Subject choices ‘hit by third-level funding crisis’

REDUCED subject choices within degrees, restricted library openings and cuts to student health services are among the impacts of the funding crisis in third-level education, college presidents have warned.

Their views are outlined in a report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) study on future funding, submitted to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn in mid-November and published yesterday.

It concludes that student contribution levels towards their qualifications should be increased in the event of further cuts to public funding.

In last week’s budget, Mr Quinn announced another €250 increase in the student contribution to €2,250 a year — payable by almost 60% who do not qualify for grants — and also cut colleges’ funding another 2% in both 2012 and 2013. Further 1% cuts are planned in the following two years.

However, between rapidly rising student numbers — up more than 50,000 full-time enrolment to 175,000 last year — and falling state funding, overall public and private investment has fallen in just three years from €9,904 per student to €8,013 — up to 29% lower than in England.

Although the HEA board noted the difficulties in measuring quality, the report cites two university presidents and the president of a large institute of technology on the impact of funding cuts and rising student numbers.

One option presented by the HEA is a limit on college intake to prevent further reductions in quality but the Teachers’ Union of Ireland said curbing numbers would make no economic sense.

“Any imposition of quotas would severely damage equity of access to higher education while directly benefiting those students from higher socio-economic backgrounds who use grind school businesses to finesse knowledge and skills already attained in mainstream second level schools,” said TUI general secretary designate John MacGabhann.

One college leader said prioritising front-line academic services led to a decline in student support services, which had a particular impact on mature students. Another spoke about increased class sizes, limits on options in later years of undergraduate courses and more expensive student research projects being curtailed.

One university reported the number of students seeking counselling rose 40% in the past three years but the service has lost two staff since 2009 and one in four of the 1,150 students, who sought counselling last year, waited more than the clinically acceptable minimum of 10 days. Another said that reduced academic and non-academic supports mean weaker students are considerably more at risk than before.

One college has used technology and e-learning to provide teaching more efficiently but this can have disadvantages. “As this places more and more emphasis on the self-directed learner, this impacts on academically weaker students and their ability to continue their course,” the college’s president said.

The HEA is undertaking further research before brining more detailed proposals on funding to the minister. Its chairman, John Hennessy, told Mr Quinn the HEA board would like a further review of projected supply and demand for graduates in the workforce before any policy decisions are made.