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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - RTC Civil Engineering Courses.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

204 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if she will upgrade to degree status the civil engineering courses being run by regional technical colleges. [7159/96]

The White Paper on Education sets out that the primary focus of regional technical colleges will be to provide non-degree level programmes and a limited level of degree provision. It states that the degree provision should take account of student, economic and social needs, as well as the academic capability of individual institutions to provide degree level programmes. The programmes should reflect an appropriately balanced output of graduates from certificate, diploma and degree programmes, with reference to the occupational and skill needs of the economy.

The Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education recommends that, as a guideline across the regional technical college sector as a whole, programme planning should be on the basis that not more than 20 per cent of those completing would do so at degree level.

The provision of courses in the regional technical college sector is initially a matter for the college authorities. However, any proposal to upgrade certificate or diploma courses to degree status would have to be examined in my Department in the context of the foregoing recommendations as well as the implications for additional resources.

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