The Union of Students in Ireland has called for the introduction of compulsory teaching training for third-level lecturers. The British government is already considering proposals for formal training at third level, and Irish student representatives believe similar measures should now be introduced in Irish colleges.
"It's very simple," said Mr Malcolm Byrne, education officer with USI for third level. "You expect those at primary and secondary level to have a teaching qualification, to have some level of pedagogy and be able to communicate.
"At third level, we don't have that. Just because individuals are experts in their field doesn't mean that they have the ability to stand up in front of 20, 50 or even 200 people and lecture on that subject."
Mr Byrne said some basic qualification, similar to the HDip qualification at second level, was needed for third-level teachers, but that a voluntary teaching development course was insufficient. "There's a danger that, if you make it voluntary, those most in need of training will not take it up," he said.
The Dearing Report on Higher Education in Britain, published earlier this year, recommended formal training should be established for third-level lecturers. USI believes the Republic should follow a similar path, especially given the fact that a number of universities have already established teaching development units aimed at improving standards among their existing staff.
"One of the problems is that there is so much emphasis on research rather than training," said Mr Byrne. "Promotion is based on research, on publication, not on how good you are as a lecturer. If you provide the basic groundwork in terms of basic lecturing skills, then that will go some way towards addressing the imbalance."
A spokeswoman for the Teachers' Union of Ireland, which represents lecturing staff in the technical and vocational sectors, said she was not aware of any movement towards formal qualifications among its members.
Ms Maureen Colleavy, president of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, said IFUT did not wish to make any definite commitment to formal teaching qualifications at third level.