Review may force arts students to move colleges

STUDENTS of art and music may have to move between colleges to complete their degrees as a result of a major review.

But the Higher Education Authority (HEA) insists the main focus is to promote collaboration and help expand Ireland’s cultural reputation, rather than save money or cut the number of courses or places available.

As part of the National Strategy for Higher Education, a key aim is to identify and remove unnecessary duplication of course provision in all disciplines.

In September, the Department of Education’s submission to the Government’s comprehensive review of expenditure, said initial focused reviews are taking place in relation to dental education, creative arts provision and music education.

Almost 20 degrees in music and music teaching were offered by 12 colleges through the Central Applications Office (CAO) this year. More than a dozen fine art and related degrees were offered, mostly at institutes of technology or their constituent colleges including Cork IT’s Crawford College of Art and Design and the National College of Art and Design. A range of programmes are also offered around the country in performing arts.

The HEA has had initial discussions with the relevant colleges as part of the review of arts and music but it is at an early stage.

“There is no talk about cutting courses or numbers of places, efficiencies and savings are not the key focus. It’s more about the cultural industry side of things and how can we exploit Ireland’s talents,” a HEA spokesperson said.

He said it is possible a number of colleges would still offer similar courses but the aim is to find ways of building on each of their strengths and cuts to student numbers were unlikely.

The Department of Education said work was at an early stage on reviewing funding provision for dental education. It is doing this in consultation with the HEA and the Department of Health.