UL has a highly differentiated intake, as shown by the large number of CAO codes relative to our size. However, we support and facilitate inter-course transfer, particularly in areas such as business and engineering. If each such transfer is viewed as a "non-completion", then figures given in the report for UL are too high, very much so in some courses.
Madam, - In the course of an otherwise accurate commentary on the schools of origin of University of Limerick students (The Irish Times, October 28th) there is one very misleading statement to the effect that UL "has one of the highest drop-out rates or non-completion rates in the Irish university sector". I expect this is based on the HEA study on non-completion rates which was published some time ago.
As we pointed out at the time, we are concerned that the study defines "non-completion" as failure to graduate, within six years, in the (CAO) programme entered in first year. Consequently the figures for UL and perhaps some other colleges are significantly overstated. In fact a note was included in the final HEA report (page 20) saying: "Thus, our figures may underestimate completion rates for universities which facilitate transfer between courses."
UL has a highly differentiated intake, as shown by the large number of CAO codes relative to our size. However, we support and facilitate inter-course transfer, particularly in areas such as business and engineering. If each such transfer is viewed as a "non-completion", then figures given in the report for UL are too high, very much so in some courses.
Our estimate of the overall impact is that just under 4.5 per cent (71 out of 1,581) of the first-year new entrants of 1992 graduated from UL within six years in a course other than the one they entered.
These transfers make up a significant part of our reported non-completion (71 of 255). Excluding them gives us an overall non-completion rate of 16.1 per cent instead of 20.6 per cent and means that UL does not have "one of the highest drop-out rates". - Yours, etc.,
Prof KEVIN RYAN, Vice President Academic & Registrar, University of Limerick, Plassey House, Castletroy, Limerick.