IRCSET
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The IRCSET (Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology) is an independent Irish government agency funded through the National Development Plan, that supports fundamental research and education through its Embark Initiative. In 2006 over 180 research scholarship awards were made for postgraduate study across universities in Ireland through a competitive process that is arguably flawed and biased towards the selection of students with particular backrounds and research areas and does not necessarily assess candidates solely on the basis of academic merit.
The current IRCSET chairperson is Professor Jane Grimson, of Trinity College Dublin.
[edit] Timeline
- 2001: Established in June of this year by the Minister for Education and Science in Ireland. Launched the basic research grant scheme, jointly with Enterprise Ireland in December
- 2002: Launched the postgraduate research scholarship awards
- 2003: Launched the postdoctoral fellowship awards
- 2006: Launched the Graduate Research Education Program exploratory grant awards
The Embark Initiative is part of Ireland's drive to encourage 4th level or postgraduate research in Ireland. The aim is to promote Ireland as an international centre of excellence and achievement in research by encouraging students and researchers to pursue a full-time career in their chosen research area.
