GMIT apologises for lecturer Zoom comments about students

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology has apologised after two lecturers were overheard at the end of a Zoom session with students discussing the performance of students in crude terms, as well as speculating on private details of students’ lives.

In a statement the college’s President, Dr Orla Flynn, said she wanted to apologise to the students for the hurt caused by the data breach.

Footage of the incident has been circulated on social media in recent days. In it, two female lecturers are heard discussing what one characterises as the “very weak” performance of students during online presentations they have just made.

It is clear that the two believe they are speaking privately and are not aware of the fact that some students can hear them, and that they are being recorded. Referring to students by name they speculate as to whether one student has a disability.

They are heard complaining about the student’s performances while calculating the marks they are going to award.

Dr Orla Flynn said the college was taking the breach of GMIT policies and data protection legislation seriously and also added that apologies will be issued to the students directly concerned.