Unified tertiary education sector
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Open for submissions from
Submissions closed
Last updated on
Consultation is closed
A policy vision for a more unified tertiary education and research system is being led by DFHERIS as part of its mission to develop Ireland’s higher and further education and research and innovation systems, to ensure they are capable of meeting the diverse needs of all people.
In addition, the funding and reform framework for higher education, ‘ Funding the Future ’, highlights the creation of a unified, balanced and integrated knowledge and skills system as a key priority to enable a coherent and comprehensive range of learning opportunities.
The objectives of this policy vision and the outcomes it is intended to deliver will combine to progress the development of a more unified tertiary education and research system.
More diverse and aligned learning and development opportunities across a broad spectrum with clear and extensive pathways for learners and researchers and a more seamless system overall.
An intensified focus on a more consolidated approach to inclusion across the whole of the tertiary system to enhance strategies to address socio-economic disadvantage and the underrepresentation of groups.
More effective and responsive transformation of the further education and training, higher education, research and innovation sectors, adapting together to future changes and challenges.
More agile, flexible and integrated approaches across the system to equipping the whole of the workforce and population with the skills and advancing knowledge creation in a rapidly changing labour market and society in wider but more coherent ways.
More balanced regional development with higher and further education institutions and research centres at the heart of this process.
Fundamentally, a more unified further and higher education and research system, characterised by stronger and deeper links between the sectors, has the potential to be more responsive to students, learners and researchers as well as responding more effectively to the economy, industry and wider society.
The department acknowledges the strengths of the existing sectors within the tertiary education system and the ongoing work in relation to these is recognised. It is not the intention of this policy to develop a homogenous system but rather to enhance those individual strengths to develop a more coherent, more collaborative system.
Watch the stakeholder briefing that Minister Simon Harris chaired on 20 June 2022.
DFHERIS has developed a policy platform to draw together the components of Ireland’s further education and training, higher education, research and innovation sectors and, in the context of Programme for Government commitments, frame the vision for a more unified system and a series of overarching objectives and the impacts of the changes that this will bring about.
The purpose of this policy platform is to build upon actions that have already commenced through the Department’s Statement of Strategy to provide a platform for continuous open engagement with sectors and stakeholders to co-create a Strategy for Tertiary Education.
DFHERIS welcomes inputs and engagement with stakeholders on this policy.
Progressing a Unified Tertiary System for Learning, Skills and Knowledge - policy platform
Prepared by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, May 2022
The vision and objectives of a more unified tertiary system will be achieved through an open, distributed process of co-creation with sectors and stakeholders across the system whereby they are empowered to identify and progress actions to achieve this goal.
The Department and its agencies have already begun to identify and coordinate interdependent outcomes and actions for change in their own work plans.
Each year, as part of the development of the Strategy, the Department will publish a spotlight on actions ensuring that the approach is iterative and dynamic.
This is a spotlight on the specific actions commencing in 2022.
Spotlight on actions progressing the development of a more unified tertiary system
Any personal information, which you volunteer to this Department, will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003.
However, please note the following:
The information provided in the submission form may be shared with relevant Government Departments and State organisations during the review process.
That it is intended that all submissions received will be made available under the Freedom of Information Acts and as such may be published on the DFHERIS website.
Progressing a Unified Tertiary System for Learning, Skills and Knowledge: Public Consultation Report
Published December 2022
Consultation closed on Friday, 26 August 2022.