Providing a pluralist environment: the challenge to the third level institutions

Hyland, Áine

Providing a pluralist environment: the challenge to the third level institutions

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Providing a pluralist environment - the challenge to the third level institutions.pdf(6.97 MB)

Accepted Version

Date

1998-03-12

Authors

Hyland, Áine

Abstract

I am very pleased to make a short contribution to this Conference. Much of what I had planned to say has already been said by previous speakers. Yesterday's presentation by Professors Patrick Clancy and Robert Osborne provided an overview of past and future participation rates in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and attempted to assess the impact of Government policies North and South on participation. The presentation by Dr. Don Thornhill, Chairman of the HEA in the Republic, and by the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council addressed issues relating to opportunities for and obstacles to success. The feedback from workshop rapporteurs this morning, which I chaired, indicated the depth and breadth with which various issues were explored by the different groups and it was interesting to hear similar issues emerging from the different groups. The need for recognition of qualifications and for a national qualifications framework body which would take on board cross border questions was highlighted as being of prime importance. The need for greater flexibility in transferring both within and across institutions was also referred to. Immediate issues facing students who attend higher education institutions across the North/South divide were highlighted in a most articulate way by the four students who spoke to us in the last session. Their experience on the ground must provide an important basis from which future policies and decisions will emerge. In the short time available to me this morning I will touch on issues which challenge third level institutions in relation to the provision of a pluralist environment. These will include issues relating to religion, gender, socioeconomic background, access and flexibility.

Keywords

Third level institutions , Pluralist environment , Ireland , Religion , Gender , Socioeconomic background , Access , Flexibility , North/South co-operation in further and higher education

Citation

Hyland, Á. (1998) 'Providing a pluralist environment: the challenge to the third level institutions', Conference on Access to Higher Education organised by the Standing Conference for North/South Co-Operation in Further and Higher Education. Malahide, Dublin, 12 March 1998, pp. 1-7.