Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of postgraduates with a higher than average qualification currently available throughout the country; the extent to which such students will have access to jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12730/22]
View answer429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of places currently taken up by fourth-level education students throughout the country; the extent to which these numbers incorporate the academic and technical sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13094/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 429 together.
In 2020, the latest year for which data is available, there were 52,513 students enrolled in postgraduate programmes. This represents a 36% increase in postgraduate enrolments since 2016, with particularly large increases in areas of key skills such as engineering, manufacturing and construction (43%) and health and welfare (46%).
This growth in the postgraduate population has been supported by programmes such as Springboard+ which complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free or 90% funded upskilling or reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills needs. In the 2021 academic year there are 13,444 places available under Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative in key skills areas ranging from cybersecurity to sustainability to bio-pharma. My Department will continue to align our policies with what is required in the workplace by working with industry to address current needs. Looking beyond the current world of work, we will equip individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the changing labour market.
A breakdown of postgraduate enrolments by area of student and by programme type is available in the attached spreadsheet. This data is taken from the HEA's student records system (SRS) and further data on student enrolments is available on the HEA's website.
