Dr. Maria Hinfelaar:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to engage in this discussion on the reform of third level education and the Hunt report. I am accompanied by Dr. Jim Murray Institutes of Technology Ireland, IOTI.

IOTI is conscious of the policy directions outlined in the speech delivered by the Minister for Education and Skills at the launch of the National Forum for Teaching and Learning on 22 November 2012. There were also presentations on the higher education reform programme made before this committee by the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority, HEA, recently. IOTI views the implementation of the national strategy for higher education as the most significant policy issue in higher education for at least a generation. We recognise the critical role higher education must play in producing the human capital and knowledge that is necessary to support Ireland's economic and social recovery, as well as its future competitiveness and well-being. To this end, we recognise all our institutes need to contribute to the creation of a system in which quality, capacity, flexibility and accessibility are all optimised.

IOTI has played an active and constructive part in the change process before and since the publication of the Hunt report. Regarding the landscape of higher education, in the light of the Minister's recent speech, it appears there are three options open to institutes of technology - to remain as single institutions; to amalgamate with other institutes of technology due to viability issues; or to pursue and complete, as amalgamated institutions, a developmental path towards application for designation as technological universities. It is very challenging for individual institutes to determine their future direction.

For those institutes of technology seeking to amalgamate or apply for technological university designation, there will be significant challenges ahead. The success or otherwise of this process will depend on the level of support, clarity, future policy and even legislation given. The need for clarity and consistency also applies to other processes associated with the reconfiguration of the system such as the collaboration envisaged between all the higher education institutions and other partners in the regional clusters. In that regard, IOTI would welcome further guidance or direction from the HEA and the Minister in the areas of academic programme collaboration and rationalisation. This is not about the retrenchment of programmes but about creating additional capacity needed for future demographic changes. We know in 20 years time, there will be an additional 25% of students coming into third level.

IOTI has actively supported the reform agenda in teaching and welcomes the establishment of the National Forum for Teaching and Learning. As president of Limerick Institute of Technology, I am pleased Professor Sarah Moore, associate dean of academic affairs in the University of Limerick, is chair of this forum. Developing innovations in teaching and learning is important, as well as sharing best practices. This needs to be supported by the state-of-the-art technologies and resources. We will also work on the development and implementation of the new national student survey and sustainable proposals for improving the transition experience of second level students into third level. We are also concerned by the current financial hardship suffered by many students. This matter needs to be resolved as it can impact negatively on the learning experience.

The institutes of technology have been building their research capacity over the past decade to deliver a suite of strategically oriented, industry-driven research, development and innovation services. This has been funded through a whole range of funding streams, be it Enterprise Ireland, the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI, and EU funding. Some institutes have been successful at accessing EU funding. For example, Limerick Institute of Technology's Marie Curie fellow has had his bioscience experiment, one of only eight from around the world, selected to be tested on the International Space Station. There is a pressing need for a sustainable funding base for postgraduate education to meet the needs of the knowledge economy, both at the regional and national levels.

The institutes of technology sector is very strong in its engagement with industry. All its degrees are modelled to work towards employability. In that regard, many of our degrees are highly specialised and there will be a continuing need for that type of architecture of our academic programmes. All institutes have enterprise incubation centres. The majority of the companies in these centres are spin-in and we work with them in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, chambers of commerce and so forth. The enterprise centre at Limerick Institute of Technology has created up to 400 jobs through new companies.

The Hunt report identifies the development of the international dimension of higher education as a key area. The institutes of technology are endeavouring to increase the number of international students studying in their institutes, as well as the establishment of a range of partnerships with international higher education institutions for outwards and inward mobility. We are also active in international trade missions such as the recent one to India.

There is a considerable range of initiative and activities already under way associated with the particular pressing issue of funding, staffing and productivity. We have seen significant budget and staffing cuts over the past four years. We have responded not by retrenching but creating additional capacity.

In the period 2008 to 2012 the total recurring budget has been reduced by 26%, while our core staffing levels have decreased by 8%, even as the overall number of enrolments has increased by 28%. In cost per student terms, therefore, savings and additional productivity are in the region of 43%. In staffing terms, the change in the student-staffing ratio has been approximately 35% in a negative direction. I share the concerns expressed by the previous speakers that we can only go so far in this direction. These figures should give pause for thought to all stakeholders who want to realise the ambitious vision we share for the national education strategy.

Whether individual institutes of technology see their future as amalgamated institutions or technological universities, Institutes of Technology Ireland intends to remain strong and play its part in delivering a higher education vision and strategy.