A new body to strengthen links between the business community and higher education has been formed by the employers' group, IBEC and the State's 13 institutes of technology.
The joint council held its inaugural meeting yesterday, announcing a five-point plan. This consisted of, first, the removal of barriers between industry and third-level institutions; second, increased access to higher education; third, a partnership approach to tackling skills shortages; fourth, improved communication and greater support of third-level institutions; and fifth, the further development of open-distance learning to promote skills among adults.
