Jenny Maguire: Everyone loses when colleges are treated as cash cows - and BIMM is far from the only one

The ongoing strike at BIMM Dublin reflects a troubling trend in higher education where institutions are increasingly viewed as profit-generating entities. Opened in 2010, BIMM serves over 500 students with its Commercial Modern Music BA course, producing notable alumni. Despite offering degrees accredited by TUD, BIMM's private ownership raises concerns about educational quality due to financial motivations. Critics argue that underfunding and a profit-oriented perspective compromise the educational experience, likening third-level management practices in Ireland to those of US institutions, prioritizing financial benefits over student success.

BIMM is a symptom of the growing trend in third-level education where institutions prioritize profit over providing a quality student experience.

Private colleges such as BIMM highlight how third-level institutions have become too focused on financial gain rather than educational excellence.

Read at Irish Independent