Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on providing targeted funding for colleges and universities to establish hubs or micro-satellite campuses to enable rural students to complete courses online; and if he will provide further funding for students to access existing rural digital hubs. [22805/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One of the main barriers for students in rural Ireland is broadband. With most courses involving blended learning now and some courses and institutions going exclusively online, now more than ever it is essential that as many students as possible have access to broadband. Will the Minister provide targeted funding for colleges and universities to establish hubs or micro-satellite campuses to enable rural students to complete courses online? Will he consider providing funding for students to access existing digital hubs?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to see this question as I had an exciting meeting the other day with representatives of HEAnet, the organisation that is involved in rolling out technological solutions for students. The Deputy knows that eduroam is a Wi-Fi system used not just by students on campus in Ireland but around the world. HEAnet is in the process of developing proposals to see how this eduroam Wi-Fi system can be made available off campus as well as on campus. The Deputy's question concerns how to roll out connectivity with hubs. I welcome that I can work with the Deputy on this and I would be very happy to organise a meeting between her and representatives of HEAnet to see how we can feed in her suggestions in this regard.

Higher education institutions have been undertaking detailed planning and contingencies for their reopening and communicating these to students, trying to move from emergency remote learning towards a more structured model of blended learning, combining both online and on-site provision. The details of these arrangements are being finalised, with all higher education institutions having published their academic calendars with information on the dates for orientation and the beginning of teaching for the autumn semester.

In July, as I mentioned, I announced funding for students, including a €15 million fund for technology supports. With respect to the Deputy’s proposal to utilise hubs or micro-satellite campuses for online learning, some higher education institutions already operate more than one campus and are considering all relevant approaches to a return to college where appropriate. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, a number of higher education projects were already receiving funding from the Higher Education Authority, HEA, under the innovation and transformation fund to assist students to access courses virtually. For example, Letterkenny Institute of Technology runs the iNote project, building digital capacity for flexible learning delivery in the west and north west. Dundalk Institute of Technology provides a virtual hub to support all learners under its Gateway to Success project and the Institute of Technology, Sligo, provides online and blended degree programmes for students unable to be on campus due to location or disability.

Connectivity can be an issue for some students and rolling out the national broadband plan is a key element in resolving this. There is something we can do with HEAnet in trying to take the Deputy's idea of creating hubs in communities and extending the eduroam Wi-Fi system to such areas. I am happy to work with the Deputy on that.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to see the Minister's enthusiasm and I hope he will be as enthusiastic in funding this. A network of hubs and satellite campuses would not only be important during the pandemic but would also enable greater participation more broadly. Considerable accommodation and living costs are a barrier for some students, and mature students, part-time students and parents would benefit from local facilities as well. Through their links with universities and colleges, hubs and campuses could also facilitate more research of rural issues and serve as incubators for innovation. Representatives of the third level institutions I have met are very enthusiastic about the idea and would be willing to work with the Minister on it.

This year's students will need targeted support, such as funding to avail of existing hubs, which have to run on a commercial basis. I welcome the idea of working with HEAnet but there are existing facilities like the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen, the newly opened Bantry Bay Works and so many more that provide student rates. It would be good to work with them and support local business. The businesses already provide student rates but the Minister's intervention could help subsidise this further and roll out such a process across rural Ireland, which would make a significant difference to many families. Will the Minister consider providing funding for existing local businesses to try to support them as well as pursuing the HEAnet project? I am open to looking at that too.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I suggest we engage on this matter if the Deputy wishes to send me some proposals in this regard. We fund the HEA through the innovation and transformation fund and I have a long list of projects I could read out that it is already funding. The Deputy has identified a real need, particularly in some of the more rural parts of the country.

HEAnet is funded through the HEA and it is seeking pilot projects where it can roll out connectivity. That includes going from on-campus sites to those which would be off campus. The people from HEAnet would be excited to hear the Deputy's proposals, as I am, and if she sends me some details, I will be happy to engage on the matter.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That would be great. I know the hubs in my area are very enthusiastic about remote campuses. In addition, students are concerned about committing to accommodation and other costs associated with moving when it is uncertain how much classroom learning they will be doing or how much will be online. The provision of additional places is welcome but it puts further pressure on institutions to implement social distancing, which will inevitably push more courses online. Waterford Institute of Technology has already announced that all lectures and tutorials will be delivered remotely with only laboratory work and workshops taking place on campus. All students need the certainty that Waterford Institute of Technology has provided.

Will the Minister provide greater clarity to students and institutions on what will be the format for the new college year? Households with overstretched budgets and students cannot afford accommodation that they may not use. The campus student experience is so important and if the majority of courses go online, there will be limited access to campus facilities. In such an absence, a smaller remote campus could go some way towards creating that kind of campus experience.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has honestly highlighted what is a very delicate balance. Deputies in the House are quite rightly calling on me to ensure we provide extra college places and it is perfectly appropriate. At the same time, we must meet the needs of existing students, and all in a world of Covid-19, where health and safety must come first. As I stated, I expect all students to receive details of their on-site versus off-site learning mix in the first two weeks of September, and I am conscious we are through one of those weeks now. It is the commitment given to me by the universities.

With accommodation, I very much welcome that a number of institutions are now providing more flexible arrangements. For example, if a student is on-site two days a week, he or she may book a room for two days rather than having to take a lease for five or seven days per week over the full college year. I encourage more of our colleges and universities to do that.