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Higher Education Sector.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (110)

Dinny McGinley

Question:

119 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of recommendations of the OECD report on higher education implemented to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25795/06]

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Written answers

As the deputy is aware, the OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland made a large number of recommendations regarding structural and institutional reform in the higher education sector and additionally pointed the way forward to the creation of a fourth level Ireland. The Government approved the broad thrust of these recommendations in April of last year.

The reform and modernisation agenda in the sector is now well underway. The Cabinet committee on Science and Technology is in place and is supported by a high level interdepartmental committee on Science and Technology. The OECD, in their review, pointed to the need for cross-departmental strategic thinking at a national level if Ireland was to become a major player in the global knowledge economy. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I recently launched the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, which provides a blueprint for Ireland's advancement in the global knowledge economy. Central to this will be the development of the capacity of our higher education system for the achievement of key targets such as doubling the number of PhD graduates, for attaining the necessary intellectual critical mass, for advancing the quality of our post-graduate and PhD training, for strengthening arrangements for industry collaboration and for providing all the necessary supporting structures to achieve the research objectives of a range of sectors.

I was also very pleased to announce late last year the Strategic Innovation Fund which aims to underpin the reform agenda in the higher education sector. A call for proposals for the Strategic Innovation Fund is issuing from the Higher Education Authority. This will support the institutions in the development of a strong, modernised and reformed third level sector, which is necessary to underpin the creation of an internationally excellent fourth level system. The fund will be competitively awarded and will incentivise inter-institutional collaboration in proposals which will aim to deliver on a number of national priorities. These are all elements of a new approach to funding recommended in the OECD Review. This will work in tandem with a new funding allocation model, currently being implemented by the HEA which places a strong emphasis on strategic planning both at institutional level and with due regard to national strategy.

In terms of structural reform, the Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 was published on 26th April last. Under this legislation, the institutes of technology will have significantly greater autonomy to fulfil their missions. They will also be brought within the remit of the Higher Education Authority which will provide for a more integrated and cohesive strategic approach to the development of higher education in line with national priorities. This is a very significant development in the sector and takes account of the OECD's strong recommendation to recognise the importance of the differentiation of missions in the university and institute of technology sector.

The OECD also recommended that there be a massive increase in investment in higher education if Ireland is to aspire to greater prominence. In terms of capital investment, €900m has been included in the capital envelope for 2006-2010. Furthermore an additional €300m has been allocated under the Strategic Innovation Fund which will be made available to 2010. Very significant increases in funding will also be injected into the sector to deliver the targets outlined in the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation for fourth level Ireland.

This is a clear signal of the high prioritisation being given by myself and colleagues in Government to the development of a world class higher education system in Ireland with the formulation and implementation of national policy on the sector underpinned by a huge commitment to investment in the coming years. As I have expressed before, we are very grateful to the OECD and the ideas contained in their extensive and wide ranging review. Following wide consultation, we have embarked on the road to reform and future prosperity. My Department intends that the benefits of our future success will be spread throughout society and through the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education aim to ensure that we continue to increase participation at all levels of society in our education system.

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