Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2017
180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanisms in place to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of access initiatives at third level; if guidelines in relation to best practice have been circulated among institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21414/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Higher Education System Performance Framework, and the individual compacts that are agreed by each Higher Education Institution with the HEA, provide the strategic framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the higher education system in meeting its key objectives. One of these seven key objectives relates to Equity of Access.
The last System Performance report was published by the HEA in late 2016. This illustrates the progress that is being made by institutions in this important policy area, as well as the challenges that are currently being addressed. A new System Performance Framework is currently being developed by my Department. This will provide a key accountability mechanism for the future.
The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, 2015-19, contains a specific goal relating to evaluation of current initiatives to support equity of access in higher education institutions. Considerable progress has been made under this Goal since the National Access Plan was published in 2015.
The review of the Student Assistance Fund was completed in 2016 and implementation of the report’s recommendations has commenced. A Review of the Fund for Students with Disabilities is nearing completion. A key element of the evaluations of both Funds is on the identification and dissemination of best practice guidelines across institutions.
The HEA are currently evaluating the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM), the mechanism to allocate funding to HEIs. A key element of this review is an assessment of how the RGAM currently supports the access infrastructure in each HEI.
There will also be a mid-term review of the National Access Plan towards the end of 2017. This will provide an opportunity to evaluate the overall direction of access policy with a view to informing future policy and practice.
As part of the implementation of the National Access Plan, the Department of Education and Skills is committed to hosting an annual forum for the dissemination of best practice. The first of these took place in January 2017.
Dissemination of best practice is also facilitated by the HEA who work with a network of access officers drawn from each Higher Education Institution. This provides an opportunity to share knowledge and experience of best practice for the benefit of the system as a whole.
One of the main access initiatives funded by my Department is the Student Grant Scheme. In 2017 the scheme is expected to benefit some 80,000 students with investment of approximately €380m. The Student Support Act, 2011, which provides the legislative basis for the Student Grant Scheme, is currently under review. This will ensure that the main provisions underpinning the Student Grant Scheme are appropriate and support broader access policy. There is also a commitment to review SUSI, the awarding authority for student grants, in 2018.
