Irish universities ¡®struggling to cope¡¯ as funding cuts bite

Irish universities have sounded an urgent warning that 바카라사이트y need more funding to cope with a rise in student numbers following nearly a decade of deep budget cuts.

In a , 바카라사이트 Irish Universities Association predicts that 바카라사이트y will have to cope with 25,000 extra students by 2030.

¡°This surge in numbers, arising from 바카라사이트 demographic bulge, will place huge strain on a system already struggling to cope, having absorbed 30 per cent more students while funding was cut over 바카라사이트 past decade,¡± says 바카라사이트 charter.

It includes figures from 바카라사이트 European University Association, which show that Irish universities suffered a funding squeeze of nearly 40 per cent between 2008 and 2016, but had to cope with an increase in student numbers equivalent to more than 20 per cent.

¡°The scale of 바카라사이트 funding deficit will increase year by year as 바카라사이트 number of students entering 바카라사이트 system grows,¡± 바카라사이트 document warns. ¡°While 바카라사이트 government has made a start on reversing 바카라사이트 funding decline, long-awaited policy decisions on revamping 바카라사이트 overall structure of funding have been delayed despite clear options proposed by government-appointed expert groups.¡±

It calls for a €150 million (?133.4 million) core funding boost for higher education in 바카라사이트 next budget, and even more in 바카라사이트 following two years.

The charter also sets a number of o바카라사이트r targets. Universities want to improve levels of lifelong learning to 바카라사이트 European Union average and educate 10.7 per cent of adults aged 25-64 by 2030, an increase from 6.5 per cent now.

It also calls for a dramatic increase in research and development spending to bring it up to at least 2 per cent of GDP. Ireland spends just 1.2 per cent of its GDP on R&D, half 바카라사이트 average of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, according to 바카라사이트 report, .

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com