“Sir, – Something about the recent Accenture report on graduates’ readiness for the workplace doesn’t add up (‘Graduates “not well-equipped” for future workplace’, Education, February 25th). The report suggests that just 13% of employers believe that current graduates are very well equipped to meet the future needs of business …” (more)
[Greg Foley, Irish Times, 26 February]
“Just 13% of employers believe graduates are very well equipped to meet the needs of the future workforce, according to a new survey. Employers say ‘soft’ skills such as communication, work ethic, teamwork and problem-solving will be most needed for the workforce of the future over the coming years. The findings are based on research by Accenture involving 130 employers in Ireland over recent months …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 25 February]
“Irish teenagers are part of a worrying global trend of young people ignoring 21st century careers in favour of traditional occupations. Huge changes to the world of work over the past two decades have made little impact on the career expectations of 15-year-olds, according to a report from the international think-tank, OECD …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 22 January]
“To much fanfare, the government today announced 3,000 new places on 138 undergraduate courses funded by €24 million from the Human Capital Initiative. Hooray. Except almost all of these courses are ‘key skills areas’, which the government says are ‘high priority’. In the surprise of the year, none of these areas are anywhere near the Arts Block …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 16 December]
“The gender pay gap among third-level graduates widens with time, with men earning an average €14 more per week than women within a year of graduating and €130 more per week after eight years, according to new research from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 16 December]
“Third-level colleges will open almost 3,000 places extra places over the next two years, in a €24m Government-funded move to produce more graduates for priority areas of the economy. Colleges will receive a cash incentive to create the new places, which will cross 138 full-time undergraduate courses in 22 higher education institutions …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 December]
“Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today (Monday 16th December 2019) announced 3,000 new places on 138 full-time undergraduate courses for autumn 2020 and 2021 …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 16 December]
“A pay gap between male and female graduates opens up within a year of leaving college and widens over time, a study by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has found. While women outperform men in the Leaving Cert and at third level, pay for men outstrips that of women by, on average, €14 per week within a year of graduating, rising to €130 per week after eight years …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 16 December]
“IFUT is author to one of the chapters in a new essay collection ‘Ensuring Good Future Jobs’, launched on 28th November 2019 at the National University of Ireland offices. Edited by TASC and the Carnegie UK Trust, the collection sets out how everyday challenges facing workers in Ireland need to be addressed as the essential foundation for enabling Better Future Jobs …” (more)
[IFUT, 12 December]
“If there really is a funding crisis in higher education, you wouldn’t know it to look around UCD’s sprawling campus at Belfield, south Dublin. Cranes on the skyline are a sign that thousands of new student beds are under construction on campus …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 11 December]
“Universities serve many different purposes depending on who one asks. Some of these are obvious; they analyse societal problems and offer solutions to them, they train people to be better, more critical citizens. Some are more disputable such as whether they should explicitly prepare people for careers …” (more)
[Garrett Kennedy, University Observer, 26 November]
“Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures his Department takes to ensure that courses undertaken at universities and institutes of technology remain relevant to the changing workforce trends here; if there is data available which identifies the number of students that gained full-time employment directly as a result of their institute qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 21 November]
“Job applications can be stressful. First there’s the pressure of making sure the CV has highlighted all the right skills, and there are no spelling mistakes. Then there’s the first and second round of interviews and, often, a long wait to hear back …” (more)
[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 12 November]
“An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD today (Thursday 7th November) joined Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD, Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, and Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan TD. to launch the €300 million Human Capital Initiative and the Skills and Talent pillar of Future Jobs Ireland …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 7 November]
“Ireland ranks 13th out of 23 European countries when it comes to pay levels for graduates with a bachelor’s degree. Those leaving college here can expect to earn around €31,075, just over a quarter more than the average salary of someone who finishes their education after secondary school. The figures come in a report from insurance and consulting group Willis Towers Watson …” (more)
[Ellie Donnelly, Independent, 25 October]
“Agus mé níos mó ná leathbhealach tríd mo chúrsa fochéime, éiríonn an cheist faoin bplean atá agam i ndiaidh an choláiste níos práinní gach lá. Táim cráite ag na comhráite a bhíonn agam faoin todhchaí atá romham ar bhonn rialta. Comhráite ainniseacha atá iontu – pléitear intéirneachtaí, taithí oibre, cúrsaí iarchéime agus an saol oibre go minic …” (more)
[Malachi Ó Marcaigh, University Times, 4 October]
“The president, Michael D Higgins, has criticised ‘many universities’ who he says now produce graduates who are ‘professionals’ rather than ‘critically engaged citizens’. In a speech at Fordham University in New York Mr Higgins accused universities of abandoning their ‘traditional role’ of preparing students to be ‘thoughtful, conscientious, active citizens’ …” (more)
[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 30 September]
“Some graduates can’t get out of college fast enough. They run out through the gates and into the independent adult world of rent, bills, responsibility – but it’s worth it, they think, for the freedom. Others have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, away from what may have been the best years of their life, and stitched into a desk for the daily grind of work …” (more)
[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 27 September]
“The first programme of its kind in Ireland to help students choose the right degree and get through the challenges of higher education is to be launched today. The Graduate Attributes Programme at University College Cork (UCC) is aiming to support students through their life cycle of study at university while also developing their skills …” (more)
[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 24 September]
“The average graduate salary has topped €30,000 for the first time, according to a nationwide survey of new graduates. The survey also shows that Ireland’s young job-seekers increasingly want to work for multinational tech companies and consultancies, not Irish brands or the public sector …” (more)
[Shawn Pogatchnik, Independent, 24 September]
