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

I do not see any value in adding the word "research" before "programme" on line 3 of page 28. The Technological Higher Education Association, THEA, which is the body representing those relevant institutions seeking to attain technological university, TU, designation works closely with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, to build research capacity within the country as a whole and in a manner that is of sustainable quality. The Technological Higher Education Association is of the view that the definition within the Bill will allow the institutions to continue to work with QQI to build the research capability constructively within the sector. Therefore, I do not take the view that there should be a narrow interpretation or definition of what comprises such research or what specific and, as yet, undefined programmes should be at issue.

The key point is that research students are students registered on very high-level programmes that lead to at least honours bachelor degree level qualifications and that at least 4% of such students are registered on programmes leading to at least masters degree level qualifications. There was considerable debate in the House on Committee Stage suggesting that this was somehow massaging the criteria. I assure the House this is not the case. The stipulations in this regard do not differ from those set out previously. Moreover, there have been assertions that every institute of technology could meet these criteria with ease. This is not necessarily the case.Part of the work being done now by consortia, co-funded by the Higher Education Authority, is to seek to invest in improving performance by certain institutions and consortia in those areas. I also point out that it is not required that each applicant institute should meet the eligibility criteria but rather that that they are complied with jointly. It is a key feature of the technological university concept that there are individual strengths and weaknesses within institutes of technology but that, collectively, as a technological university they are greater than the sum of their parts. Moreover, technological university consortia have been working towards the eligibility criteria set out in this Bill for a number of years and it would not be equitable or justifiable to seek to change the criteria at this late stage, particularly, as I pointed out, because such criteria are challenging and not, as has perhaps been suggested, something that could be quite comfortably met by each and every institute of technology.