Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank Senator Barrett for all his work in producing the Higher Education and Research (Consolidation and Improvement) Bill 2014. I welcome this as a starting point in opening the debate on this sector. I have taken the time to speak to several academics about this legislation. I commend his definition of academic freedom and his interesting definition of academic tenure. I agree with him that we need to find a sustainable model for funding the sector. There are other points about this legislation on which we will probably divide, however.

It is wise to accept the Bill and move it on to Committee Stage. However, we need a national convention on this issue, along the lines of the Constitutional Convention. It would allow us to hear all the stakeholders and decide on what is the best third level model for Ireland. I note we are criticising ourselves based on what the EU and OECD have said on this matter. While this is all valid, we must step back and ask what we want.

I have worked in third level and noted there were always three standards to it, namely, teaching, research and linkages to the regional, national and international. In the quest for funding for research, some of those standards are lost. I am particularly concerned about the quality of teaching outcomes.

I will raise some criticisms but these are intended to be constructive.

What is the rationale for placing all universities, institutes of technology and the new technological universities under one single regulatory structure? There is widespread suspicion that such efforts constitute the homogenisation of third level. Moreover, without an assessment of existing models one runs the risk of undermining diversity in the third level sector. That diversity inspires competition and innovation. It is not good if we are all the same - diversity is critical.

The second point made was that European higher education is fragmented and exists without sufficient linkages. When we talk about linkages we need to be careful how we define them. We must ask whether we are talking about European-wide formal mechanisms of control and whether we fully appreciate existing linkages. For example, ask any active academic and he or she will mention global linkages which arise as a result of the associations that he or she is a member of, the international conferences that he or she attends, at which he or she makes a presentation and, in many cases, help organise. A brief look through a recent list of peer review papers published by UCD academics will demonstrate a rich form of engagement among academics throughout Europe. That situation should be valued, supported and acknowledged. Let me outline my own experience. When I worked at the Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, we had linkages with universities worldwide, the European Union and the Third World. The University of Limerick and NUIG have linkages, GMIT has links to different technical institutes in the States and TCD and UCD have linkages. Therefore, we must be careful and know exactly what we are talking about.

When one presents papers abroad it is natural for the audience to want to create a link. I won a prize for my research on literacy and I presented my paper in Jamaica which resulted in a load of linkages. I take the point that there needs to be strategic linkages but natural linkages are very common. If one talks to academics they will tell one about the structured progress made to date and some of the benefits of having to compete on a global scale. However, they will also highlight that the quality of education in our universities is in need of a serious review, and I think Senator Barrett would agree. More of them will still point out that the drive to apply for research grants has created a two-tier academia comprised of those so-called attractive areas and less attractive areas which has led to resentment and an undervaluation of the ideals of a university. Recently I participated on a panel that discussed the quality of education in the new technical universities in DIT. At that half-day symposium six weeks ago in DIT representatives of all of the institutes of technology were present and we had an excellent debate. The institutes are preparing for the new technical university model and I was seriously impressed by them.

Let us consider who is the ideal teacher in a university. He or she is somebody who is researching and has an ability to teach and impart knowledge. Sometimes there are teachers who have not conducted research for years because they have not got the time. Sometimes there are people who only do research and the two elements never meet. The situation poses lots of challenges.

I am conscious of the time remaining. The document also refers to access to university. The goal is 70% but we have reached more than 60% so we are doing very well. That is an important point.

I am concerned about the homogenisation of third level education. I am also concerned about over control. The Minister of State mentioned, for example, that the HEA is not in control of everything which is good. I would hate to see research funding taken away from the Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board but they are unique specialisms that know exactly what they want to achieve. Is my time up?