Chalk Talk

Reasons to be cheerful
NUI Galway had particular reason to be happy about last week's Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Although it remained within its band – universities in 301st to 350th position – it moved up 22 places, to 314th. It also moved up in last month's QS World University Rankings, to 284th position.

NUIG president Jim Browne said it was "very good news", as it was the only Irish university to improve its position in both ranking systems. The Times ranking doesn't give the media a breakdown within the bands, but Galway got the detail as a participant.

Unfortunately for Irish universities, moving up the rankings is helped considerably if the university has money to push about. Money talks, and Irish universities are suffering in that regard. Apart from the impact of staff cuts on quality, an institution with clapped-out facilities and dodgy labs can’t match, for example, the palaces of education being built on the Pacific rim. One business commentator, involved in Irish academia, is convinced money being poured into these new universities, some built and funded by large local industries, will knock less well-supported European universities back down the rankings.

No matter how good they are, no matter how fast they run, Irish universities will be passed out by better-funded institutions. The Irish Universities Association's take on it: "Winning in the rankings game requires a fat chequebook".

Making connections
Linguaswap was one of seven projects awarded the European Language Label on Friday for innovative ways of teaching and learning languages. Developed by Anne Burke, Aisling Crowley, Rhoda Brooke and Siobhán Carley, teachers at Colaiste Bhríde in Carnew, Co Wicklow, it's the first online language-swapping website for second-level students globally. Linguaswap (linguaswap.com) creates a database of language learners in Europe and is a secure forum for chat via video link – like penpals in the 21st century. The other winners for creative ways to improve language teaching were Aistear in Dublin (aistear.ie); an Seomra Ranga Ilteangach, Griffeen Valley Educate Together NS, Co Dublin (gveducate.org); Medisigns, interesourcegroup.com; NUIG Diploma in Italian Online (nuigalway.ie/italian), the first Irish university to offer a fully accredited online diploma in Italian; the Refugee Access Programme, City of Dublin ETB (separatedchildren service.ie); and Fáilte Isteach, Co Meath (thirdageireland.ie). The award is coordinated by the European Commission and managed by Léargas.

Scat, kids, there's a referendum
Remind us again why thousands of our children are turfed out of their schools every time there is an election or a referendum. We already have a very short school year, and surely it's not beyond the scope of those who organise elections to do so without disrupting education, quite aside from inconveniencing parents. Principals could stand up and say no. Some school halls (turned polling stations) could be cut off from the rest of the school, allowing the school day to continue; in other cases, find an alternative – a community hall or council facility. Habit is no excuse: the way we do things can always be improved.

News or gossip about education front? education@irishtimes.com