Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2023
146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in light of the larger than expected drop in FTE student numbers in 2022/2023 compared to 2021/2022 reported by TU Dublin to the HEA, he could confirm whether the HEA or his Department validate census data submitted by the universities. [41765/23]
View answer147. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the university census data returned to the HEA is validated, if he could outline the process involved. [41766/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
The Student Record System in the HEA gathers headcount data on enrolments and graduates from HEA-funded higher education institutions. It does not gather full-time equivalent data. The headcount data is audited by the HEA, in collaboration with the HEIs, and signed off by the Registrar in each of the HEIs as an accurate and correct account of their Institutes student numbers. Furthermore, the HEA data on the Student Record System on enrolments and graduates has been assessed by the Central Statistics Office for ISSCOP (Irish Statistical System Code of Practice) and has achieved Official Statistics status after successful demonstration of alignment with and commitment to the principles of accuracy and reliability, coherence and comparability, sound methodology and appropriate statistical procedures.
FTEs are not available for the entire student cohort in an institution, a subset of student FTE data is prepared as part of the HEAs funding allocation process.
