It can hardly be coincidence that three major announcements affecting the institute-of-technology sector were made on consecutive days last week. On Wednesday the Minister for Education and Science, Micheal Martin, launched the Qualifications (Education and Training) Bill; on Thursday, the Higher Education Authority published its recommendations on DIT's application for university status; while Friday saw Waterford and Cork ITs achieving delegated authority in respect of existing NCEA-validated national certificate and diploma courses.
Jubilation then, in some quarters, but disappointment for the DIT: the HEA has made its recommendation against the immediate establishment of the DIT as a university. The HEA's recommendations are based on the report of the review group on the DIT's application for university status, which was set up in 1997. It has accepted the review group's recommendation that the granting of immediate university status to the DIT be withheld for a variety of reasons, including the limited range and nature of its postgraduate research provision, the relatively small proportion of academic staff with high-level qualifications and the institute's academic structures and conditions.
The HEA notes that the working conditions for DIT academic staff can be quite inflexible. "Changing these conditions by agreement and the creation of the flexibility consistent with a vigorous and comprehensive research ethos constitute major challenges," the HEA says. However, the HEA has also rejected a number of the recommendations made by the review group. The review group argued that the DIT should be awarded university status, when, in the view of the HEA, it met a number of conditions. It also suggested a mentoring role for the HEA.
The authority is concerned that such a mentoring role would represent "a confusion of functions and responsibilities for the HEA". To take on such a role could both undermine the HEA's objectivity in making recommendations to government and diminish the role and responsibilities of the DIT.
The HEA also rejects the suggestion that the DIT get university status in three to five years. "The period of time involved is such, and the conditions specified are so significant and fundamental to the concept of a university and so challenging, that the authority considers that a further review would be required after this period."
The HEA rejects the suggestion that DIT funding and administrative responsibility be transferred to the HEA. The authority is concerned that designation of the DIT under the HEA would be seen as a stepping stone to university status. The HEA's report stresses the importance of maintaining the "binary" system of third-level education - with distinct academic and technological strands - and expresses concern that recommendations of the review group should be misinterpreted in a way that would "deflect the DIT and possibly other ITs, from their current important mission".
The DIT'S ambitions are further thwarted by the Qualifications (Education and Training) Bill, which identifies two types of university - the existing universities and new universities which may be established in the future.
All new universities will work with the NQA on quality assurance issues, rather than with the HEA. They will also be required to implement access, transfer and progression procedures required by the NQA. Existing universities enjoy autonomy and are only required to co-operate with the NQA.
