Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reference in this amendment to "NQF level 5" relates to honours leaving certificate qualifications as well as other types of further education qualifications. One would expect many of the students who are coming into an institute of technology to have leaving certificate qualifications. Therefore, they would be at the NQF stage referred to in the amendment. This amendment may have been tabled in search of reassurance that students at lower levels of qualification are adequately represented. Section 9(1) of this Bill specifically requires technological universities to "provide teaching and facilitate learning that .... promotes excellence at all levels of higher education" within the NQF. Furthermore, it requires technological universities to "provide programmes of education and training that reflect the needs of individuals" and to "provide for the broad education, intellectual and personal development of students". Equity of access to higher education is a fundamental principle of Irish education policy. The higher education system performance framework is the key instrument for overseeing progress against goals, objectives and targets in the national access plan and broader access strategies.The new system performance framework is in place for the period from 2018 to 2020. These key objectives are set out by the Government and will form the basis for the next iteration of strategic dialogue on access between the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and the higher education institutions. Among the key targets for the 2018-20 framework is sustaining the expansion of under-represented groups, with 2,000 additional enrolments from socio-economically disadvantaged groups and 1,000 enrolments from further education access programmes. It would not be advisable to provide for specific targets in primary legislation, as an ongoing review of progress is vital to enable the widest possible flexibility, ensuring the greatest range of pathways into higher education. Therefore I will not be accepting the amendment.