Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 which addresses three specific areas. It permits the Minister for Education and Skills to authorise some educational institutions to describe themselves as universities outside of the State. It amends the Education Act 1998 so the Minister can refuse access to specific information which could be used to create league tables of schools. These would be tables based on narrow criteria and which would not take into account the overall approach of a school. It amends legislation so as to ensure the student grant scheme applies to post-leaving certificate courses.

On the first point, which concerns international students and the use of the term "university" by some third-level institutions, the programme for Government has committed to harnessing the benefits of an increased uptake in third-level courses by international students. As part of the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, the Department of Education and Skills conducted a review of our international education strategy. Following on from that, a number of measures have been taken including the introduction of a new brand, Education in Ireland, managed by Enterprise Ireland, the establishment of a new Government of Ireland scholarship and the introduction of an international education marketing fund to attract greater numbers of students to Ireland.

This strategic approach is vital. It has characteristics of the successful approach of the IDA in terms of job creation and attracting investment. The IDA has pursued policies focused on hubs, centres of excellence and innovation. Today's figures show the success of these policies. In Galway for example, last year the IDA supported 63 companies with over 13,862 jobs. These figures are the highest in seven years and now eclipse the performance prior to the recession.

The legislation is broadly welcome in that it will encourage third-level institutions to compete further on the global stage. Greater numbers of international students lead to greater links across the world for our third-level institutions and greater opportunities for Irish companies in terms of innovation and trade.

However, I have a number of concerns. The legislation is very specific. It willnotapply to institutes of technology which are delegated permission from the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority to award qualifications. I am sure the Minister and the officials at the Department have specific reasons as to why this is the case. However, I feel it represents a missed opportunity. Institutes of technology are also faced with intensified competition on an international basis, which has encouraged a number of institutes to work together. For example, GMIT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo have formed a strategic partnership, the Connacht-Ulster Alliance, with the aim of achieving the criteria required for designation as a technological university. The Government should work with the institutes in their efforts to compete. I hope the legislation will not undermine the efforts of the institutes of technology to develop and grow and ultimately provide greater choice for Irish students and students from abroad.

I am also concerned about the sudden closure in recent months of several English language schools or colleges. Internationalisation of further or higher education brings benefits to not only the students but also communities, industries and the wider society. However, conversely negative experiences can be detrimental to our international reputation. While I do not wish to apportion blame, when a school or college closes suddenly, leaving students out-of-pocket and in some cases stranded, it reflects poorly on the country and our reputation, as we all know. The Government needs to examine and review the operation of private institutions, particularly if, and it is a slim chance given the conditions laid out in the legislation, the term "university" can be acquired for use outside the State.

Another feature of this Bill concerns post-leaving certificate courses. Section 8 of the Bill is important in that it will amend section 7(1)(d) of the Student Support Act 2011 and provide a basis for the Minister to make a post-leaving certificate course eligible for support under the grant scheme.

Attending university, with its highly academic approach, does not make the best use of every individual's skill potential. Other approaches which emphasise skills and technical crafts are more suited to some school-leavers. It is worth noting that in other countries there is greater balance in terms of academic focus and skills focus. The creation of SOLAS by the Government is a welcome reform and one which I hope will increase access and enhance outcomes. It is therefore welcome that this Bill ensures that courses provided or regulated by SOLAS will be eligible for student grant purposes.

I welcome the initiatives in the Bill and hope the concerns I have raised are taken on board or further explored.

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