The wellbeing of third-level students is a priority of this Department and work is ongoing to enhance student supports in the areas of mental health, well-being, and connectivity. The €168 million package of supports for further and higher education institutions and students, announced this week, includes €15m to assist students to access technology such as laptops and €3m for student mental health and well-being. These supports are additional to work already ongoing in these areas.
In the area of mental health and well-being, a National Framework on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has recently been developed by a working group, which included representatives from the HEA, USI, National Office of Suicide Prevention, Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland, the HSE as well as from the Department. It is expected that the Framework will be published in the coming weeks, thus providing an invaluable resource to the third-level institutions.
In Budget 2020 funding of €2 million was provided by the Government for student mental health and wellbeing initiatives in the higher education sector. Each higher education institution will benefit from this funding, which will enable them to enhance the range of services they are currently offering to their students. The objective of the initiative is to enhance the capacity, for example by providing funding for the recruitment of additional counsellors, and to reduce waiting time for students by supplementing the funding that institutions already invest in the provision of services to students.
A working group has been established to examine connectivity issues impacting on further and higher education. The group’s key aims are to identify connectivity challenges in relation to broadband, data, networks and devices, to develop solutions for challenges and work through their resolution with third parties and to provide advice and guidance to other groups in relation to technology and connectivity. The group has facilitated the distribution of devices to learners in need, and the provision of student-friendly data packages for those with connectivity issues. It is also exploring longer term provision of devices and student-friendly mobile packages.
In relation to third-level examinations, higher education institutions are autonomous institutions with regard to management of their academic affairs, including their assessment of students. As such, neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to this particular matter.
