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Ministers Lawless and Harkin launch Ireland's first Tertiary Education Strategy 2026-2031
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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The new strategy brings together for the first time further education, higher education, and research within a single national framework
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has today, launched Ireland's first-ever Tertiary Education Strategy 2026-2031.
The strategy will support a more connected and responsive tertiary education and research system by strengthening collaboration across further education and training, higher education, and research sectors through a shared vision.
The contribution of the tertiary education sector to Ireland’s social and economic transformation during the last 30 years has been fundamental. The significant expansion in skills, knowledge and education was, and continues to be, critical to economic growth and social transformation.
The new strategy comes at a time of significant and rapid global change, including AI transformation, climate crisis, demographic shifts and changing learner needs. The strategy’s joined up approach will make sure that the system as a whole responds in an effective and coordinated manner to the challenges of our time.
Delivery of the strategy will make it easier for learners to access flexible pathways across further and higher education, help employers meet current and future skills needs, and enable institutions to work together more effectively.
Launching the strategy, Minister Lawless said: "This is the first strategy in the history of our country that brings further education, higher education, apprenticeships, research and innovation together under a single national framework.”
The Minister added: “The strategy sets out an ambitious plan for how we will deliver reform across a tertiary education system that supports more than 500,000 learners and operates in communities right across the country."
Minister Harkin welcomed the publication of the Tertiary Education Strategy saying: “The Tertiary Education Strategy highlights the essential role of Further Education and Training in developing skills that learners need in our ever changing world and recognises the sectors' ability to provide high-quality apprentices into critical sectors such as construction and the green economy.”
Almost 100 submissions, received as part of a public consultation held throughout August and September 2025 informed strategy objectives and actions. Respondents included learner, staff and industry representative groups, further and higher education institutions, public bodies, as well as government departments and agencies.
Click here to read the Tertiary Education Strategy.
NOTES
Section 33 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 (HEA Act 2022) requires the Minister to prepare a Tertiary Education Strategy.
Preparations for this Strategy began in 2023, when the Department engaged in a series of Regional Dialogue Meetings with the leaders of our further education, higher education and research sectors to discuss the strategic objectives for the tertiary system.
The Department held a public consultation process between the 14th of August 2025 and the 19th of September 2025, which subsequently informed strategy vision, objectives, actions and intended outputs.
Under four pillars, the strategy sets out 59 strategic actions. The four pillars include:
- Pillar 1: Skills and Research for Competitiveness and Economic Success. Utilise research, innovation and skills as an economic driver and as a means to strengthen Ireland’s global competitiveness. The Tertiary Education Strategy will support Ireland’s research and skills ecosystem to drive innovation, investment and employment and thus strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.
- Pillar 2: Equality and Opportunity. Supporting equality and opportunity for all learners. The Tertiary Education Strategy will build a more inclusive and equitable tertiary education system that reflects the full diversity of Irish society.
- Pillar 3 System Performance, Governance and Adaptability. Leading a sustainable, connected, and accountable tertiary education system. The Tertiary Education Strategy will aim to ensure that institutions and agencies have the tools, clarity and frameworks needed to deliver on national goals in coherent, quicker and more flexible ways, and aligned with economic and social needs.
- Pillar 4: Transformational Growth & Lifelong Learning. Provide high-quality further and higher education. The Tertiary Education Strategy will work towards a tertiary education system that supports lifelong learning in providing a network of flexible, accessible and seamless learning pathways.
Strategy Implementation
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has responsibility for overseeing the delivery of the Tertiary Education Strategy, setting overall objectives and targets. Strategy actions and outputs will be delivered in partnership with state agencies, as well as further education and training, higher education, and research institutions.
The Department will establish a National Dialogue Forum consisting of DFHERIS agencies, further and higher education institutions, learner and researcher representative bodies, trade unions, and community and industry representative bodies to support the implementation of the Strategy.
The Department will measure and monitor progress made through a fixed set of indicators.