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Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Questions (160, 161, 162)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the degree to which he expects science to play an increased role in the higher education sector with particular reference to ensuring an adequate number of graduates to meet the demands of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6271/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he remains satisfied that science graduates in Ireland are on par with or above the skills emanating from third level institutions in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6272/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he expects the third level educational system here to deliver adequate and suitably qualified graduates to meet the demands of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6273/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 161 and 162 together.

The challenge to deliver suitably qualified and adequate numbers of graduates to meet the demands of the workplace is a fundamental focus for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

It is also fundamental that we drive vibrant higher and further education sectors in Ireland which produce individuals who are equipped with the skills that they need to progress, in the way that they want to, in a way that meets the needs of an ever evolving economy, and contributes to an inclusive society.

With regard to the demands of the workplace, it is also crucial to listen to employers and embed our responses and policies in evidence-informed skills forecasting, to seek truly inclusive policy development, and a national consensus on outcomes.

The identification of skills priorities to help to inform and shape planning for graduate output is guided by the National Skills Strategy 2016-2025. The strategy provided for the establishment of the skills architecture that we have today, which is the National Skills Council and the nine Regional Skills Fora.

Strong collaborative links between the further and higher education system and enterprise have been developed and expanded over recent years. These new relationships allow us to gather insights and data directly from enterprise that feed into high level national policy decisions and allow us to know exactly what enterprise wants us to deliver.     Representatives from the further and higher education system are also active partners in national initiatives driven by the National Skills Council and the Regional Skills Fora.

We are doing well, by some key measures:

- In relation to graduate supply from the Higher Education sector, in 2019 there was a total of 77,815 graduates from the Higher Education system.  Of this number, a significant proportion were in key skills areas, 4,916 were in ICT, 8,116 in Engineering Manufacturing and Construction and 6,472 in Science and Maths.  

-  In the IMD World Talent Rankings 2020, Ireland ranked 9th out of 63 countries for workforce readiness, which encompasses the degree to which education meets the needs of employers, place of STEM in education, languages, availability of skilled labour as well as other factors related to the labour force.

-  The Irish National Employer Survey which was published in 2019 finds that 86% of employers are satisfied with the quality of HE graduates.

- With regard to ICT, we know that technology is accelerating the shift towards the knowledge-based economy. The nexus between human capital, innovation and research will be critical to Ireland’s success. Technology Skills 2022: Ireland’s Third ICT Skills Action Plan is a collaborative effort by Government, the higher and further education and training system and industry to meet Ireland’s high level ICT skills needs. The plan has devised measures that will boost the supply of ICT graduates to meet the ambitious level of demand forecast for the coming years. By 2022, the interventions outlined in this plan aim to deliver up to an additional 5,000 graduates per annum through indigenous supply, with the remainder serviced by inward migration.

 We must continue to evolve and improve in order to meet the rapid changes and challenges of the future world of work, and to shape the economy and society that we want to have. I know that my Department, in collaboration with key stakeholders, will continue to do this work, to help ensure that we meet skills needs on an ongoing basis, and to support economic recovery and economic success.

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