Cuts 'will trigger brain drain of top academics'
Emerging from the meeting: Ned Costello, CEO at IUA, Prof Dan Barry, University of Limerick, Prof James J Browne, UCG, Prof John Hughes, NUI Maynooth, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe, Prof Michael Murphy, UCC, Dr Hugh Brady, UCD, Prof Ferdinand Von Prondznski, DCU and Prof John Hegarty, Provost TCD
A BRAIN drain of leading academics and researchers will stem from the latest cutbacks, university heads told Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe yesterday.
They said the cuts had created a "tipping point" that make it impossible to shield students and frontline services from their impact.
They warned that the creation of jobs across a range of disciplines in the sciences and humanities would have to be halted. This would lead to leading teachers and researchers emigrating, denying students access to the best minds. Other effects of the cuts will be:
> Increased class sizes and reduced tutorials;
> Skills initiatives in areas such as medicine and IT being jeopardised;
> Curtailed capacity for postgraduate supervision and less PhD study;
> Shorter library opening hours and restricted weekend opening of key facilities.
There will also be cutbacks in student access, medical and counselling services. Charges will also have to be introduced to generate the revenue needed to maintain certain services. In addition, it will also be impossible to replace obsolete equipment such as computers, and all but essential buildings and systems maintenance will have to be stopped.
Urgent
The presidents put to the minister their own proposal for a system of income-dependent deferred loans and top-up fees to fill the gap in funding.
"We need a major leap forward in funding terms both to do right by our students and to underpin future jobs and growth. This is urgent," said Irish Universities Association President Dr Hugh Brady, from UCD.
The minister's proposal for a return to tuition fees was also discussed at the meeting, which lasted just over an hour.
The seven university heads asked the minister to act as a strong voice at the cabinet table in support of third-level education. They also called on the minister to step up his efforts to secure better funding in the Estimates/Budget 2009.
"We need to send a signal both at home and abroad that we remain committed to investing in students, knowledge and innovation-led growth," they said.
Mr O'Keeffe described the meeting as "very constructive".
But Green Party TD Paul Gogarty made known his opposition to the return of fees as the meeting was getting under way. He told the Irish Independent it was party policy to oppose the return of fees.
Meanwhile, a report by a Higher Education Authority-appointed panel to look at the Irish Universities Quality Board reported "systematic shortcomings" in some universities' drive for quality and instances where some institutions had suspended Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement activities.
- John Walshe Education Editor
