Madam, – Speculation about the reintroduction of third-level fees distracts from debate on the immediate challenges in the third-level sector in the context of the current downturn.
The Minister for Education rightfully points out the increasing demand for third-level places, and the changing profile of those who apply. In February this year the HEA published statistics which revealed that the number of adults entering third-level education in the university sector increased from 9.5 per cent in 2007 to 11.7 per cent of all students in 2009. In the institute of technology sector the increase was even more dramatic over the same period, from 11.2 per cent to 17.6 per cent. A growing number of those are male mature students, a factor which may be attributed to the decline of employment in the construction and ancillary sectors.
For many adults, the economic downturn has prompted a decision to change or re-orientate their career through a third level qualification. This growing cohort requires a quality third-level education system which is flexible, allowing an adult to juggle family and/or work commitments alongside the demands of university, and which recognises their prior learning and experience.
Let’s start with a level playing field where those who choose a part-time third-level option pay the same fees as those who enter on a full-time basis. For adults considering pursuing a third-level education part time, the Minister’s promise that “parity of funding for flexible learning as an immediate priority” is long overdue and most definitely constitutes a good news story. – Yours, etc,