement at a time it was much needed”. It is this excitement that the very best research in Trinity can generate. From the world-leading research in TBSI to the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) which opened in November, Trinity has certainly not stood still since the recession in 2011. This is praiseworthy. As research funding steadily declined, it would have been easy for Trinity to lower its ambitions and weather the storm. Yet with no end in sight to the higher education funding crisis, Trinity really had no option but to keep expanding. It is a paradox Trinity is well aware of -– to win funding it must keep spending. At a time when politicians are still dithering about how much funding higher education deserves, Trinity has to play a part in proving the worth of the sector. The success of the TBSI and TILDA isn’t just a source of “national pride” either. Instead, with tangible research that is pushing medical treatment forward globally, they both act as strong arguments for the public good of higher education. Investment in new projects is vital too in remaining afloat in world rankings. A significant proportion of the Times Higher Education rankings, due to be published in the coming weeks, focus on research reputation. Putting a brake on new developments then, whether in infrastructure or research, is no longer an option. As the number of students attending college rises and European universities face increased global competition in rankings, Trinity needs to keep arguing for its own relevance, not just in Ireland but across the world. Trinity needs to maintain the same ambition that allowed TBSI to thrive in 2011. People have short memories about the value of higher education. It shouldn’t need to, and from a financial perspective it seems like it can’t afford to, but only further investment in ambitious projects will allow Trinity to prove its worth.
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Cheiliúir Staidéar Fadaimseartha ar Aosú in Éirinn (SFAÉ), atá suite i gColáiste na Tríonóide, deich mbliana tar éis a bhunaithe an tseachtain seo. Dé Luain shonraigh an Institiúid na hEolaíochta Bithleighis (IEB), a d’oscail nuair a bhí an cúlú faoi lánseol, a cothrom cúig bhliana. Agus é ag déanamh tráchta ar chomhthéacs mí-ámharaí a hoscailte, dúirt an Propast, Patrick Prendergast, gur “chruthaigh sí bród agus sceitmíní náisiúnta nuair a bhí siad ag teastáil go mór.” Is é sin an sceitmíní atá á ghiniúint ag sár-thaighde Choláiste na Tríonóide. Ó thaighde ar thús cadhnaíochta IEB go hInstitiúid Sláinte Inchinne Domhanda a d’oscail i mí na Samhna. Ní raibh stad curtha le forbairt Choláiste na Tríonóide le linn nó tar éis an chúlaithe sa bhliain 2011. Ta sé sin inmholta. Agus maoiniú taighde ag dul in éag, bheadh sé that a bheith éasca do Choláiste na Tríonóide dearmad a dhéanamh ar a uaillmhianta Ach, gan críoch leis an ngéarchéim maoinithe san ardoideachas, ní raibh rogha ag coláiste na Tríonóide. Bhí air dul ar aghaidh ag leathnú. Is í sin firthchosúlacht a bhfuil aitheanta le fada ag Coláiste na Tríonóide – chun maoiniú a bhuachan, caithfidh sé a chaiteachas a ardú. Agus nsa polaiteoirí ag cur is ag cúiteamh faoin méid atá tuillte ag ardoideachas, tá ról ollmhór ag Coláiste na Tríonóide i gcruthú fiúntais na hearnála. Ní hamháin foinse “bróid náisiúnta” atá i SFAÉ agus IEB ach an oiread. In áit é sin, agus iad ag déanamh taighde inbhraite atá ag cur leigheas chun cinn ar léibhéal domhanda, ionann siad áitimh láidre ar son na maithe coitinne atá san ardoideachas. Tá infheistíocht i dtionscadail nua riachtanach chun seasamh an fóid sna ranguithe idirnáisiúnta. Tá cuid mhór de ranguithe Times Higher Education, a foilseofar sna seachtainí atá amach romhainn, bunaithe ar chlú taighde. Ní féidir bacainní a chur ar fhorbairtí nua i mbonneagar agus taighde dá bharr sin. Agus níos mó a mac léinn ag freastal ar ollscoileanna agus níos mó iomaíochta idirnáisiúnta roimh ollscoileanna na hEorpa, is gá do Choláiste na Tríonóide áiteamh ar son a thábhachta, ní hamháin in Éirinn ach timpeall an domhain freisin. Caithfidh Coláiste na Tríonóide an uaillmhian chéanna a chur le ráth IEB sa bhliain 2011. Is beag iad na cuimhneacháin atá ag daoine maidir le luach an ardoideachais. Ní cheart go mbeadh sé riachtanach, ach tá infheistíocht i dtionscadail uaillmhianacha ag teastáil ionas go mbeadh an Coláiste in ann a luach a léiriú.