College rank fall a blemish on educational aspirations

Further warnings have been issued about the quality and reputation of Ireland’s higher education system as some universities fell again in the latest international rankings.

A day after Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore launched Trinity College Dublin’s strategy to attract more international students, it fell two places to 67th in the QS World University Rankings, but remains Ireland’s only institution in the top 100.

QS said the loss of ground by six Irish colleges on staff to student ratios could be worrying for efforts to make Ireland a more popular destination for overseas students.

QS head of research Ben Sowter said: “With several Irish universities announcing their intentions of recruiting more international students in the next few years and the Government aiming to increase the number of foreign students by 50% compared to 2010, universities need to find ways to ensure the quality of the education students are receiving is not compromised.

“Prolonged drops in [the] student-faculty ratio are likely to have long-term detrimental effects on the reputation of Irish institutions, as well as their position in the QS World University Rankings.”

This was echoed by TCD provost Patrick Prendergast, who said cuts in funding and increased investments in other countries continue to have a direct impact.

“With increasing numbers of students currently attending third level, there is a need for a corresponding number of staff,” said Dr Prendergast.

“The Government’s employment control framework is negatively affecting the staff-student ratio.”

While Trinity slipped slightly on the global league table, University College Dublin climbed three places on last year to 131st. University College Cork dropped from 181st to 190th, and NUI Galway gained 11 places to 287th. Dublin City University is joint 324th, Dublin Institute of Technology slipped outside the top 450 into the same top 500 banding as University of Limerick, and NUI Maynooth remains in the top 550.

The QS ranking was topped by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which jumped ahead of last year’s top two — Cambridge in England and Harvard in the US.

The Higher Education Authority is working on a report for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn on finding a sustainable funding system the sector to bridge the estimated €500m annual shortfall. Student numbers at third level have risen by over 15% in three years, but college budgets are down 8% and staffing has fallen by about 10%. The increase in student contributions from €2,250 to €3,000 in the next few years is likely to have little impact on funding shortages, with rising numbers coming through secondary school to study at third level.

Launching the TCD global relations strategy, Mr Gilmore said international collaboration in education was strongly promoted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and improved the profile of our research, as well as the quality of education for our students.

TCD vice-provost for global relations Jane Ohlmeyer said it already had students from 122 countries and demand for world-class education from Asia was creating unprecedented opportunities for Ireland to become an educational hub.