Back Higher Education Funding
13th September 2024
Ireland’s higher education system remains grossly underfunded by international standards. This has been accepted by government in their “Funding the Future” policy document.
A thriving higher university sector is vital for our society and for our economy. It helps secure foreign direct investment, increases Ireland’s competitiveness and delivers research breakthroughs that affect people’s lives such as advances in health and medicine.
Today, Trinity College Provost Dr Linda Doyle has issued a plea to the Trinity community to support the campaign to boost core funding for higher education in the upcoming budget.
In a letter sent to students, staff and alumni, Dr Doyle argues that, without sustainable funding,
“Universities are facing the risk of a quiet and gradual decline, a slow retreat from competitiveness and attractiveness”.
“The forthcoming budget is this government’s final opportunity to deliver far-reaching, transformative change, not just for higher education, but for Ireland,” she says.
Two years ago, the government made a public commitment in its “Funding the Future” policy document to increase funding and October’s budget is this government’s opportunity to honour that commitment.
In the circulated communication, Dr Doyle refers to a system which is ‘simply unsustainable’ with inadequate staff to student radios, ageing digital infrastructure and near ’end of life’ research equipment.
“In an environment like this,” Dr Doyle says, “how can we provide a world-class education and perform the world-class research for which we are renowned? How can we continue to win international competitive funding and continue to attract talented staff?
Acknowledging that a thriving university system plays a central role in the cultural, social and economic progress of the country, Dr Doyle quotes President Michael D. Higgins – ‘Universities in their creative, freethinking mode, are a vital resource for the future.”
Raising your voice
Trinity, in partnership with the Irish Universities Association (IUA), is calling for a significant acceleration of government’s commitment to provide €307m in additional annual core funding for the sector, as well as provision for the funding of public sector pay awards. This is outlined in detail in the IUA’s pre-budget submission which is available to read here (pdf).
You can visit Trinity’s webpage which has information on contacting public representatives, including a list of suggested writing points.
“Trinity is a fantastic community of over 22,000 students, 4,000 staff and 140,000 alumni – together, we must continue to raise our voices for higher education in Ireland.” Provost Dr Linda Doyle
