Sir, – Why we should think that the English funding model for higher education is one we should follow is beyond me.
The thrust to fund institutions from fee income has resulted in a number of disastrous developments, including a dependence on overseas students who can be asked to pay inflated fees but not asked to present with the necessary academic qualifications or show proper attendance at their selected course. This resulted in London Metropolitan University being fined £35 million in 2009 and more recently £6 million for over-recruiting.
Research is increasingly funded by grants to find answers to specific questions rather than to fund the brightest and best to follow their imaginations.
If universities are to serve their students, their staff and their country they need adequate funding. Fees will not produce sufficient funding, which leaves government or private and business sources as the only alternatives. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK DAVEY,
Dublin Road,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.