Survey reveals poor public awareness of institutes of technology
The study for a body representing management and unions in the sector found barely one-third of people were aware of the institutes when asked spontaneously, although further prompting achieved a positive response from 82%.
The findings emerged in the same week that legislation governing future funding and governance of the ITs was published by Education Minister Mary Hanafin.
ITs account for just over half of students entering third level for the first time each year and many offer postgraduate places up to doctoral level.
Lansdowne Market Research conducted the survey and found that, despite generally poor awareness of the wider IT sector, there was strong and positive awareness of individual institutions at local level.
There are four institutes in Dublin and the others are in Athlone, Carlow, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.
Jim Devine, chairman of the Council of Directors of the ITs, said they were taking heart from the findings.
“It seems that some of the public is keenly aware of the quality, accessibility and flexibility offered by the institutes. The trouble is that the public is still not as aware as we would like it to be, and that is a challenge we as a group aim to take up,” said Mr Devine.
Among the key findings was that there is confusion in the public mind as to the number of ITs and whether each is independent or whether they operate as a group.
Although they are each run separately, they will be funded similarly to the seven universities by the Higher Education Authority when the Institutes of Technology Bill is enacted later this year.
Only 55% of people questioned knew that the ITs award nationally-recognised qualifications and just 35% realised their qualifications are internationally recognised, while one-in-seven was aware of the contribution made by the institutes at postgraduate level.
Despite the relatively poor public awareness, IDA Ireland chief executive Sean Dorgan yesterday stressed the social and economic benefits associated with the ITs. He said they have been distinctive for their real world quality and their responsiveness to changing demands and expectations.
