A special summit, designed to chart a future direction for the third-level sector, has been convened by the Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin.
In another development at third level, the Government has decided to abolish the post of full-time chairman of the Higher Education Authority.
In future, there will be a part-time chairman working alongside the chief executive, Mr Tom Boland.
Ms Hanafin has scheduled the special summit meeting with the seven universities and the 14 institutes of technology for next month.
The plan is to review the landmark OECD report on third level and agree on the implementation of some elements.
The Government is committed to some of the structural changes proposed by OECD, including the establishment of a new Tertiary Education Authority to take charge of the entire sector.
But there is no prospect of the return of college fees, a key OECD recommendation.
Ms Hanafin's initiative has received a warm response from the sector.
The Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU) said that it was vital that the summit or colloquium would reach consensus quickly on key actions required to deliver on the Government's stated "objective of placing the Irish higher-education system in the top rank of the international higher-education system ... Failure to take early action to develop the system can only result in Irish universities and institutions slipping further behind their international competitors."
Dr Tom Collins, director of Dundalk IT and incoming chairperson of the Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology (IOT), also welcomed the move.
The key issues for the IOT sector are the recommendations regarding administrative autonomy of the institutes and the establishment of the TEA, which will bring the institutes and the universities under one common authority, he said.
In other reaction, Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, director of Athlone Institute of Technology, said he was delighted that the Minister is directly involved and driving the initiative.
"It will be important that the discussions are focused and that conclusions and recommendations reached are responded to effectively to ensure the further development of educational standards and facilities."
The decision to abolish the full-time chairmanship of the HEA was widely expected. The current chairman, Dr Don Thornhill, - a hugely respected figure across the education sector - will step down from the post shortly. With his departure, the Government believes there is no need for both a full-time chairman and a chief executive.
