OECD Review of Higher Education

[mjcoughlan]

I'm happy to say that my motion regarding the OECD Review of Higher Education was accepted unanimously at the Progressive Democrats National Conference last Saturday in Cork. The OECD Review recommends that the government should impose, in my opinion, unnecesary limitations on Institutes of Technology. The text of the motion is below.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

I am here to propose the motion that this conference welcomes the positive proposals regarding the consolidation of third level education as contained in the OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland. But, in particular, I am here to recommend that the proposals regarding the limitation of the development of the Institute of Technology sector be rejected.

Education in general and higher education more specifically has played an enormously important role in our economic success and in those areas where no universities are located, Institutes of Technology act as key economic drivers. It is for that reason that I am opposed to the imposition of undue and unnecessary constraints on colleges in the IT sector.

I have two primary concerns:

Firstly, the OECD recommends that the Colleges in the IT sector should not be permitted to develop their own granting of qualifications or courses to Masters or PhD level. If this was to be implemented it work greatly reduce the capacity of the colleges in the sector to provide equal opportunity for their students as is available to those in the University Sector.

This would also greatly reduce the capacity of Institutes to develop R&D work. This, in particular, poses problems with respect to funding as R&D is, in the future, going to play an increasing role in the funding of 3rd level and if the IT sector is denied its capacity to develop it, this will greatly reduce their growth and input into the regions where no universities are located.

Secondly, the OECD has found that there is no case for the establishment of another university in Ireland at the moment. This is in spite of the fact that a year before the OECD conducted their review a leading academic, Professor Malcolm Skilbeck – himself a former deputy head of education with the OECD, produced a report entitled “Towards an integrated system of tertiary education in Ireland.”

In his report, Professor Skilbeck gave a ringing endorsement of the case for the upgrading of Waterford Institute of Technology to university status. However, if the recommendations of the most recent OECD review are implemented, the Institute will not be upgraded.

Ladies and gentlemen, we in the Progressive Democrats greatly value the concepts of individual choice and equality of opportunity. Let’s not deny these to our students. I ask you to support my motion.

- ENDS

It is important for the development of the South East region that we have a university located here. Waterford IT is probably the most academically respected of ITs in Ireland. The US Ambassador, James C. Kenny, said only yesterday on a visit to WIT recognised the enormous contribution of WIT in attracting US investment to the South East. He also said that US companies like to locate near universtities and engage with colleges and universities through R&D work. If R&D is unduly limited in the IT education sector, this would be problematic.

[smiffy]

Dude, were you on the telly? That would've been totally sweet!

Oh oh oh, did you do a shout out to all your homies when you were up on stage?

Big up the Mount Merrion massive!

Sandymount make some noise!

Lemme hear ya say Fox-rock!

New PD Party Slogan:



Life ain't nothing but bitches and money ...

[mjcoughlan]

[smiffy]

Straight outta Goatstown

[mjcoughlan]

Smiffy, do you actually have any opinion on higher education in Ireland?

[smiffy]

Smiffy, do you actually have any opinion on higher education in Ireland?

Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamp!




Obviously not!

[eurocrat]

Well done mark, the world has now changed for the better.

I think Education is a good idea and its great to see that the PDs are in favour of it.