A RADICAL new agenda for the university sector, in which colleges would enter into much closer alliances or even merge, is being pushed by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe.
The seven university presidents have convened a special meeting next month to consider the move, which, sources say, could have profound implications for the future shape of the sector.
One said: “ We could be looking at the potential merger of universities and/or new alliances between the universities and the (14) institutes of technology.’’
It is understood that Mr O’Keeffe wants a much more focused university sector in which each college develops its own individual area of expertise. At present, most of the seven universities offer a broadly similar mix of disciplines.
Last night, the Minister’s spokesman confirmed that Mr O’Keeffe is seeking “new organisational mergers and alliances that can advance performance through more effective concentration of expertise and investment.’’
But he stressed that the Government has no specific proposals in relation to rationalisation in the sector. He said the forthcoming national strategy on higher education is expected to consider questions around the organisation and configuration of institutions within the system.
Details of the Government’s outline plans were discussed at a meeting in Cork of the Irish Universities Association (IUA), the group which represents the seven university heads, last Monday.
The university presidents were briefed on the plans by Paddy Teahon, the IUA chairman who is a former secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach.
Education sources say the Government also believes mergers and alliances would yield significant cost-savings.
One senior university figure said: “The Government takes the view that we no longer need seven universities to serve our small population; this is the start of a major shake-up.’’
Last month, Mr O’Keeffe challenged third-level institutions “to create new possibilities in terms of deeper forms of alliance that can enable the Irish higher education system to reach new levels of performance’’.
The Government’s push for rationalisation of the university sector reflects some concern in official circles that it may be under-performing, despite record levels of Government investment in recent years.
But the universities say they are forced to manage on funding levels which are only about 50 per cent of that available to comparable universities in Britain and Scandinavia.
Details of the new strategy on higher education are due to be announced shortly. The review is expected to be completed by the summer of 2010.
