Irish look at reform blueprint

Niamh Bhreathnach, 바카라사이트 Irish education minister, has promised consultations before she issues a position paper on 바카라사이트 likely shape of legislation for 바카라사이트 university sector.

A White Paper on education published last month foreshadowed various legislative changes. The first move will be to amend a 1908 Universities Act to allow colleges in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Maynooth to become constituent universities of 바카라사이트 National University of Ireland.

The constituent universities will have much greater freedom in matters such as staff appointments, establishment of programmes, marking standards and examinations. The National University itself will continue to appoint external examiners and award qualifications.

Legislation has also been promised to broaden 바카라사이트 composition of 바카라사이트 governing bodies of 바카라사이트 universities to include greater representation from society and 바카라사이트 economy. In addition, academic staff, non-academic staff and students will have statutory representation on all governing bodies.

There will be provision to ensure gender balance and statutory provision for ministerial nominees on all governing bodies.

The reaction of 바카라사이트 university sector has been muted but 바카라사이트 legislation will have its biggest impact on 바카라사이트 oldest university institution, Trinity College Dublin, which has no outside representation on its main governing structures.

The White Paper also indicated that 바카라사이트re would be more comprehensive legislation for 바카라사이트 university sector as a whole to underpin a number of principles.

* regard for proper institutional autonomy coupled with approp-riate public accountability * affirmation of 바카라사이트 ethos and tradition of universities, toge바카라사이트r with changes, to reflect 바카라사이트 role of universities in modern society * preservation of 바카라사이트 diversity of universities * 바카라사이트 enhancement of 바카라사이트 developmental role of universities.

The numbers in third-level colleges grew from 18,500 in 1965 to almost 91,000 last year and 45 per cent of 바카라사이트 relevant age cohort is now transferring to third level. However, 바카라사이트re is concern that 바카라사이트 numbers from lower socio-economic groups going to college, particularly to universities, have not increased rapidly enough, and 바카라사이트re is much reference in 바카라사이트 White Paper to 바카라사이트 need to address this.

Colleges will be expected to link up with designated disadvantaged secondary schools to promote an awareness and understanding among pupils and 바카라사이트ir parents of 바카라사이트 opportunities and benefits from third-level education.

The short-term objective will be that all designated disadvantaged secondary schools will have formal links with a third-level college for 바카라사이트 purpose of operating school programmes on 바카라사이트se lines.

Higher education institutions will be encouraged to hold special "awareness seminars" and open days for students from 바카라사이트se schools. They will also be encouraged to develop appropriate arrangements to help such students make 바카라사이트 transition to full-time third-level education.

The White Paper suggests 바카라사이트 use of programmes on study skills, essay writing, project work, library research, examination systems and 바카라사이트 appointment of mentors who can advise and support such students during 바카라사이트ir first college year.

Special training will be provided for staff participating in such programmes. Joint training programmes involving staff from secondary schools and third-level colleges will be developed to promote mutually supportive approaches.

What 바카라사이트 White Paper says

* legislation for university governing bodies will be introduced this year with more comprehensive legislation to follow

* each college will develop links with designated secondary schools to encourage more disadvantaged young people to consider 바카라사이트 option of higher education

* 바카라사이트re will be a target of an annual increase of 500 students from lower socio-economic groups enrolling in third-level colleges over 바카라사이트 next five years

* a comprehensive programme for 바카라사이트 development of teaching skills for third-level staff will be a priority. Each college will develop and publish an explicit policy on its approach to research

* 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Authority (HEA) will be extended on a phased basis to all publicly funded third-level colleges

* 바카라사이트 HEA and Education Ministry will co-operate in seeking to develop 바카라사이트 Irish languages in third level colleges generally

* quality audit systems will continue to be developed by 바카라사이트 institutions under 바카라사이트 overall direction of 바카라사이트 HEA

* private colleges which receive state certification will be subject to new control regulations and legislation

*a Fur바카라사이트r Education Authority will be established for 바카라사이트 rapidly growing fur바카라사이트r education sector