Question:
321 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to address the large number of drop-outs from the institutes of technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21746/00]
Written Answers. - Third Level Education.
The issue of non-completion at third level is a complex one and figures on attrition across higher education have not yet been established on a common and comparable basis. There is no simple explanation and no one simple initiative that will address the issue. Factors such as motivation, capabilities and suitability are all involved. There must also, of course, be a balance between completion rates on programmes and maintaining the necessary, objective standards. The challenge of maximising completion rates, consistent with maintaining appropriate standards is a matter, in the first instance, for individual institutes of technology and the National Council for Educational Awards.
At the request of my Department, the council of directors of institutes of technology has commissioned the Education Research Centre, Drumcondra, to undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of non-completion in the institutes, which consists 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.
Extracts from a first draft of the report, in respect of the quantitative analysis above were published in the media in August of this year. It was reported that a study of achievement rates in 11 institutes of technology found that two out of five students drop out without completing their courses. It was further reported that in engineering and computing the figure rose to 50% and that in six particular courses it was 80% or more. It is understood that the report will be formally submitted to my Department shortly. Meanwhile, the second part of the study is proceeding.
The Dublin Institute of Technology is also conducting a two year quantitative and qualitative investigation of student withdrawal within the institute, which is a similar and comparable study to that commissioned by the Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology.
The above studies are being funded by my Department.
In addition to this, I am supporting and promoting a number of initiatives in the technological sector to assist the compilation of a database 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 disadvantage at third level, I am providing £1.5 million over the period 1999-00 to address the issue of non-completion in the technological sector. This funding supports and complements the programmes already in place and has regard to the recommendations of the national committee on retention in relation to the funding of action projects/programmes both short and long-term based on best practice. In addition, £8 of the student services charge collected in institutes of technology is being dedicated to projects linked to attrition and access.
Through these initiatives the institutes are developing their strategies and from this year a dedicated member of staff is being assigned to work with students and staff to develop mechanisms aimed at improving retention rates. Considerable work is also being done in collaboration with the national centre for guidance in education and with the post-primary inspectorate in my Department to develop other positive actions in this area. I am also actively addressing the pro vision 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.
The National Centre for Guidance in Education organised a colloquium "Staying Power – Increasing Retention Rates in Higher Education" on behalf of my Department in November 1999. This colloquium brought together key personnel from post-primary schools, higher education institutes, parent association representatives, trades unions, management bodies, the institute of guidance counsellors, and my Department to debate issues of co-operation and good practice and to make recommendations for future actions. The publication of Staying Power was launched on 6 September 2000. Its recommendations will be the subject of further study and consideration by all the relevant parties.
A computerised management information systems project is currently in progress 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.