Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
183. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the graduate outcomes for young persons and students in County Donegal; his plans to enhance the opportunities for graduates in and from County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34379/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report of the Higher Education Authority’s Graduate Outcomes Survey: Class of 2018 provides the findings of the second iteration of a sector wide analysis of higher education graduate outcomes in Ireland. In a strengthening labour market, higher educational attainment levels have been linked with higher employment rates.
As outlined in the report, persons aged 25-64 with a third level qualification were more than twice as likely to be in employment (86%) when compared to those with no formal education/primary education (40%). Similarly, those with no formal or primary education were twice as likely to be unemployed (6%) when compared to those with a third-level qualification (3%).
The findings of this survey conducted with 2018 graduates nine months after graduating, show that for honours degree graduates from County Donegal,
- 77% were working or due to start a job (compared to 75% for all honours degree graduates )
- 15% were engaged in further study or training (compared to 19% for all honours degree graduates )
- 7% were unemployed and looking for work (compared to 4% for all honours degree graduates ) and;
- 1% were engaged in other activities (compared to 3% for all honours degree graduates )
The development and progression of technological universities (TUs), including a TU in the Connacht Ulster region, is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020. In this context the Government’s objective for the establishment of a university serving the north-west is being advanced through the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) TU development consortium composed of Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Galway Mayo IT and IT Sligo. CUA is working on plans to submit an application seeking an order for establishment as a technological university under the Technological Universities Act 2018. My Department understands that an application is to be submitted by CUA by the end of this year. The consortium has to date received €11.6 million to date, including €5.7 million under the new TU Transformation Fund allocations which I announced on 7 October, in Exchequer funding administered by the Higher Education Authority to assist in its TU development proposals.
Technological universities have a particular emphasis on regional development, research and technological skills. However, they are multi-faceted and deliver a range of disciplines and levels of qualifications including apprenticeship to meet regional and national skills needs. TUs also concentrate on teaching and learning excellence, lifelong learning and have a student centred focus at their heart. TUs aim to become catalysts for enterprise and regional development and to increase the profile of this form of Irish Higher Education Institute (HEI) nationally and internationally. The development of a TU serving the North West would be of major significance and impact to higher education and regional development in the region.
In 2020 as part of the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 Innovation and Agility the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) institutions of Galway Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo were awarded €12.4m to progress a project entitled “Enabling Agile Responsiveness from Higher Education”. This project presents a vision for the future of higher education agility, development, delivery and assessment. It will provide highly flexible access to quality higher education through new technology enabled models.
The project consists of a set of inter-linked innovations underpinned by a series of demonstration sub-projects to:
1. build and prove lean systems necessary to respond rapidly and effectively to training and education needs of employers and individuals;
2. cost-effectively develop new flexible modes of Higher Education (HE) to engage younger and lifelong learners.
The outcomes of this project over the 5 year period seek to enhance the quality of and provide a closer link between enterprise in the regions and the higher education system.
In 2020 approximately 20 Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative courses were approved for Letterkenny IT. These courses are designed in collaboration with regional enterprise to provide opportunities in key skill need areas of the economy for those in employment and those seeking employment.
During the current Covid-19 crisis, the Regional Skills Fora Managers, including in the North West, have been working remotely acting as a first point of contact and co-ordination point for enterprise in relation to the Covid-19 supports available to businesses and employees. The Fora have also continued to meet and alert further and higher education providers to immediate enterprise requirements in their regions.
My Department will continue working with all stakeholders to address current skills needs and looking beyond the current world of work to prepare students to succeed in the existing and future labour market and avail of future job opportunities.
