“Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD, Minister of State for Higher Education, today 2nd of November, 2017, launched an online resource to assist higher level institutions to create effective student retention strategies and to enhance student experiences …” (more)
[Teaching and Learning, 2 November]
“Students who find that their college course doesn’t suit them may discover it’s costly to drop out – depending on which college they’re attending. Most colleges offer a full refund up until 31 October, says Oisin Hassan, vice president for academic affairs at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) …” (more)
[Laoise Neylon, Dublin Inquirer, 1 November]
“Hundreds of students face putting their college dreams on hold this autumn due to the housing crisis. The lack of affordable housing is having a devastating impact on third-level students who may have to forgo attending college or university because they can’t find anywhere to live, according to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) …” (more)
[Allison Bray, Independent, 19 August]
“Rising back-to-college costs mean a growing number of students are being forced to drop out of third-level education, according to students’ unions. The cost of student fees, accommodation, course books, equipment and transport mean some students will be unable to continue their degrees this September …” (more)
[Jack Power, Irish Times, 8 August]
“Despite 20 years of focus on improving university retention rates, we are still losing one in five of our first-year students. And the release of a new report by TEQSA again reminds us of the challenges of retention. The report highlights that, on average, universities have a 20% attrition rate. This builds on an article by The Australian earlier this year which showed that one in three university students failed to complete the course they began within six years of enrolling …” (more)
[James Arvanitakis, The Conversation, 19 June]
“David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the overall non-progression rates at each higher education institute for each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by institute, in both student numbers and percentage terms, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 23 May]
“One in six third-level students – or 6,200 a year – are dropping out of their college courses during their first year, according to the latest official figures. Drop-out rates are highest in construction, computer science and engineering courses, especially those offered at institutes of technology …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 27 April]
“The number of computer science students dropping out of their course after first year is showing a welcome improvement. However, computing and other courses with a high maths content, such as engineering and construction, are still losing proportionately more first-year students than other disciplines …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 27 April]
“Male students and people with lower Leaving Certificate points are prominent among more than 6,000 who drop out annually before they reach the second year of third-level courses. While overall dropout rates from 26 colleges fell slightly to 15% in the latest figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), courses related to construction and some disciplines at certain colleges continue to have particularly high dropout rates …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 27 April]
“Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop-out rate in third level institute of technology courses; the measures his Department proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 5 April]
“When asking if UK higher education has a ‘retention problem’, the obvious place to start is the known data on lower retention rates for certain groups of students, particularly mature, black and minority ethnic and students from poorer socio-economic backgrounds …” (more)
[Sorana Vieru, Wonkhe, 29 March]
“Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop out rate in third level institute of technology courses; the measures his Department proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 1 March]
“The number of students studying at Irish third level institutions has risen dramatically in the past 50 years. As can be seen from the graphs next to the article, the number of students enrolled in both universities and in institutes of technology began to rise steadily in the 70s and 80s before going into overdrive after 2005 …” (more)
[Peter O’Donovan, Trinity News, 6 February]
“The main risk factors for non-progression at third level are the following: 1. Low prior educational achievement, ie, low CAO points. 2. Being male …” (more)
[educationandstuff, 26 January]
“Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop-out rate in third level institute of technology courses; the measures his Department proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 24 January]
“Why do figures indicate that more than 70% of students do not get beyond their first year of college in some higher education courses? Overall, about one in six — or just over 6,000 — students did not progress to second year according to research published in the Irish Times recently …” (more)
[Dearbhla Kelly, TheJournal.ie, 25 January]
“Sir, – Recent headlines have pointed out the worryingly high dropout rates from certain university courses. Surely this shines the spotlight on the nonsense of expecting all students to advance to university? …” (more)
[John Rogers, Irish Times, 17 January]
“Sir, – Carl O’Brien points to studies indicating that college drop-out rates are closely related to issues of social justice and equity in education and training (‘Are we sending too many students to college?’, Education, January 9th). In my experience as a teacher, I noted that learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds are at a distinct disadvantage when they progress to third level …” (more)
[Letters, Irish Times, 16 January]
“Dropping out of college comes at a heavy cost for students. Aside from feelings of failure and regret, there can is a major financial burden. If a student opts to return to college, their grant entitlement is lost for the year they repeat. In addition, they may be liable for some or all of the tuition fees for that year, depending on the timing of their withdrawal …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 January]
“More than 70% of students do not get beyond their first year of college in some higher education courses, new figures show. The scale of these drop-out rates comes as some senior academics question whether many students who are unsuited to higher education are being shoehorned into college …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 9 January]
