Written Answers. - Third Level Attrition Rates.
Tom Enright
Question:
36
Mr. Enright
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the fact the one in five students fail to finish their first year in third level colleges; the plans, if any, he has to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20000/99]
Nora Owen
Question:
54
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he has satisfied himself that measures are in place in the institutes of technology to reduce the first year non-completion rate from the 37 per cent established in the pilot study; and the arrangements, if any, he has made to collect accurate and comparable retention rate figures from all of the third level sector.
[20023/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 54 together.
The subject of attrition rates is a complex one and figures on attrition across higher education have not yet been established on a common and comparable basis.
In relation to the university sector, the Higher Education Authority carried out a study in 1994, which indicated an overall completion rate of 81 per cent, which is high by international standards, for those entering in 1989-90. The Authority has commissioned the Educational Research Centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra to undertake a further detailed study in this area and a report should be available by the end of 1999.
At my request, the Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology has commissioned the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, to also undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of non-completion in the institutes, which will consist of a quantitative analysis to track a cohort of students over a four year period and a qualitative study of students who leave without graduating.
The research project team has visited each of the institutes of technology and has developed a standard format of questionnaire to which institutes of technology have responded regarding the variables that influence progression and retention for each course. The research project team is in the process of collating this data. Discussions are taking place with the Dublin Institute of Technology regarding a similar and comparable study.
In addition to this I am supporting and promoting a number of initiatives in the technological sector to assist the compilation of a data base on attrition-drop out rates and to develop appropriate strategies to address the issues. The Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology has established a national committee on retention with representatives from each institute to focus on "maximising success rates" for institutes' students. The committee has assembled a profile of current good practice in relation to retention across the sector. The profile has been made available to all institutes of technology.
Institutes of technology continue to introduce a range of initiatives and support services seeking to improve completion rates. These include induction-orientation programmes, course information services, tutor services and systems designed for the early identification of "at risk" first year students.
As part of a two-year funding initiative to tackle educational disadvantaged at third level, I am providing £1.5 million over the period 1999-2000 to address the issue of non-completion of courses in the technological sector. This funding supports and complements the programmes already in place and will have regard to the recommendations of the committee in relation to the funding of action projects and programmes both short and long-term based on best practice. In addition, I have indicated to the institutes of technology that £8 of the students services charge is to be dedicated to projects linked to attrition and access. The institutes have been requested to furnish the proposals for the attrition-access initiatives which are to benefit in this way. I am also actively addressing the provision of science and technology in second level schools, a provision of particular importance in preparing persons for successful participation in technical courses at third level.
A computerised management information systems project is currently being developed as part of the ongoing work to establish modern financial and administrative systems for the institutes of technology. The project has the aim of supporting the efficient and effective administration of the institutions and providing both the institutions and my Department with timely and accurate management information for a variety of purposes. This new system will provide enhanced information on attrition and the results from the initiatives above will be fed into this project.
