The heads of the 13 institutes of technology are seeking a new policy framework to help bolster the sector at a time of declining student numbers, writes Sean Flynn, Education Editor.
Yesterday, the leaders of the sector - where about 40 per cent of all third-level students are enrolled - acknowledged they were now working within a policy vacuum. They say the sector urgently needs stronger Government direction and a clearer overall strategy.
The institutes are not seeking an upgrading to university status. But they say that the institute of technology sector should have the kind of freedom enjoyed by the universities. They propose a new model where each institute has its own strategic plan in line with local circumstances, regional and national policy guidelines, and with the Government setting overall priorities.
"A new policy framework is necessary to properly position the IOT sector . . . and create the educational and economic opportunities appropriate to a knowledge society," they say.
The institutes, formerly the Regional Technical Colleges, were designed to support industrial development but now offer huge diversity in subject choice across all disciplines. The sector has enjoyed extraordinary growth in recent years and the student population is now over 40,000.
However, there are concerns that the sharp decline in school numbers in the next decade will see massive surplus capacity in the sector.
This year's Estimates cut capital funding to the sector by a third. In recent years, there has also been concern voiced in some quarters that the institutes should refocus on technology and related courses and scale down activity in the arts and humanities. Yesterday, Prof Patrick Fottrell said the colleges should be free to respond to the various needs in their area. He stressed that it was their mandate to respond to social and cultural needs - as well as economic imperatives. Prof Fottrell was head of the working group which produced the report Institutes of Technology and the Knowledge Society - launched yesterday. The thrust of the report is the current sharp division between the university and institutes is not working.
The difference between the two sectors has blurred, it says, with universities becoming more vocational and institutes offering everything from craft work to PhDs and pioneering research work.
The institutes want closer links between the two sectors, especially in areas like research.
Current projections show that the number of school leavers will decline from over 60,000 five years ago to about 46,000 within the next five years.
Dr Mary Meaney, the chairwoman of the council of directors of the institutes, said this presented a great opportunity for the sector to reach out to adult learners and others by providing flexible full and part-time courses.