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The Returning and The Leaving

Posted in Biographical, Education, mathematics, Maynooth, Politics with tags , , on August 26, 2023 by telescoper

I got back to Maynooth last night after a pleasantly uneventful train journey. Just for the record both outward and return trips were perfectly on schedule. In fact it has been a very pleasant couple of days. Congratulations to the organizers for running the meeting so well and to all the speakers for delivering such an interesting programme. Next year’s INAM will be in Galway. I’m looking forward to it already!

Anyway, now I’m back I should mentioned that the 2023 Leaving Certificate results were released to students yesterday; the first round of CAO offers will go out on Wednesday 30th. Soon after that we will find out how many students we’ll have next year. Student enrolment begins on 11th September; Orientation Week for new students starts on Monday 18th September; and lectures start the following Monday (25th). I am on sabbatical for a year from next Friday (1st September) so I won’t be teaching the new students, but I know they’ll be in capable hands.

There’s a lot of discussion – much of it poorly informed – in the media about grade inflation in the Leaving Certificate (e.g. here). This happens every year (as it does with A-levels in the UK), and its very sad that people use this occasion to publicly disparage the accomplishments of students. The students can only take the examinations that are put in front of them. Any problems with the system are not their fault at all.

This year the problem stems from a decision by Minister for Education Norma Foley to impose a condition that overall grades this year would not be lower than last year. This has led to the deployment of scaling which has resulted in an uplift of around 8%. The Higher Mathematics Leaving Certificate results also benefitted from an alteration of the marking scheme because one of the papers was deemed to be too hard. Despite this, the number of students receiving the top grade of H1 fell this year from 18% to under 11%. One might argue that this disadvantages students applying to courses that actually require mathematics compared to those that don’t.

There seems to be a widespread misunderstanding that the CAO points required for a course is somehow a measure of the level of difficulty of that course. In most cases this is not the case: having a high points threshold is basically just a way of controlling the number of students allowed in. I find the connection that has been made between grade inflation and drop-out rates extremely unconvincing. High drop-out rates in recent years are probably dominated by the pandemic, housing crisis and cost of living increases, leading to many students struggling to study effectively.

During the pandemic years, grades were inflated by including coursework rather than examinations, a change enforced because of public health restrictions. The main argument for deliberate grade inflation this year was to prevent this year’s LC students being disadvantaged with respect to last year’s. It doesn’t seem to have occurred to the Government that the same argument could be used next year, and indeed forever. Fairly typically for a politician, kicking the can down the road for the next government to deal with seems to be strategy.

As a final thought, I find myself wondering what will happen to admissions at Maynooth this year. Will the decision by The Management to scrap the promised Student Centre have a big effect? And what about the further reputational harm caused by the recent furore over the Governing Authority? I suppose we’ll find out next week!

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Defend Democracy at Maynooth!

Posted in Education, Maynooth, Pedantry with tags , , on August 20, 2023 by telescoper
Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

A few weeks ago I blogged about the decision by the Management of Maynooth University  to scrap elections to the Governing Authority of the University. This was a shock to me and many other members of the Faculty at Maynooth and elsewhere. Coming out of the pandemic, during which we all undertook countless hours of unpaid overtime to keep the University going, I think we have the right to expect more from the Management than this expression of outright contempt. If the proposal is accepted, I fear much worse things are in store.

In response, the union IFUT, of which I am a member, started a petition protesting against this decision which now has over a thousand signatures.

We call on Maynooth University to reverse their decision to instigate selection and to restore the democratic election process for all five staff representatives on the Governing Authority.

The decision by MU’s Governing Authority and senior management to replace democratic elections with a selection process, whereby they assume, with the assistance of a private recruitment firm, the responsibility of handpicking staff representatives, is an attack on basic principles of democracy and good governance.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, and have signed the petition. If you agree please consider signing the petition too. You don’t have to be at Maynooth to sign it, nor even in Ireland. The issue faced here is far wider than one institution. It’s about the fundamental issue how a public university should be governed. Maynooth needs to learn that the institution should be run by consent and not coercion. A deliberate policy of alienating the academic, administrative and other support staff that make a university what it is is not the way forward.

The current Governing Authority is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday 22nd August, to consider the mess created by University leadership. It has a simple way out. Scrap the current plan and allow all five internal representatives to be elected. What can be controversial about that? The Management has failed to articulate any argument against elections other than, apparently, that it considers them “old-fashioned”. Insisting on selection versus election they have also refused to explain how the selection process would work. What is to stop the President loading the GA with Vice-Presidents that she herself appointed?

There’s a an article in today’s Sunday Independent that reports on the outcome of an IFUT meeting held last Friday in which members were unanimous in supporting elections for all staff representatives on the GA. It’s now up to the Governing Authority to decide whether it wants a functioning university or not.

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Winding Up

Posted in Biographical, Education, Maynooth with tags , , , on August 16, 2023 by telescoper

This morning, we held the last meeting this academic year of the Departmental Examination Board to look over the results of the recent repeat examinations ahead of the final upload this afternoon. That having been satisfactorily completed, I have now finished my teaching-related duties for this academic year. I start a year’s sabbatical on 1st September, so I won’t be attending more Exam Boards for a while!

Another loose end to be dealt with was the Departmental Twitter account, which I have been running. Twitter is really terrible these days and I have decided to deactivate my own personal account entirely on 31st August. The departmental account probably should stay open, so this afternoon I transferred its controls to our Departmental Adminstrator. Just before doing so, I realised that the password was a bit rude, so I quickly changed it to something more presentable before handing it over to avoid embarrassment.

If you want to follow that account, by the way, you can!

All I have left to do now is remove a few personal things from my office for whoever uses it next academic year. I’ve got plenty of time to do that, although I will be away for part of next week (way down South, in Cork).

Tonight, however, although it’s a school night, I think I’ll celebrate by having a little drink and watching the Super Cup Final between Man City and Sevilla the telly box. Cheers!

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Break Points

Posted in Biographical, Education, Maynooth with tags , , , on August 11, 2023 by telescoper

Well, that’s one reasonably large set of tasks finished. Today I completed the grading of my repeat examinations. The marks are now checked and uploaded to the system. For good measure, I also checked the marking of a few papers done by other staff. So that’s all done and dusted in time for a meeting of the Examination Board next week at which we’ll peruse the outcomes.

It’s strange to think that this will be the last set of examinations I have to correct until January 2025. I’m away on sabbatical from September 1st 2023 until 31st August 2024 so have no teaching duties until the First Semester of 2024, with examinations coming the following January. Although I realize the assessment of student learning is important, setting and marking examinations is not something that I greatly enjoy so it will be very nice to have a break from it.

Earlier this week the President of Maynooth University sent around a missive to all staff about the news that had leaked out about the proposed merger with Dundalk IT. That email referred twice to the “summer break”. It is ironic that such wording should be used right in the middle of repeat examination period. The last few weeks certainly haven’t felt like a break to me! It’s yet another indication of the gulf between the view that Senior Management have of academic life and the reality.

By the way, the aforementioned Presidential circular promised that staff would be fully updated in the Autumn about the proposed merger. I hope in this new spirit of openness the President will also update staff about the outcomes of the “Staff Climate and Culture Survey” which was carried out in 2022. The promise was made then that results would be published in early 2023. No such results have ever been communicated to staff and all mention of this survey has been wiped off the University’s web pages.

Having finished exam marking duties for the academic year, my attention will now turn to other things to be done before I take off for sabbatical land. Next week I have cleared the decks to complete a paper I’ve been struggling over for a long time. Just before the repeat examinations started I spotted the error that was holding me back, so hopefully it will now all fall quickly into place. I’ll be very happy if I can get that submitted before leaving.

In the mean time, though, it’s time for a wine break. Cheers!

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ITP 2023 at Maynooth

Posted in Biographical, Education, Maynooth, The Universe and Stuff on August 9, 2023 by telescoper

I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment with marking repeat examinations but, now that I have three packs done and only one to go, I thought I’d do a quick advertisement for a little meeting that takes place in Maynooth about a month from now. This is the annual Irish Theoretical Physics (ITP) Meeting which takes place in a different location in Ireland each yea. Last year it was at DIAS in Dublin; this year it’s Maynooth’s turn.

In the pat these meetings have been given different names, including Irish Quantum Foundations (IQF) and Irish Quantum Field Theory (IQFT), as well as ITP. For this reason I usually refer to it as ITPQF+…

You can find out more about the meeting here, including instructions on how to register should you wish to do so! The detailed scientific programme will be announced in due course, though there is a rumour that I might be giving a public talk on the first evening.

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The Existentialist University: A Strategic Plan for Authentic Learning

Posted in Education, Maynooth with tags , , on August 8, 2023 by telescoper

Guess who has been playing with an AI text generator again?

I. Introduction

In the vast cosmos of knowledge, we find ourselves, a university, a microcosm of the universe itself. We are not merely an institution, but a collective entity, a gathering of minds seeking to understand the essence of existence. Our strategic plan, therefore, is not a mere roadmap, but a philosophical treatise, a reflection of our existentialist ethos.

II. Vision

Our vision is to cultivate an environment where students are not just passive recipients of knowledge, but active seekers of truth. We aim to foster a culture of questioning, where the essence of learning is not in the answers, but in the pursuit of questions. We envision a university where education is not a means to an end, but an end in itself.

III. Mission

Our mission is to create a space where students can confront the absurdity of existence, and find meaning in their own individuality. We strive to nurture minds that are not confined by societal norms, but are free to explore the depths of their own consciousness. We aim to produce graduates who are not just equipped with skills, but with the courage to face the existential angst of life.

IV. Core Values

1. Authenticity: We value authenticity over conformity. We encourage our students to be true to themselves, to embrace their uniqueness, and to resist the pressure to fit into predefined molds.

2. Freedom: We uphold the freedom of thought, the freedom to question, and the freedom to dissent. We believe that true learning can only occur in an environment where minds are free to explore, to challenge, and to innovate.

3. Responsibility: We emphasize the responsibility that comes with freedom. We instill in our students the understanding that they are the authors of their own lives, and that every choice they make shapes their destiny.

V. Strategic Goals

1. Curriculum Development: To develop a curriculum that encourages critical thinking, fosters existential inquiry, and promotes self-discovery.

2. Faculty Development: To attract and retain faculty who are not just experts in their fields, but are also committed to our existentialist ethos.

3. Student Engagement: To create opportunities for students to engage in meaningful dialogues, to participate in existential debates, and to express their individuality.

4. Community Engagement: To extend our existentialist ethos beyond the university, and to engage with the wider community in discussions about the meaning of life, the nature of existence, and the purpose of education.

VI. Conclusion

In the face of an ever-changing world, our strategic plan is not a rigid blueprint, but a flexible guide. It is a reflection of our commitment to existentialist principles, and our belief in the power of education to transform lives. We invite all members of our university community to join us in this existential journey, as we strive to create a university that is not just a place of learning, but a space for authentic living.

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Lá Saoire i mí Lúnasa

Posted in Biographical, Education, Maynooth with tags , , , on August 7, 2023 by telescoper

Today, Monday 7th August 2023, being the first Monday in August, is a Bank Holiday in Ireland. This holiday was created by the Bank Holiday Act of 1871 when Ireland was under British rule. While the August Bank holiday was subsequently moved to the end of August in England and Wales, it has remained at the start of August in Ireland. Today is also a Bank Holiday in Scotland, though the Scots have the best of both worlds and have a holiday at the end of August too.

I recently mentioned that 1st August marks the old Celtic festival of Lughnasadh, named after the God Lugh, on which is celebrated the beginning of the harvest season. This coincides with the English Lammas Day one of many Christian festivals with pagan origins. Traditionally this marks the start of the harvest season and is celebrated accordingly, with rites involving the first fruit and bread baked from flour obtained from the first corn. It is also one of the cross-quarter days, lying roughly half-way between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere).

In the Northern hemisphere, from an astronomical point of view, the solar year is defined by the two solstices (summer, around June 21st and winter, around December 21st) and the equinoxes (spring, around March 21st, and Autumn, around September 21st). These four events divide the year into four roughly equal parts of about 13 weeks each.

Now, if you divide each of these intervals in two you divide the year into eight pieces of six and a bit weeks each. The dates midway between the astronomical events mentioned above are (roughly) :

  • 1st February: Imbolc (Candlemas)
  • 1st May: Beltane (Mayday)
  • 1st August: Lughnasadh (Lammas)
  • 1st November: Samhain (All Saints Day)

The names I’ve added are taken from the Celtic/neo-Pagan (and Christian terms) for these cross-quarter days. These timings are rough because the dates of the equinoxes and solstices vary from year to year. Imbolc is often taken to be the 2nd of February (Groundhog Day) and Samhain is sometimes taken to be October 31st, Halloween. But hopefully you get the point.

It seems to be a tradition in Maynooth that the Bank Holidays in May and August are are adjacent to examinations. This year the repeat examinations began on 1st August. My first paper (of four) was on Saturday and I have two more on Tuesday (tomorrow). That means by the end of tomorrow I will have three packets of scripts to mark…

There are two ways of looking at the fact that the day before these exams is a holiday. One is that students have an extra day to revise. Another is that the holiday is ruined by having to prepare for examinations.

Anyway, by the time the Solstice arrives I will hopefully away on sabbatical.

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Defend Democracy at Maynooth University

Posted in Education, Maynooth with tags , on August 3, 2023 by telescoper

A few weeks ago I mentioned on this blog the appalling decision by the President to scrap elections to the Governing Authority of the University in favour of having representatives chosen only by The Management. This contempt for democratic processes is just one example of the increasingly authoritarian administration of the University. Can anyone justify the complete disenfranchisement of the staff of the University from the governance of the University? Or that an executive body should itself select the board to which it is supposed to be accountable?

Within the last week, an article appeared in the Independent that contained the following:

A university spokeswoman said the governing authority “is reflecting on the recent feedback from some staff about the process for establishing a new governing authority”. The new governing body was to be put in place later this year. “The governing authority is scheduled to meet on August 22 to consider the most appropriate way forward on this issue,” she added.​

Independent, Sunday 30th July.

Note the use of an “anonymous spokeswoman”. I have no idea who this person is, nor who gives her authority to speak on behalf of the governing authority. This state of affairs is symptomatic of the complete detachment of The Management from the rest of us at the University. The story suggests that the University is going to consider different options for appointments to the new Governing Authority. Perhaps it should have considered a bit more before trying to ram through a massively unpopular process that has brought the management into such disrepute that its poor governance is now appearing regularly in the news media?

Anyway, in my opinion the only sensible approach is to restore elections to the Governing Authority. I’m not the only one to think this. In fact there is a petition raised by the Union IFUT:

We call on Maynooth University to reverse their decision to instigate selection and to restore the democratic election process for all five staff representatives on the Governing Authority.

It goes on to say

The decision by MU’s Governing Authority and senior management to replace democratic elections with a selection process, whereby they assume, with the assistance of a private recruitment firm, the responsibility of handpicking staff representatives, is an attack on basic principles of democracy and good governance.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, and have signed the petition. I encourage you to do likewise. You can sign it here. And please spread the news of the petition as widely as you can. This is a battle we can’t afford to lose, as experience suggests it is the thin end of a very sinister wedge.

I’ll just add a more general point. If The Management thinks that the deliberate alienation of its staff is a recipe for a successful high education institution then it has another think coming. Perhaps it should consider working with its academics rather than against them?

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A Marxist University Strategic Plan

Posted in Education, Politics with tags , on August 2, 2023 by telescoper

I asked an AI text generator to write a University strategic plan using language inspired by revolutionary Marxist ideology. 

–0–

Title: A Revolutionary Blueprint for the Liberation of Academia

Introduction:

In a world plagued by capitalist exploitation and class struggle, our University stands as a potential beacon of hope, empowering the masses through education and disseminating revolutionary knowledge. This strategic plan aims to dismantle oppressive structures, challenge the prevailing bourgeois ideology, and create a training ground for future Marxist revolutionaries.

1. Mission Statement:

Our mission is to cultivate a class-conscious academic community that aims to dismantle the prevailing capitalist neoliberal order, liberate the proletariat, and build a socialist society based on equality, justice, and collective ownership of the means of production.

2. Curriculum Reform:

a) The fundamental aim of our curriculum will be to decolonize knowledge, expose the hidden power dynamics embedded within it, and weave an emancipatory narrative from a Marxist perspective.

b) Introduce mandatory courses on critical theory, historical materialism, and class struggle that challenge dominant paradigms.

c) Ensure that the curriculum reflects the experiences and ideas of historically marginalized groups, giving voice to their struggles and promoting solidarity among all oppressed peoples.

3. Faculty and Staff:

a) Establish strict selection criteria to ensure that faculty and staff align with our revolutionary vision and principles, actively engage in anti-capitalist research and activism, and prioritize pedagogical engagement.

b) Encourage the formation of faculty and staff unions to safeguard against exploitation, regularly review salaries to ensure equitable compensation, and provide opportunities for professional development.

c) Encourage the recruitment of scholars from historically oppressed communities, diversifying perspectives and challenging dominant knowledge production.

4. Campus Community:

a) Create safe spaces for open discussions and political organizing, fostering an environment that encourages class-consciousness, solidarity, and resistance.

b) Establish student support systems that address financial burdens, mental health struggles, and any form of discrimination or oppression.

c) Promote democratic decision-making processes in all aspects of university governance, where students, faculty, and staff have equal voices in shaping the university’s direction.

5. Research and Activism:

a) Encourage and support research that critically examines capitalist exploitation, exposes the contradictions of the system, and offers alternatives for a just socialist society.

b) Forge alliances and partnerships with grassroots organizations, labour movements, and other revolutionary groups to nurture a culture of activism and revolutionary praxis.

c) Prioritize research that positively impacts working-class communities, seeking solutions to their pressing problems and involving them in the research process.

6. Community Engagement:

a) Forge strong ties with working-class communities, initiating outreach programs that offer educational resources and promote social mobility.

b) Establish partnerships with trade unions and labor organizations to provide students with opportunities for practical learning and connection to real-world struggles.

c) Collaborate with progressive organizations to advocate for policy changes that address socio-economic inequalities and pave the way for a socialist transformation.

Conclusion:

This strategic plan strives to create an academically rigorous, politically conscious, and inclusive environment that nurtures critical thinking, challenges capitalist hegemony, and empowers students, faculty, and staff towards the emancipation of the working class. By implementing these measures, our University will become a bulwark of Marxist education, fostering the next generation of revolutionaries who will shape a society based on justice, equality, and liberation.

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The Battle of Mission Drift

Posted in Education, Maynooth on August 2, 2023 by telescoper

Here is a concise description of the effect on the morale of academic staff at Maynooth University of the current strategy of expanding the number of senior administrators at Maynooth University at the expense of resources for teaching and research.

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