Madam, - I was very interested to read of the call by the president of DCU, Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski, for a dedicated Cabinet portfolio for higher education.
In my view, a senior ministerial post for higher education alone may not be feasible, but responsibility for higher education could perhaps be moved from the Department of Education to the Department of Enterprise and Employment.
This would encourage the link with third-level education and enterprise that is desired by Prof von Prondzynski, for example, with regards to a strategy for science, technology and innovation, foreign direct investment and commercialisation of research.
The third-level sector would also become more independent under such a proposal. At any rate, a dynamic shift in higher education policy is needed to develop an enterprising, knowledge-based economy. - Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNEDY, Knocknashee, Goatstown, Dublin 14.