Professor Philip Nolan accuses universities of 'gaming' the CAO system to create 'impression of competition for places'

"Prof Nolan, who achieved a high national profile during the Covid‑19 pandemic as a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team, told principals and deputy principals of secondary schools, in a speech today, that colleges "tend to use CAO points as a marketing tool"."

"Professor Philip Nolan, a former member of Nphet, has said there is "a certain amount of institutional gaming and misuse" within the CAO points system, accusing third‑level institutions of "manufacturing prestige"."

Professor Philip Nolan, a former National Public Health Emergency Team member, criticized third-level institutions for institutional gaming within the CAO points system. He accused colleges of manufacturing prestige and using CAO points primarily as marketing tools rather than genuine academic measures. Nolan warned of an academic drive to establish elite cohorts within specific subject areas, highlighting systemic misuse of the points system. Speaking to secondary school principals and deputy principals, he emphasized how institutions strategically manipulate points to enhance their perceived status and attract students, undermining the integrity of the college admissions process.

Read at Independent