College of Surgeons, beans on toast, #TrasnaNadTonnta and Liam Neeson

News, views and opinions from Student Hub contributors and Irish Times writers

Seán Kyne TD, Minister of State for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands with Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge, writer and poet Ciara Ní É, Paula Melvin, Fulbright Commission of Ireland and James Kelly, Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF). Photograph: Conor McCabe Photography
Seán Kyne TD, Minister of State for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands with Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge, writer and poet Ciara Ní É, Paula Melvin, Fulbright Commission of Ireland and James Kelly, Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF). Photograph: Conor McCabe Photography

The 235-year-old Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) is set to become the country's eighth university under new legislation likely to complete its passage through the Oireachtas shortly. Carl O'Brien reports.

What's in a name? A lot, if you are a college trying to attract international students and lucrative research funding. Read more here.

Should every individual have a right to access higher or further education after they leave school? Read more here.

Are you hungry? Why not check out The Student Digestive and try your hand at Deborah Ryan's homemade posh beans on toast - a more mature version of the humble beans on toast! Read more here.

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The six-year route to qualifying as a second-level teacher is a long, winding and expensive road. Áine McMahon asks why is it so expensive to become a teacher.

Whoopi Goldberg has defended Liam Neeson in the wake of a controversy over racially charged comments made by the Irish actor. The star of Sister Act insisted Neeson was not a racist, saying she had known Neeson for a very long time and he was not a "bigot". Read more here.

Irish Times writers look at six of the best films to see at the cinema this weekend New this weekend: If Beale Street Could Talk, All Is True, Boy Erased, 1985. Read more here.