Key studies back drive to upgrade WIT to university status

THE case for re-designating Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) as University of the South East has been further reinforced by studies conducted by FÁS and the ESRI.

Both agencies forecast employment growth in the medium-term will be greatest in occupations that require third-level qualifications and high-skill levels — with women accounting for an increasing proportion of skilled workers.

WIT governing body chairman Redmond O’Donoghue insisted: “We cannot benefit fully from the opportunities represented by the predicted growth in employment without the creation of a new regional university for the South East.

“We are awaiting the outcome of the review of our submission seeking university designation which was carried out by Dr Jim Port. Figures in the latest studies underline, once again, the urgency of our case,” he said.

Mr O’Donoghue said the forecasts of the structure of the labour market in the year 2012 — conducted by economists at the ESRI — were based on employment trends across 20 sectors of the economy and changes in 43 occupations across the workforce.

“It was thoroughly researched and, therefore, merited careful consideration,” he said. “We must take it as a warning that if we do not act immediately to ensure we have the necessary third and fourth-level education structures in place in the south east, we will not benefit from the predicted growth in employment in the professions and allied sectors.”

The results of the studies revealed a strong pattern across the labour market in which professional, associate professional and managerial occupations are expected to grow by more than 20%, relative to 2005 figures. Outside those high-skill occupations, some personal services occupations, including caring occupations such as childcare, are likely to experience similar expansion.

“Also of great interest to those of us who are campaigning for a university for the region is that the highest growth is expected among business, financial and legal professionals, whose numbers are predicted to rise by nearly W50%,” said Mr O’Donoghue. “Other occupations forecast to expand strongly are managers and highly-qualified workers in health, education and science.”

ESRI economist Dr Pete Lunn said that the most striking aspect of their findings was the “skills gradient”. The highest employment growth is in service industries with a greater proportion of skilled workers.