We're Hiring: Student Voice Development Manager

The Student Voice Development Manager will manage the secretarial functions of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union and will have responsibility for delivering organisational growth, fulfilling administrative and research/communications functions and is tasked with executing ISSU policy.

The role also includes representative responsibilities in line with the ISSU’s objective of supporting student voice. The successful candidate will be tasked with fostering the continued development of the national organisation and enabling the work of the ISSU National Student Executive.

CONTRACT LENGTH: Reporting to the Board of Directors and to be employed on a two year fixed-term contract, and subject to completion of a 6-month probation period.

WORKING HOURS: 37.50 hours (on a flexi-time basis). Occasional out-of-office hours may be required.

For more information and to apply online, see careers.issu.ie

Students Should Not Be Forced To Sit State Exams During Medical Emergencies

The Irish Second-Level Student`s Union (ISSU) is calling on the Department of Education & Skills and the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to put in place a provision allowing students who are experiencing medical emergencies at the time of their Leaving Certificate exams, so that they have the option to defer the exams and sit them in July along with students who deferred exams due to bereavement.

President of the ISSU, Ciara Fanning commented on the issue, saying “We at the ISSU want students to be able to reach their true potential in the education system. This means allowing students to be in a fit state mentally and physically, whilst sitting the exams that are the culmination of 6 years of second-level education. In no way should students still be feeling the effects of medical emergencies or strong anaesthetics whilst sitting the exam. We are calling on Minister McHugh and the SEC to change this and change it fast so no more students are forced to sit their exams during medical emergencies. These students deserve empathy for their situations and respect in the way they are treated.”.

Ms. Fanning noted that there are many stories of students who had to sit their exams while experiencing medical emergencies. The ISSU has been told stories of students who have been forced to sit Leaving Certificate exams having just given birth, having been in a car crash and having undergone serious operations.

The ISSU recently released a video featuring one of these students, Amy Richards, who sat her Leaving Cert this past June ( Video Link: http://tiny.cc/nex89y ). Amy underwent emergency surgery for acute appendicitis at 1am on the morning of English Paper 1. The surgery lasted four hours, finishing at 5 am. Moments prior to beginning her English Paper One exam she was informed that she was in fact lucky to be alive, being told she had a blood infection, a gangrenous appendix and a large abscess in her stomach. 

Having undergone a serious operation during which she was under general anaesthetic, it is clear that Ms. Richards was not in any state, either physically or mentally to sit a Leaving Certificate exam. It is cases like this that the ISSU wishes to cease from happening. Students experiencing serious medical emergencies during their exams must be shown empathy, and the respect for their health that they deserve. This can be done through the extension of the July deferral scheme for bereaved students to those who are experiencing medical emergencies. 

Check out the video with Amy Richards here: http://tiny.cc/nex89y

National Student Executive (NSE) Takes Office

The National Student Executive (NSE) of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union has taken their seat for the upcoming year. Elected at the Annual Assembly on April 23rd, the incoming officers have been cooperating with the outgoing NSE over the past weeks to ensure a strong transition and handover. 

ISSU President Ciara Fanning stated “We are delighted to welcome our new NSE officer and to start the year with the new Executive. We were incredibly impressed by the incredible ideas and projects presented at the Annual Assembly and are looking forward to a productive year on behalf of all second-level students of Ireland”.

Pictured (l-r): Sarah Harte (Honorary President), Eiman Elsir (Communications Officer), Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh (Student Council Support Officer), Gearoid O’Donovan (Education Officer), Chloe Griffin (Deputy President), Eric Ehigie (Equality Officer), Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí (Oifigeach na Gaeilge), Ciara Fanning (President), Luke Casserly (Secretary), Seán Carey (Welfare Officer), Nadine Toye (International Officer). 

The National Student Executive (NSE) 2019-2020 are;

President: Ciara Fanning 

Deputy President: Chloe Griffin

Secretary:  Luke Casserly

Education Officer: Gearoid O'Donovan

Welfare Officer: Sean Carey

Equality Officer: Eric Ehigie

Student Council Support Officer: Caoilfhinn Ní Choilligh

Communications Officer: Eiman Elsir

Oifigeach na Gaeilge: Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí

International Officer: Nadine Toye

Honorary President: Sarah Harte

ISSU meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

ISSU Welfare Officer Eric Ehigie meets An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium

Member's of the ISSU National Student Executive were delighted to have participated in the Future Jobs Summit at the Aviva Stadium which brought together over 160 stakeholders from all aspects of society to discuss what jobs and careers will look like in the future. Over 65% of professionals surveyed believed that their skills will be inapt or out of date within 4 years. We need to ensure that students are adaquately equipped with the relevant skills to adapt and diversify as they will have to in the future. This means reforming the leaving cert to ensure that creativity, critical thinking and analytical skills are promoted and part of the curriculum. 

Members of our NSE quizzed An Taoiseach and the Minister for Education on LC reform and insisted that the student voice must always be heard.