Ireland’s government published three documents on 13 February that will set in motion radical reforms of higher education. Universities, institutes of technology and other affected institutions have been given six months to respond with proposals for change.
The process follows recommendations made in the National Strategy for Higher Education, published in February 2009, which called for major alterations, many of which were directed towards consolidating institutions. The Higher Education Authority documents provide a starting point for discussions.
The first document encourages institutions to review their role and structure in a reformed sector.
The second lays down the criteria for designating institutions as technological universities—a status long coveted by the institutes. It describes the standards that must be reached before an upgrading to university level would be granted.
The third document sets out a demand that universities and institutes within defined geographic areas must achieve levels of cooperation that maximise the value gained from state investment in the sector.
The goal is to produce a “more coherent system of higher education institutions”, said Tom Boland, chief executive of the HEA. He said that the agency expects to be in a position to make recommendations on the structure of higher education to the government “by the end of this year”.
The nature of the expected changes is a clear reflection of government policy to wrest a return from state investments. Education for education’s sake will not be a predominant feature of the new system.
The HEA said in a statement that it respects the autonomy of universities and other institutes and colleges but that “accountability for public funding and responsiveness to social and economic needs will be important objectives”.
The institutes responded favourably to the forthcoming period of debate given the tacit agreement that technological universities would be formed. The Irish Federation of University Teachers warned, however, that any consolidation must not result in the loss of experienced staff.
Ireland’s higher education sector has entered a period of profound change with the publication on 13 February of three documents proposing radical reform.
The universities, institutes of technology and other third-level institutions have now been given six months in which to make their own proposals for change.
The process follows a series of recommendations made under the National Strategy for Higher Education, published in February 2009. It called for major alterations, many of which were directed towards consolidation and new relationships between institutions.
The Higher Education Authority’s three discussion documents will provide a starting point for discussions.
‘Towards a Future Higher Education Landscape’ encourages institutions to review their role in a reformed sector and how their structures might change.
‘Process and Criteria for Designation as a Technological University’ lays down criteria for a status long coveted by the institutes. It describes the standards that must be reached before an upgrading to university level would be granted.
The third paper, ‘Guidelines on Regional Clusters’, sets out a demand that universities and institutes within defined geographic areas must achieve levels of cooperation that maximise the value gained from any state investment in the sector.
The goal is to produce a “more coherent system of higher education institutions,” said Tom Boland, chief executive officer of the HEA. The institutions have been given six months in which to make submissions.
The HEA in turn expects to be in a position to make recommendations to government “by the end of this year,” Boland said. By that time it plans to brief the education minister on appropriate structures for the sector.
The nature of the changes expected is a clear reflection of government policy to wrest a return from state investments. Education for education’s sake will not be a predominant feature of the new system.
While the HEA respected the autonomy of the universities and other third-level institutes and colleges in seeing to their own affairs, “accountability for public funding and responsiveness to social and economic needs will be important objectives,” it said in a statement.
The institutes responded favourably to the period of debate, given the tacit agreement that technological universities would be formed. The Irish Federation of University Teachers warned, however, that consolidation must not result in the loss of experienced staff within the third-level sector.