10-year-old computers stopping ITs from being at the cutting edge

Decade-old computers and IT equipment are stopping institutes of technology from being at the cutting edge of their fields, a new report warns. 

College managers and staff representatives have backed the call for urgent capital investment and increased general funding for the 14 institutes of technology.

It was made in a Higher Education Authority (HEA) financial review of the sector which, as reported in the Irish Examiner yesterday, showed several institutes risk running out of cash in the next year.

The HEA said there is a crisis around technology at the colleges, due to a deficit in existing capital and incapacity to maintain or renew labs and equipment.

“The deferral of decisions to replace ICT equipment has left most institutes of technology with ageing stock and technology which is far from the level required for a modern internationally competitive higher education institution.

At one institute, networking equipment in a faculty offering ICT courses was 14 years old, and computers were up to a decade old. One-third of the 769 computers and laptops at one campus were over seven years old.

The Department of Education said it has provided €30m to the institutes of technology since 2014 to support essential minor works and renewal of IT and other equipment.

“These grants have made an important contribution to technology upgrades in many institutes of technology, within the context of a very limited capital budget for higher education,” a spokesperson said.

She said a forthcoming third-level public-private partnership programme will play an important role in its continuing work with the HEA to support essential capital investment in the sector. As reported yesterday, the HEA review shows that Waterford Institute of Technology is in the most precarious cashflow position, at risk of having a €2.3m shortfall next August.

Institute president Professor Willie Donnelly said the report recognises the lack of investment in the sector and what the college has achieved under extreme conditions.

“Between 2008 and 2015, Waterford Institute of Technology experienced a 25% fall in its core budget as well as a major deficit in ongoing capital maintenance and renewal,” he said.

Prof Donnelly said there are strong signs of growth in advanced manufacturing, biopharma and ICT, but the main catalyst for such growth was Waterford Institute of Technology’s research and innovation capacity.

“It is essential that the institute is provided with capital investment in engineering and science buildings to sustain the project growth in the above industry sectors,” he said.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland, which represents institutes of technology academic staff, said 535 lecturing positions (nearly 10% of previous figures) have been lost since 2008. The sector’s funding is down by €190m during the same period but student numbers rose by 21,400, or almost one-third.

“Cutbacks have had a serious effect on the working conditions of lecturers and on student experience, with larger class sizes and less access to laboratories, equipment, materials and tutorials.

“For the sake of the students of today and tomorrow, urgent additional State funding is required,” said TUI president Joanne Irwin.