As disclosed in memos released to this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, the State's universities have begun to grapple with a new type of problem - shrinking student numbers. Students, the life blood of any third-level college, are no longer coming through the school system in sufficient numbers to fill the plethora of courses on offer.
It is a remarkable turnaround from the days when colleges had no alternative but to use the often crude points system to keep many students out of their favoured courses. These days, it is students who increasingly can pick and chose between the various third-level colleges.
In a thought-provoking memorandum, Prof Michael Laver of TCD looks at the wider implications of the declining youth population for the third-level sector. Crucially, he explores the possible impact on academic standards. Simply put, if there are less students coming out of the second-level school system, the CAO points for a range of courses will fall. This, in the main, is a good thing for students and their parents who can now chose from a range of courses. One positive outcome is that courses such as medicine, law and dentistry should be opened up to a wider range of talented young people.
But the more perplexing problem is what happens when the weaker students, who were previously unable to access university courses, eventually gain entry. Some will enjoy the university experience and earn a good qualification. But Prof Laver raises an altogether more alarming possibilty - many weaker students will fail their exams, or drop-out of college. There is evidence that this is already happening with courses which require low points.
Prof Laver argues that more resources should be invested in third-level teaching so that students can be brought to the level where they are no longer likely to fail. He also suggests that colleges place less emphasis on exam performance in first year and lower their expectations of what students are capable of doing only a year after leaving school.
Both of these proposals are worthy of serious consideration. It would be good to hear the views of the university heads and the Higher Education Authority on these issues. The university sector is facing new challenges. Careful planning is required.