Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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851. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if guidance will be provided on when the new academic year will commence for colleges and universities in view of the delay of the leaving certificate results. [21736/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 851 and 871 together.

I appreciate that students wish to know the details of the 2020/21 academic year in order to facilitate planning around accommodation, transportation and other commitments. I have been in contact with the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to request that this information be provided to students as soon as possible.

All HEIs have published their academic calendars, with information on the dates for orientation and the beginning of teaching for the autumn semester. The majority have indicated in broad terms the balance of time for students between on-campus and online learning.

However this balance between face to face and online learning will be different in each programme, and will depend on factors such as the teaching and learning needs of various disciplines, the size of student and learner groups and the practical/theoretical balance of learning outcomes

In many cases HEIs unable to provide exact timetables until student registration is complete, as this is when they select the modules they wish to study. Registration has begun and will continue on a rolling basis over the coming weeks.

Individual HEIs are the best source of information on their plans for the 2020/21 academic year, and I encourage students to engage directly with their HEI on specific queries.