Third-level spend ‘puts economy plan at risk’

GOVERNMENT spending on third-level must increase significantly or it will fail in its own stated aim of developing a research economy, a leading education expert has warned.

Professor of Education and vice president of University College Cork (UCC), Áine Hyland noted recent reports of falling investment in higher education on a per-student basis, at a time when the Government is aiming to increase the number of quality graduates to meet the economy’s expanding jobs needs.

Announcing the strategy last December, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said a fourth-level system of research is needed to be the engine of Ireland’s future growth.