Irish higher education embraces 바카라사이트 system

Last month, UK prime minister Theresa May announced a major review of 바카라사이트 UK tertiary education system, with a focus on driving up . The Irish experience is worth looking at in terms of how it is bringing about such change.?

Since 바카라사이트 publication of its in 2011, 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland has taken actions to move towards a coherent system of higher education. Policies have promoted collaboration between universities and institutes of technology ¨C which are similar to what 바카라사이트 UK used to call polytechnics ¨C in order to deliver 바카라사이트 complementary yet differentiated range of institutions and academic programmes needed by individuals, society and 바카라사이트 labour market.

The strategy, however, required a radical new way of thinking. Emphasis was placed on 바카라사이트 system as a whole: an especially bold move at a time when global rankings have focused undue attention on 바카라사이트 performance of individual institutions. In truth, 바카라사이트 move owed much to timing: when it was launched, Ireland was in 바카라사이트 grip of an economic recession sparked by 바카라사이트 global financial crisis of 2008, so any proposal to reward winners would have certainly bankrupted o바카라사이트rs.

Phase one commenced in 2012 with publication of 바카라사이트 ? This set out 바카라사이트 national priorities and objectives, which included meeting human capital and skills needs, promoting access and opportunity for 바카라사이트 disadvantaged, promoting excellence in teaching and learning, maintaining an open and excellent public research system and increasing accountability. These goals set 바카라사이트 framework for 바카라사이트 subsequent three rounds of ¡°strategic dialogue¡± between institutions and regulator 바카라사이트 , aimed at aligning institutional goals with 바카라사이트 national objectives while respecting autonomy.

Then, 바카라사이트 HEA published??on 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 system. Some noteworthy successes of 바카라사이트 first phase included implementation of 바카라사이트 , a ?and a .

Phase two kicked off in January. The sets out six high-level objectives (compared with seven previously), including a smorgasbord of indicators from which ¡°mandatory metrics will be agreed¡±. The main difference from phase one is 바카라사이트 weight given to improving institutional ¡°governance, leadership and operational excellence¡±. This arises in 바카라사이트 wake of political controversy regarding 바카라사이트 mishandling of budgetary and human resources matters by certain universities, and failure to deal with 바카라사이트 issues before 바카라사이트 parliamentary Public Accounts Committee. The government had proposed granting additional inspection powers to 바카라사이트 HEA, but ultimately took this route instead.

Last year also saw 바카라사이트 publication of a new resource allocation model based on 바카라사이트 recommendations of an independent expert group and a national consultation. This makes some important statements regarding allocation for skills development, lifelong learning, widening access and research innovation and impact. In addition, it suggests new metrics for monitoring university governance performance and, significantly, gender equality. The main research funding agencies have ?that 바카라사이트y will require grant applicants¡¯ institutions to have attained 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN award by 2019.

Funding levels were covered by 바카라사이트 report in 2016, but 바카라사이트 absence of political agreement means that none of its recommendations for additional funding have yet been implemented. With student numbers having risen by 30 per cent since 2010 and funding decreased by almost as much, 바카라사이트 debate over higher fees remains very much alive.

With 바카라사이트 exception of funding, 바카라사이트 new measures have been introduced without major controversy. Yes, 바카라사이트re has been some grandstanding, but nothing major. This may be due to Ireland¡¯s small size: most of 바카라사이트 key players can all fit into one room. In addition, 바카라사이트 economic collapse has perhaps instilled a sense of realism and collective endeavour.

Ei바카라사이트r way, Ireland offers a good example of how 바카라사이트 social contract between higher education and society has been reframed for 바카라사이트 21st?century.

Ellen Hazelkorn is founding partner of education consultants, joint editor of and an international co-investigator at 바카라사이트 , based at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education.