Midlands producing less science degrees

STUDENTS in the midlands are least likely to take science and technology degree programmes at college, according to new figures.

The Higher Education Authority statistics show Cork has a higher percentage than any other county of science undergraduates with one in five taking up a course in the sector, followed by Kildare and Dublin where one in six third level students are on such courses.

At the other end of the table, students from Laois, Monaghan, Leitrim and Offaly were half as likely as those from Cork to begin an honours bachelor degree (level 8) study programme in science. Those in Laois and Offaly, constituency of Finance Minister Brian Cowen, were least likely to study science and technology and more likely to start courses in the humanities or business.

Although the reasons for the variations between counties are not clear, the high numbers among Cork and Kildare students could be linked to the location of many of the country’s top hi-tech, computing and technology firms in those counties.

“It’s a challenge for schools in the midlands to encourage more students to take on science subjects that might lead to them taking science courses at college,” a HEA spokesman said.

“It is a government objective and a target of ours to have greater numbers pursuing degrees in these areas,” he said.

The presence of two third-level colleges in Cork, both with a strong science and engineering focus, might also be a factor in its high ranking in terms of science students. Kildare is home to National University of Ireland Maynooth where science also has a high profile, as well as neighbouring Co Dublin, which has more than 10 higher education colleges.

The actual numbers showed that more students from Dublin — 4,750 — than any other county started level 8 science degrees this year, followed by Cork (2,623) and Galway (1,469).

Other midlands counties in the lower half of the science student table include Westmeath and Roscommon, along with Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.

The figures related to all 20,667 students from the Republic on level 8 courses in the last college year at the seven universities, 14 institutes of technology, teacher training colleges and the National College of Art and Design.

HEA chief executive Tom Boland said encouraging second level students to look at pursuing science and technology courses is essential for Ireland’s long-term development.

“The regional variations are interesting but we must look at addressing the reasons as to why more students are not considering study in these fields,” he said.

Figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development this week showed that Irish 15-year-olds scored significantly above average among teenagers in 29 developed countries on science tests carried out last year.