FETRC on panel at HECA Conference

FETRC invited to address the Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA) 2017 Conference was hosted by Griffith College on Thursday 27th April 2017. The conference theme was Demographic Trends: The Urgent Agenda of HE Places. The aim of the conference was to present and discuss possible solutions to practically address the access challenges highlighted in Cassells report. Specifically, the conference sought to address the task of meeting the projected additional demand in the third level system of 50,000 — 60,000 places. Peter Cassells commenced proceedings by setting the context for subsequent short presentations and full panel discussion. This was followed by a range of inputs related to the theme. Justin Rami from FETRC presented a picture of how through a regional approach the ETBs (FET sector) and the HEIs can make progress in addressing the key barriers to progression. Dr Rami also discussed how building relationships between HEIs and FE sector can help address the problem of increased capacity, speaking to challenges of full capacity and implications for FET students wishing to progress to HE; given that in many cases the only option open to them is links abroad with the government funding same. Also indicating the discipline areas amenable to FET2HE progression and how and in what numbers increased capacity can be so provided, and if possible give some indication as the cost of same per student per year — if this information is not readily available then to indicate where further research should be directed to provide same. The conference was well attended by a range of stakeholder from FET and HE in Ireland. The invited speakers included, Diarmuid Hegarty, HECA Chair and President of Griffith College, Peter Cassells, William Beausang, DPER, Padraig Walsh, QQI, Fergal Costello, HEA, Brian Mulligan, IT Sligo, Tony Donohoe, IBEC, Dermot Douglas (HECA), Tom Boland and Justin Rami (FETRC).