Written Answers. - Third Level Non-Completion Rates.
Liam Burke
Question:
45
Mr. L. Burke
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the drop out rates of third level colleges; the comparative reasons between the universities and institutes of technology; and his proposals to remedy this matter.
[28237/01]
A number of reports have recently been completed which outline the attrition levels at third level. A study of non-completion in undergraduate university courses was undertaken by the Educational Research Centre, ERC, at the request of the Higher Education Authority. The report found an overall non-completion rate of 16.8% for all first-time entrants to university undergraduate courses in the academic year 1992-93. The non-completion rates recorded by the report for each of the universities based on the 1992-93 cohort are as follows:
|
Dublin City University
|
21.4%
|
|
University College Cork
|
14.6%
|
|
NUI Galway
|
12.9%
|
|
NUI Maynooth
|
27.9%
|
|
Trinity College Dublin
|
16.2%
|
|
University College Dublin
|
14.2%
|
|
University of Limerick
|
20.5%
|
|
Overall
|
16.8%
|
The study also highlighted the differences in numbers of students completing courses by field of study. Computer studies was identified as the field of study with the highest non-completion rate, 26.9%, followed by science, 22.2%, and engineering-architecture, 19.6%. The lowest rate of non-completion was in law, 7.1%.
At the request of my Department, the council of directors of institutes of technology also commissioned the ERC to undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of non-completion in the institutes of technology. A study of non-completion in institute of technology courses examined the completion rates for first-time entrants to 11 institutes of technology in 1995. The study shows an overall non-completion rate of 42.61% across the institutes surveyed, as follows:
|
Athlone
|
44.47%
|
|
Carlow
|
47%
|
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Cork
|
32.62%
|
|
Dundalk
|
58.16%
|
|
Galway-Mayo
|
41.42%
|
|
Letterkenny
|
60.55%
|
|
Limerick
|
45.30%
|
|
Sligo
|
41.97%
|
|
Tallaght
|
45.71%
|
|
Tralee
|
39.39%
|
|
Waterford
|
32.86%
|
|
Overall
|
42.61%
|
A similar pattern between the subjects was seen in the technological sector with computing, 50%, and engineering, 50.9%, having the highest non-completion rates.
The Dublin Institute of Technology also conducted a similar study, the results of which reveal an overall non-completion rate of 39.46% for the 1994 cohort of full-time first year students.
The need for qualitative research to be undertaken into the factors influencing non-completion is well recognised and the Educational Research Centre has been requested to undertake qualitative research in both the university and technological sectors to identify the underlying causes of non-completion with a view to developing and improving strategies to deal with the issue. I am committed to tackling the issue of non-completion in third-level education and have requested the Higher Education Authority and the council of directors to expedite the qualitative research.
In the meantime, there is a range of strategies and measures in place to tackle non-completion at both national and institutional level. In the university sector, the Higher Education Authority allocated £400,000, 500,000, in 2000 for specific initiatives designed to improve retention rates. There will be further allocations in 2001 and 2002 for this initiative. The measures funded include development of mentoring and study skills programmes, counselling services for new entrants and information packs for schools. Other initiatives developed by universities include orientation programmes, life skills modules and the appointment of academic counsellors, access officers, school liaison officers and mature student officers. The quantitative study undertaken by the Educational Research Centre recommended that each university develop explicit policies on retention and I have asked the Higher Education Authority to review these policies.
In the institute of technology sector, the council of directors has established a national committee on retention with representatives from each institute to focus on maximising success rates for students. The committee has assembled a profile of current good practice in relation to retention across the sector and the profile has been made available to all the institutes.
Since 1999, additional funding has been provided for the technological sector to address the area of non-completion. This funding has supported the appointment of retention officers and schools liaison officers; provision of additional advisory services, including counselling, academic support and career guidance; the establishment of staff training seminars; upgrading of orientation programmes and the expansion of mentoring programmes.
