World

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Launches a Fund-Raising Appeal to Replace the Slates of the Building

Published

7 years ago

May 15, 2019

DUBLIN – Dr. William Morton, the Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral has raised a fund-raising appeal for the replacement of slates of the higher roofs of the building. In the appeal, members of the public, in person and online have been invited to involve in philanthropic activities regarding sponsoring of slates. The decision has been taken as the roofs have encountered some problems due to aging. The slates are being sourced from the Welsh state mine and it is the same source which was used to get slates for the restoration in the 19th century.

Rusting of nails and delamination of some plates are the popular reasons why the steps to carry out the restoration work has been decided to execute. In the 1860s, the Cathedral took such a big project which was funded by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. Also, he supervised the full-scale restoration of the building personally. Currently, the project demands the entire roofs to be re-slated which would cost 9 million euros. Many big slate units have enrolled themselves in such restoration work and slateandmarble.co.uk is one such entity from Welsh which is popular for carrying out such works. This entity is also known for providing Welsh slate house signs and engravings. And that is one of the reasons why it has enrolled for such tasks many times.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral has been popular for choral worship and its Choir School, which is the oldest school in Ireland. Also, it is counted in the top tourist attractions in Dublin and over 6 lakh people visited it in the year 2018. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is also famous for various arts events such as musical and choral recitals, exhibitions and lectures. Many other workshops and events are organized annually in its Education Department for children.

Dean Morton said that it is imperative to carry out the fundraising work for the restoration of slate and marble on a large scale in order to preserve the 800 years of history of the Cathedral. The starting price for individual sponsorship packages is 50 euros. Donors could also donate a slate in the memory of their loved ones. He said that 5 million euros have already been raised and they are hopeful that they would meet the financial target in the near future.

World

Swiss International University Makes Global Impact with Top 500 Times Higher Education Ranking

Published

4 weeks ago

June 24, 2026

Jenny Jackson

Swiss International University (SIU) got a real kind of milestone , when it landed inside the worlds top 500 universities in the newest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Which is kind of huge because it is SIU’s first time appearing in those widely respected rankings, and it also shows how its influence keeps growing in international higher education.

SIU was competing with nearly 2,000 universities from different parts of the world, and that first debut basically underlines its dedication to academic quality, sustainability and a real societal footprint. Overall it seems like the result mirrors SIU’s own plan for delivering solid education , while also aligning with bigger global development objectives.

Now, the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings look at universities through what they do for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , or SDGs. So the assessment is about universities creating verifiable positive change through education, research, community activities, plus governance— not just statements.

One of SIU’s strongest areas was the recognition tied to SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In that section, SIU placed roughly within the top 100 to 200 universities worldwide, and that points to its focus on advancing ethical leadership, transparency, accountability, and those institutional values that actually stick.

This recognition shows SIU keeps working hard to get students ready, with the know-how , the ability to act and those ethical foundations, so they can face tangled global problems. And you know, by supporting responsible leadership and pushing for good social results, the university keeps building up its part in shaping the next generation of professionals and people who make real decisions

Key Highlights of SIU’s Achievement

• Ranked Among the World’s Top 500 Universities

In its first-ever participation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, SIU managed to land a spot among the top 500 universities worldwide.

• Outstanding Performance in SDG 16

SIU reached a ranking in the top 100 to 200 range, across the globe, for its work related to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

• Strengthening Global Academic Presence

This win also reinforces SIU’s long-term vision, and it further tightens its standing as an emerging influence in international higher education.

Recognition from Times Higher Education is an important endorsement of SIU’s mission, to give accessible high-quality education while also making a positive impact in society. As the university keeps expanding its academic offerings and international reach, this milestone , works like a solid base for what comes next—future growth, more innovation, and that global recognition everyone is aiming for.