MINISTER FOR Education Batt O'Keeffe was yesterday accused by the president of a leading third-level institution of not trusting universities.
Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski, of Dublin City University, said it was also clear the Minister, as well as other key politicians, felt there was a significant under-performance in the institutions.
"Part of the problem is that the role that universities must play in a knowledge society is different from what it would have been when Ireland was much poorer,'' said Prof von Prondzynski.
"There is a tension between the traditional expectation that universities will primarily teach students, and the more recent requirement for universities to underpin economic development and attract corporate research and development into Ireland, not to mention the role of universities as agencies of cultural regeneration and of tackling disadvantage and structural poverty.''
Speaking at conferring ceremonies in the college, he said the Minister had announced that there was to be a "forensic audit'' of higher education institutions to ascertain whether they were providing value for money and adequately conducting their core mission.
There was some evidence, said Prof von Prondzynski, that politicians treated universities as if they were slightly more advanced secondary schools. This was an unsustainable position, which would cost the State dearly.
"It also again raises the question as to whether the Department of Education and Science is the right home in government for higher education,'' said Prof von Prondzynski.
A spokesman for the Minister said that he was preparing to bring to Cabinet a memo on a national strategy for higher education covering the next two decades.
The spokesman added that the Minister recognised the importance of the third-level sector, which was why the investment of €2 billion represented an increase of 33 per cent since 2004.
Over €865 million had been invested to date in strengthening national research capabilities to achieve an international reputation for Ireland, he said.
Prof von Prondzynski also remarked yesterday that it was becoming increasingly obvious that there was a deficit of courtesy and good behaviour in society today.
