The Labour Market and
Higher Education in Ireland
13 February 2007
1
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Overview
• Context
• Contribution of higher education to
economy
• Specific initiatives
• Challenges
2
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Context
Higher Education Indicators
• Consistent growth in demand for higher education:
20% 1980 → 55% 2004
– 2005/06 full-time enrolments: c. 135,000
– HE spend:
• 2007 University recurrent grant - €7.8m
• 2007 Institute of Technology recurrent grant - €5.4m
• 2006 Capital grant - €40m
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Remarkable expansion
of higher education
% of age cohort at typical age of entry
Entry rates to Irish higher education, 1980 to 2004
60%
55%
50%
44%
40%
36%
30%
20%
20%
10%
0%
1980
4
25%
1986
1992
1998
2004
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Educational profile
of the Irish population
Persons with third-level qualifications by age group, 2004
45.0%
40.0%
26%
35.0%
30.0%
18%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
13%
11%
15%
11%
5.0%
8%
9%
6%
6%
55-59
60-64
0.0%
25-34
35-44
45-54
Third Level non degree
5
Degree or above
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Structure of Higher Education
in Ireland
• Universities
• Institutes of Technology
• Higher Education Authority
6
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Economic Profile
Key Economic Statistics –
Indicators of our economic development
Ireland’s average annual growth rate:
1995 – 2005: 7.4%
2000 – 2005: 5.18%
GDP per capita:
we rank 4th in the OECD (2004)
Unemployment rate:
4.4%. In 1994 it was 15.7%
Concerns: rising costs → decreasing competitiveness
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Contribution of Higher Education to
Economic Growth
“It is accepted that the quality of our educated young people has been at the
heart of the economic success of the past 15 years”. “...the single biggest
contributor to our economic success has been the exceptional wealth of
intellectual capital available to both indigenous and overseas visitors.
Ireland has become synonymous with the quality of our graduates” (Budget
2006: Financial Statement of the Minister for Finance).
• First Destinations of Graduates Report (FDR):
» 3% of 2004 graduates seeking employment in April 2005
» Over 60% of 2004 Level 6-7 graduates went on to further
study
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Specific Initiatives
• Institutes of Technology (IoTs)
• Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN)
» ICT Fund
• Enterprise Strategy Group
• FÁS / ESRI
» Manpower Studies
• Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation
(SSTI)
• National Development Plan
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
• Establisment of Expert Group for Future Skills Needs
(EGFSN) by Government in 1997
• Studies the demand and supply for skills in business,
industry and profession and puts forward recommendations
for meeting skills needs
• Reports to both Enterprise and Employment and Education
Ministries
• New places in
IT
Life Sciences
Health Sector – Therapies, Pharmacy, Social Work
and Nursing
Teachers
HEA
10 • ICT Fund
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Enterprise Strategy Group
• Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) established
in 2003
• Membership – education, business and
Government representatives
• Implementation group formed – Enterprise
Advisory Group (EAG)
• Higher education recommendations:
• Top decile
• Upskilling of workforce
• Curricular recommendations
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
National Development Plan (NDP)
“As well as providing the physical infrastructure to support progress, a
major focus of the plan is on investment in education, science,
technology and innovation. This remains the key to Ireland’s future
development. Only a society that is committed to growth based on
education, innovation and a spirit of enterprise can successfully meet
its social and environmental challenges” NDP 2007: introduction by
Tánaiste
• Multiannual funding
• Capital and recurrent envelope
• NDP priorities:
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» lifelong learning
» broadening access to higher education
HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas
Future Challenges
• Increasing higher education attainment levels
• Upskilling the workforce
• New skills
• The role of higher education
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HEA
Higher Education Authority
An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas