The%20Labour%20Market%20and%20Higher%20Education%20in%20Ireland

1
The Labour Market and Higher Education in Ireland
13 February 2007
2
Overview

• Context
• Contribution of higher education to economy
• Specific initiatives
• Challenges

3
ContextHigher 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

4
Remarkable expansion of higher education
5
Educational profile of the Irish population
6
Structure of Higher Education in Ireland

• Universities
• Institutes of Technology
• Higher Education Authority

7
Irelands 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
15.7Concerns rising costs ? decreasing
competitiveness
Economic Profile Key Economic Statistics
Indicators of our economic development
8
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

9
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

10
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
• ICT Fund

11
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

12
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 Irelands 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
• lifelong learning
• broadening access to higher education

13
Future Challenges

• Increasing higher education attainment levels
• Upskilling the workforce
• New skills
• The role of higher education