THIRD-LEVEL EDUCATION:MINISTER FOR Education Batt O'Keeffe yesterday broadened the debate on funding for third-level institutions by suggesting industry and the private sector might become involved through the sponsorship of certain courses in order to provide them with graduates.
Mr O'Keeffe said he envisaged a broad debate on the issue of funding for the third-level sector, and in addition to looking at the possibility of reintroducing fees for the very wealthy, the issue of private-sector sponsorship of courses should also be looked at.
He would be putting together a group which would be asked to report in 18 months on the entire third-level sector, and its performance in terms of achieving better social inclusion and developing links to meet the needs of industry.
"Fees are not the only issue - as part of the strategy we will also be looking at the Australian system of student loans and, in fact, maybe we would look at the private sector itself in terms of funding courses," said Mr O'Keeffe, speaking in Ballincollig, Co Cork.
"Perhaps colleges could look at themselves as part business as well as being part educational, and perhaps they can derive much more money from the private sector in terms of endowments for some courses and in terms of scholarship for some of their students."
However, Mr O'Keeffe was accused yesterday of using the third-level fees debate as a "calculated distraction" from the severe impact expenditure cuts would have on third-level education.
Marion Coy, chairwoman of Institutes of Technology Ireland, expressed concern that the cuts would have a disproportionate impact on undergraduates, in particular disadvantaged students.