Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Quality of Teaching in Higher Education: Discussion

2:35 pm

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late. I had to speak on flooding in the Seanad. Those present will be aware that half the country is under water. I welcome the witnesses. I used to be a lecturer at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. I congratulate Senator O'Donnell, who is a former lecturer of mine, for putting this issue on the agenda. I am sorry that I missed the witnesses' exposés on this issue. I have a huge interest in the quality of teaching in higher level education. If the witnesses have already answered my questions, I will be happy to read those answers in the Official Report.

I am very conscious of the relationship that needs to exist between students and lecturers. There are high numbers of students in lecture halls. I heard Professor Gallagher say that no relating goes on in lecturing. I would not completely agree with that. Some people are amazing raconteurs and storytellers with an ability to communicate. They are inspirational in their own right. I am talking about undergraduates, in particular. I have a son in first year. I know all his peers. I know the attrition rates are very high and it is a deep concern. I also know about the mental health issues among our young people. In particular, I know about the number of accidental deaths and suicides in that age group. I spent a good number of days over Christmas looking for a body in Oranmore.

We found him after 20 days. In the previous eight months, there was another case. Where I live in Oranmore, eight bodies are found every year. That is terrible.

In the exchange between Senator Craughwell and Dr. Foley, I heard the word "mentor". Would a lecturer meet each of his or her students once in a semester or in a year? Have they proposals on building a relationship? One never knows who reaches a young person, be it for teaching and learning, or to see how they are managing away from home. What scaffolds are in place to build more interaction with students outside the engagement with the student who has failed? Have the colleges put proactive measures in place to build a relationship with students? I presume the witnesses are not merely talking about their own practices but what happens in higher education generally.

Would a lecturer have a goal to meet student each once in a semester? I know it is not all about face time because many young people like online time. Will the witnesses address the question from both face to face time, which I think is very important, and online time?

We need to save students from dropping out. I believe intervention at the correct time will save them but it is a matter of reaching them. I have a significant issue with the fact that colleges will not give information to parents once the student is over 18 years. Who is paying the fees? Parents pay the fees. Young people are only feeling their own wings; they are wild. I understand the importance of respecting that they are 18 years or older, but not all students have that level of maturity. The level of attrition of students during their first year of college is 29% in the ITs and the average in universities is 11%, a figure which is probably outdated now. That is too high a loss to the system. Not only have parents lost a significant amount of money, the State too is at a considerable loss but above all it is a major personal loss to the student. From personal experience across the board and my time in the field of education I can speak about their disappointment.

What impact has the contribution of Professor Sarah Moore to the awards made on teaching and learning in third level? She is somebody who could contribute to our proceedings today. I note that representatives from the HEA are not present.

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