In spite of severe cutbacks, Institute of Technology sector remains critical part of regional infrastructure

By TUI, Thursday, 3rd November 2016 | 0 comments

Commenting on a Higher Education Authority (HEA) report on the dire financial situation in Institutes of Technology, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has once again called for a levy on corporate profits to generate additional funding for the resource-starved higher education sector.

Speaking today, TUI President Joanne Irwin said:

‘The dire financial situation in the Institute of Technology sector outlined in the HEA report should come as little surprise in the wake of an era of austerity cutbacks to the sector. TUI has highlighted this critical issue in every forum for a number of years.

On February 3rd this year, 4,000 TUI members in Institutes of Technology took a day’s strike action over the damage inflicted on their sector and the service to students by cutbacks.

Clearly, there is a funding crisis in higher education. In this regard, TUI has consistently called for the application of a 1% levy to corporate profits in order to generate additional funding for the resource-starved higher education sector. This would be a potential new source of funding and emphatically not an alternative to exchequer funding of higher education. We would also stress that this would be a dedicated higher education levy rather than a general increase in the rate of corporation tax in order to ensure that the fund would only be used for the intended purpose. The case is compelling, as the corporate sector derives direct and invaluable benefit from the availability in Ireland of a highly skilled, graduate labour pool which is the product of extensive higher education provision

In spite of severe cutbacks, the Institute of Technology sector continues to discharge its duties with distinction. In this regard, it remains an absolutely critical part of the country’s regional infrastructure. The mission of the sector is distinct, with a strong focus on both meeting regional needs and ensuring equity of access.

Savage cuts in funding have had a devastating effect on higher education in Ireland. In Institutes of Technology alone, funding fell by €190m between 2008 and 2015. Over the same time period, student numbers rose by over 21,400 (32%) while 535 (9.5%) lecturing positions were lost. 

Meanwhile, September’s OECD Education At A Glance indicators confirm that the ratio of students to teaching staff in Irish third level institutions is 20:1, significantly above the international average of 17:1.

Cutbacks have had a serious effect on the working conditions of lecturers and on student experience, with larger class sizes and less access to laboratories, equipment, materials and tutorials.

For the sake of the students of today and tomorrow, urgent, additional State funding is required to tackle the corrosive effects of cutbacks.’

;