Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

How does one follow that? I thank our guests for their excellent presentations. I am aware that they all have very busy schedules and I appreciate their taking the time to attend this meeting. I extend a special welcome to Professor Brian Mac Craith, who is a fellow native of Dundalk. We are always proud of those who come from the town.

I wholeheartedly agree with Deputy Cannon regarding WiFi access. I am glad it is not just me who experiences problems with regard to such access in the Houses. What has been the impact of the standard of WiFi access throughout the country on MOOCs? I was still teaching up to three and a half years ago when I was elected to the Seanad and difficulties with WiFi access were a constant source of infuriation for me. I accept that broadband services continue to be rolled out but up to three years ago, there was no Internet access in the classroom in which I taught. I returned to college to improve my Internet skills in order that I would not be outdone by my students. In that context, I was unbelievably restricted in terms of what I could do in the classroom as a result of the lack of WiFi access. I fought long and hard to get one of the first interactive white boards installed in my classroom but it proved to be of no use. We can put in place all the facilities we want but if there is no WiFi access, we cannot reach people. What is the current position with regard to such access? Are there hotspots throughout the country where it is possible for students to fully pursue online courses?

What is the position with regard to teaching or training lecturers in the context of the delivery of online courses? Is in-service training provided in order to upskill people and provide them with continuing professional development, CPD? Our guests referred to a lack of funding. Will they expand further on what they said in this regard?

I understand that the majority of those who participate on MOOCs are already well educated and live in developed countries. That is significant, particularly in the context of what can be done to reach other to others. Will our guests comment on the drop-out rate, which, according to the report, remains quite high? What can be done to reduce this rate?

I find it fascinating that DCU is providing a graduate business degree in partnership with Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University in Saudi Arabia. Will Professor MacCraith expand on what the relevant course involves? I am also interested in the proposed partnership with the Khan Academy with a view to enhancing first-year student success in the area of mathematics. I was involved in launching an excellent report on mathematics in DCU and I am of the view that the proposed partnership could be very good for students.