ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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• Update on Third Country Directive
• Developing 4th Level Ireland
• One year at IUA
• Irish Universities Agree MOU with China Scholarship Council
• Attracting Talented Researchers to Ireland - New Brochure Launched
• Equal Opportunities for All - Implementing Equality at Third level
• Funding Success for expertiseireland.com User
• Launch of new joint IUA/IUQB Publication
• Belgian Royal Visit
• Dublin Meeting of the European Research Council
• New Role at HEA for IUA’s Siobhan Harkin
• Marie Curie Industry Academia Partnership Event
• Implementation of National Framework of Qualifications
• IUQB Conference
• Launch of Prospectus Survey on Higher Education
• Results of Inter University Equality Photo Competition
• UCD Library Implements Institutional Repository
• Diary Dates - IUA Meetings and Events 2008
• Contact the Team

Launch of Prospectus Survey on Higher Education

The IUA welcomed the general findings of the Prospectus Survey, launched on Wednesday 28th November 2007. The survey interviewed 175 key opinion leaders such as heads of universities and institutes of technologies, senior academics, research centres and Government departments.

Launching the survey, Michael Kelly, Chair of the HEA said "This survey by Prospectus, the first of its kind, bringing together the views of a wide range of higher education stakeholders, demonstrates how much has been achieved in Irish higher education and research; confirms the central role that higher education and research will have in future social and economic development, and emphasises how essential it is that we adequately resource and proactively develop the system."

Speaking at the launch David Duffy, Executive Chairman, Prospectus said: "The research indicates that this is a sector that is fully aware of the fast-changing environment in which it operates, but which needs support and freedom to respond effectively to changing requirements. There is strong recognition amongst respondents that higher education is global in its challenges, standards, benchmarks and reach, and Irish institutions appear to recognise that they will have to respond to this."

"The future development of the sector will depend on a number of things such as: developing and empowering its leadership; providing appropriate reward and recognition for academics & researchers; investment of additional funding that could bring Ireland into line with the world's leading countries for 3rd and 4th level education."

At the launch Prospectus made a number of key recommendations to guide the future development of the higher education sector, some of which are already in the process of being implemented through funding schemes such as the Strategic Innovation Fund and PRTLI.

The recommendations included:

1. Develop a clear roadmap for Higher Education that sets Ireland apart internationally and contributes to Ireland's economic, social and cultural goals.
    
2. Establish a Higher Education Leadership & Management Institute to build the leadership and management capacities of the higher educational institutes further to enable the institutes to succeed globally.
    
3. Adopt a radical and innovative approach as to how third and fourth level institutions should be funded in the future.
    
4. Develop a more co-ordinated approach as to how the higher education institutions and enterprise (MNC / SME) can work together to develop / exploit our emerging world class research base and the role that they can play in our transition to a knowledge economy.
    
5. Rethink how Ireland markets, sells and supports its higher educational services to capitalise on the opportunities in the global educational services market, based on a reputation for quality teaching, leading pedagogical approaches and outstanding pastoral care.
    
6. Establish a working National Think Tank to bring all higher education stakeholders together in a real way.

The full survey is available online at www.prospectus.ie