Written answers

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Education

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which third level education requires ongoing assessment and updating in line with best practice internationally in order to ensure the ability of graduates to compete internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52317/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Third level education is constantly evolving in accordance with emerging best practices and national priorities to ensure that graduates, and the institutions themselves, are best placed to meet the needs and demands of the global marketplace. 

The system performance framework articulates the expectations from the Third Level system across all areas of activity and from across Government, including commitments made in A Strategy for Growth, Medium Term Economic Strategy 2014-2020, the Action Plan for Jobs (2014), the Report of the Research Prioritisation Steering Group (2011), the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2008 – 2013 and the ICT Skills Action Plan 2014 – 2018.  The HEA engages with HEIs on their performance against these domains through a process of strategic dialogue  and through the use of performance funding.  A revised system performance framework is under development and will take account of new national priorities.

Quality assurance procedures are in place within HEIs in accordance with Guidelines as set out by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).  An Annual Institutional Quality Assurance Report is submitted to QQI which outlines the institutions cycle of internal reviews along with links to published review reports.  These internal reviews comprise of any or all of regular periodic reviews of study programmes; quality reviews of academic, administrative and service Departments; unit-based reviews of schools, faculties and colleges and thematic reviews of institution-wide issues.  QQI has also established a Policy for the Cyclical Review of Higher Education Institutions, which takes place on a periodic scheduled basis.

Support for teaching and learning is a central pillar of the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030 and the promotion of ‘excellence in teaching and learning to underpin a high-quality student experience’ is one of the 7 ‘key system objectives’ in the Higher Education System Performance Framework.

The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning supports the implementation of best international practice in teaching at third level through ensuring that opportunities for better practice are identified, mainstreamed and shared under the guidance of the Higher Education Authority and sectorial representative bodies.  

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) also maintains a watching brief on developments in higher education nationally and internationally in order to inform the on-going development of the Irish higher education system.   To date, 7 fora have been held to inform Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of ongoing developments in the international arena.

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