An insider's guide to education:It may have slipped under the radar but that recent ASTI decision to insist on a full postal ballot of members on all key decisions represents a significant event in Irish education.

Could it represent the end of an era and mark the point where the union's 17,000 members become more influential?

That is certainly how the vote is being interpreted in the Department of Education, where some senior figures are delighted with what one called this vote for "democracy and moderation".

The ASTI's chief moderate - its general secretary, John White (right) - and many of his senior personnel are also delighted with the move. But don't expect any public flag-waving. Instead, they are keeping quiet, having secured a landmark victory.

Another year, another Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) conference which failed to attract any national publicity. Maybe it's all the media's fault.

But here's a question: should IFUT not be more proactive at this time of great turbulence at third level?

We know how universities love to reach out to their former graduates. So how come DCU was charging graduates an annual €30 membership fee for use of its library?

Happily, this policy has been overturned - thanks in no small measure to Ken Murray, political correspondent of International News Network (INN) - and DCU graduate - who pursued the issue with some vigour. Graduates can now use the library without payment for research purposes, but a fee is charged if they take out books.

Eight institutes of technology (IOTs) failed in their bids for research funding under the €200 million Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI).

The unlucky ones include IOTs in Letterkenny, Limerick, Athlone, Dundalk, Carlow, Dún Laoghaire, Sligo, Tralee and Galway/Mayo.

This outcome raises questions about the wider role of the IOTs. Is it fair, for example, to have IOTs with a limited research capacity competing for funds with the big universities?

The current head of the council for the IOTs, Richard Thorn, convened a meeting with all the institute directors in Limerick recently to consider their future role. Now that they are operating under the ambit of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the institutes are looking to HEA chief Tom Boland for "that vision thing".

Got any education gossip? E-mail us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie