Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Education and Science

Third Level Completion Rates

9:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1114: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the drop out rates in each of the universities and institutes of technology in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24741/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The statistical information requested by the Deputy in respect of individual third level institutions is not available in my Department. The most recent figures on general attrition rates for third level education are the result of research carried out, at the request of my Department, by the educational research centre at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin which published surveys of completion rates in undergraduate courses in the institutes of technology in 2000 and in the universities in 2001. The average drop out rate in the case of the universities was found to be 15% while in the case of the institutes of technology it was found to be 42%. It should be noted, however, that there were differences between fields of study in both surveys with subject areas such as computing, engineering and science showing higher non-completion rates than business studies and the humanities.

The Dublin Institute of Technology also conducted a similar survey which showed an overall non-completion rate of 39.46% for the 1994 cohort of full-time first year students.

International and national research has identified a wide range of reasons students do not complete their courses. These reasons may relate to individual student factors such as age, personality, student background and finances or to institutional factors such as college selectivity and size of institution or to a combination of both individual and institutional factors such as levels of commitment, compatibility and student faculty interaction.

Through the strategic initiative scheme, the HEA has worked to support the universities and other HEA designated institutions to identify and address student non-completion. The student retention initiative was introduced in 2000 and funded appropriate pilot projects and activities that examined and improved student retention and participation in HEA funded institutions. Since 2000 a total of €4.659 million has been allocated under the student retention strategic initiative.

In addition, the technology in education strategic initiative supports a range of activities including those that specifically address non-completion in IT-related areas. Since 2000 a total of €4.478 million has been allocated under the technology in education strategic initiative.

Since 1999, additional funding has been provided to the technological sector to address the area of non-completion. This funding has supported the appointment of retention officers and school liaison officers, provision of additional advisory services including counselling, academic support and career guidance, the establishment of staff training seminars, upgrading of orientation programmes and the expansion of mentoring programmes.

I have also sanctioned a number of additional financial supports to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by disadvantaged students. The most notable of these supports include the top-up maintenance grant and the student assistance-access fund.

The HEA is working with the universities and institutes of technology in the development of a new electronic student records system which should facilitate the collection of a wider range of data in regard to student completion. A critical part of this system will be the use of the public personal security number, PPSN. The first full collection of this data is scheduled for autumn 2005 and this will provide a new baseline to measure completion rates as that cohort and future cohorts move though their courses.

The Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology and the president of DIT have recently commissioned the Circa Group, an independent consultant, to formulate a report on completion rates for students taking full-time programmes of study in institutes of technology between 1999 and 2004. This will, in effect, consider programmes leading to awards in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The final report will include an up-to-date literature review with national and international comparisons, an analysis and interpretation of completion rates on full-time academic programmes based on information provided by the 14 institutes participating, and proposals for further studies. Key assessment points will be pass rate for first year — eligible to progress to next year or level of course — completion of full academic programme in scheduled time, or allowing one year for repeats, and gender differences in performance. The report is expected to be available in early 2006.

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