The reports to which the Deputy refers were undertaken by Professor Malcolm Skilbeck and Dr. Helen Connell on behalf of the Higher Education Authority and were published last month. They acknowledge the growing movement to advance equity in higher education and note that considerable progress has been made, notably through the substantial quantitative growth of third level places and the establishment of a greater diversity of institutions and programmes in recent decades. However, the reports note the continued serious under-representation of lower socio-economic groups, the limited success of women in climbing the career ladder in academia and the significant barriers facing students with disabilities. They also outline the range of barriers facing each target group and consider the range of policy responses across the international community.
In setting out a range of propositions to increase equity in higher education, Professor Skilbeck comments that there is no single solution to the problem. I welcome the publication of these reports, which set a context for our higher education institutions to develop policies in relation to equity and access.
Our higher education institutions have statutory obligations to promote equality both in terms of gender equality and in terms of equality of opportunity for all sections of society. Accordingly, the goal of achieving equity in higher education is a central pillar of educational policy and I have already indicated my commitment to tackling issues of under-representation at higher levels. I am looking forward to the major forum on equity issues in higher education which the Higher Education Authority intends to host in the autumn and which will provide an oppor tunity to consider the issues and strategies in relation to access and equity which have been raised in the reports.