The US ambassador to Ireland has made the case for stronger investment in third-level education, in a significant address yesterday.
At the Foresight business breakfast at Trinity College, James Kenny pointed to the economic dangers of under-funding at third level. He also exhorted the business community to invest directly in education
He said US firms had invested over $55 billion (€42 billion) in the Republic, fives times more than in China.
Tracing the Republic's economic success to low corporation tax rates and to investment in third-level education, he said Irish universities were at a crucial point in their history.
"By this, I mean that they are faced with some very difficult, politically challenging, strategic choices that will determine one of two things: do Irish universities become competitive on an international level with universities in North America and Europe, attracting the best and the brightest of students and faculty?
"Or do they slide into an academic malaise, dependent on constantly declining government subsidies, cutting expenses and costs to dangerously low levels, all the while struggling to maintain fading reputations? Depending on the choices made, this teeter-totter could tip to either side, spelling success or doom for Ireland's academic and economic future."
Irish third-level education was, Mr Kenny said, faced with challenges similar to those faced by other EU member states, particularly in financing, and that meant fees. "Like it or not, third-level education is now a marketplace and that is not going to change.
"Students now move freely throughout the EU, and even the world at large. These customers, if you will, can now shop for a quality, English-language university education . . . Irish universities no longer have the captive market they once held."
