University presidents warn over impact of funding cut
They made clear to him in an hour-long meeting yesterday that the 3% spending cut ordered in July created a tipping point making it impossible to protect students and frontline services from their impact.
The cuts are being considered by university managers as tens of thousands of students return to lecture halls with uncertainty over the level of academic and support services that will be available to them.
The presidents expressed grave concern at the financial situation facing them in what Dr Hugh Brady, president of the Irish Universities Association, described as a frank and business-like exchange of views. All of them, except Dublin City University, are operating at budget deficits, believed to total almost €20 million.
But they fear the service cuts they will have to impose could be far worse if any additional cuts are forced on them in next month’s budget.
“We need a major leap forward in funding terms both to do right by our students and underpin future jobs and growth, this is urgent,” said Dr Brady, president of University College Dublin.
Mr O’Keeffe’s spokesperson said the meeting at Government Buildings was very constructive.
“There is a commitment on both sides to work together in partnership for the future of the third-level sector,” he said.
However, it is understood the minister also stressed the need to spread whatever funding is available for 2009 across all education sectors. He has stressed the increase in Government funding of third-level education by a third since 2005 to €2bn, since university bosses first made their concerns public about falling investment during the summer.
The possible re-introduction of third-level fees was also discussed, with the presidents outlining their proposal that colleges should charge students top-up fees to supplement Government funding, with loans available that would be repayable after they graduate and reach certain income levels. The association stressed, however, that the idea must be developed as part of an overall funding commitment to higher education.
Mr O’Keeffe has welcomed their contribution to the discussions, although it is likely to be at least six months before he brings proposals on the fees issue to cabinet. He is considering the fees option as part of a higher education strategy for which terms of reference are being finalised. The minister is also awaiting a shortlist of international experts to include at least one in the steering group which will oversee the strategy.
THE university presidents painted a stark picture of the effects of funding cuts which are facing them and their students in the coming year, which are likely to include:
Suppression of teaching posts across a range of disciplines in both the sciences and humanities — this is likely to mean non-filling of vacancies caused by retirements or international lecturers and researchers returning home.
Emigration of leading teachers and researchers, denying students access to the best minds.
Increased class sizes and reduced tutorials.
Specific skills initiatives in areas such as medicine and information technology (IT) jeopardised.
Curtailed capacity for postgraduate supervision and reduced PhD output — with serious consequences for national targets.
Shortened library opening hours and restricted weekend opening of key facilities — evidence of these measures is already emerging on some campuses.
Cutbacks in student services such as access, medical and counselling or the introduction of charges to generate the revenue needed to maintain services.
Non-replacement of obsolete equipment such as computers, with consequent damage to the quality of the courses affected.
Elimination of all but the most essential maintenance works on buildings and systems.
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