Colleges under pressure to meet student demand

COLLEGES are under pressure to meet demand for rising student numbers in the face of falling budgets from the Government, the Higher Education Authority has warned.

It revealed figures showing an 8% rise in numbers taking up places in State-funded, third-level institutions this autumn. The 45,582 people who accepted places through the Central Applications Office (CAO) represents a 22% increase on uptake in 2000, while the numbers taking level 8 (higher bachelor) degrees has risen by more than 50% to 31,380 a year in the same period.

Michael Kelly, chairman of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which sets funding and policy for the sector, said the phenomenal numbers show the strong demand for third level education.