Madam, - James Byrne's letter of December 19th ends with a question for Danny O'Hare, who proposed (December 6th) maintaining a binary system for Irish universities and institutes of technology. Unfortunately, both writers are attempting to move forward while actually facing backward. Their contributions, though well-intentioned, are basically sentimental and will distract attention from the real changes required in Irish third-level institutions.
Universities are a classical construct; institutes of technology are modern; but neither are currently structured to meet the future needs of a contemporary, first-world society. The classical era of third-level learning declined in the late 19th century with the rise of mass industrialisation. The modern era of third-level learning declined during the final two decades of the 20th century with the rise of information technology. In the past decade, massive enhancements in electronic communication and easy access to knowledge have rendered obsolete a prime rationale of all third-level institutes - access to and processing of knowledge.
There are other reasons for third-level learning and it is precisely these that we should be discussing and making decisions about - not distracting ourselves with sentimental and politically charged waffle about status. My response to Danny O'Hare's contribution would be to propose linking all the existing Irish institutes of technology into a single confederated system of third-level learning, with the key priority of establishing and maintaining a system that will provide advanced skills and learning to anyone who wants these. The provision of specific courses and the qualifying of students are details which can be placed to one side until the general principle of how to optimise contemporary third-level learning is decided.
In respect of qualifications, with some exceptions, the matter is moot. National, international and professional associations and councils are now available to provide proof of competency - for a variety of levels from foundation to expert. We do need formal structures for third-level learning - but the discussion should be about the nature and quality of the learning they provide, not whether they should be a university or an institute. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN P. WOODS, School of Biological Sciences, DIT, Kevin Street, Dublin 8.