Getting mature stude How are mature students getting on in our education system and what can be done to improve access and outcomes. The HEA set out to find out and have produced a comprehensive report LIFE long Learning is a phrase that growth in the Irish economy. As noted by the US Nobel Prize encapsulates the idea that people will start formal learning at three or Winner, economist Kenneth Arrow, four and that it will continue to the in a review of the Irish economy, grave. But there many cases where “education is important in increasing the first phase of people's lives individual productivity and higher leaves them short of education. education is now playing a more Poverty and exclusion of certain important role in increasing labour groups as well as personal situations productivity than in the past.” The HEA defines mature students Study of means that large numbers of Irish adults miss out and the only way to as those 23 years or over on 1 Mature Student make it up is as mature students in January of their year of entry to Participation in higher education. The targets as set Higher Education adulthood. Indecon International Research out in the National Plan for Equity of is available at hea.ie Economists were appointed by the Access to Higher Education 2015Higher Education Authority (HEA) to 2019 (National Access Plan or NAP) undertake an independent research uses a definition of those students study on mature student participa- who are first-time entrants. "Access to A summary of Indecon’s recom- higher tion in higher education. The main aims of the project were mendations based on detailed education is to examine levels of educational research evaluation of participation critical in attainment of the Irish population; by mature students in higher educa- ensuring that to analyse the trends in mature stu- tion in Ireland is listed here. individuals The research undertaken as part of realise their dent participation; to investigate the barriers and challenges for mature this study shows that in many cases potential [v3 June 21] HEA Mature Student Participation in HE.qxp_Layout Page of 10 participation by the low17:25 levels students, especially for NAP target1 04/06/2021 and are not groups; to assess funding supports; certain groups reflects specific barri- left behind. to review supporting structures; to ers and challenges rather than a lack Access examine models of delivery and to of interest. to higher STUDY OF MATURE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: develop recommendations to inform education iii | WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE 1 | Efforts internationally to future policy initiatives. also impacts This study is of particular impor- promote access focus on employment The four NAP target groups (namely persons from disadvantaged areas, Irish Travellers, persons with a disability and disadvantaged communities tance as access to higher education prospects and lone parents) recorded lower educational attainment levels than the national average. This is particularly the case for The Irish National Access is criticalofinthe ensuring individuals overalllevel of members Traveller that Community, where in 2016 a majority of the population hadPlan a higheston educational (NAP) haswith overall targets maturefromproductivity" realise their potential are not primary-school educationand or below. Loneleft parents, persons a disability andfor individuals disadvantaged areas also had low levels of attainment. students, defined as first-time new behind. Access toeducational higher education also impacts on employment pros- entrants who are 23 years or over in pects and on overall productivity and January of their year of entry. NAP Group by Highest Education Level, 2011 and 2016
Persons from Persons Disadvant Lone with a Irish aged Parents Disability Travellers Areas
Highest level of education obtained 2011 2016
12%
43%
26%
2011
14%
62%
2011
36%
31%
2011
21%
2016 0%
36%
11% 13%
46%
17%
19%
42% 20%
16%
33%
37%
2016
12%
28%
69%
2016
Primary or below
44%
31%
40%
Lower secondary or Upper Secondary
23% 60%
16% 20% 14% 18%
80%
Post Leaving Certificate
100% Third Level
Note: In the case of Irish Travellers and persons with a disability, the category “Post-Leaving Certificate” includes: Technical/Vocational, Advanced 50 Education Apprenticeship. Statistics from CSO also report “Other” and “Not stated” as additional categories which we exclude from Certificate/Completed the graph. Source: Indecon Analysis of CSO data.
Internationally, efforts to increase participation by students generally are aimed at those from more disadvantaged communities, whether they are mature students or not. This is also reflected in the focus on specific NAP groups within the Irish National Access Plan. 2 | Educational attainment rates in Ireland are high Educational attainment rates in Ireland are very high, with 40% having achieved third-level education and only 7% have primary level or below. Within the 25 - 44-year age cohort, levels of participation in higher education have surpassed 50%. However, despite the overall levels, NAP target group members have relatively low levels of educational attainment. 3 | Number of mature students in HE declined as unemployment fell The evidence also shows greater volatility among males than females. The decline in the number of mature students may in part reflect the significant increase in overall higher educational attainment. 4 | More mature students attended institutes of technology than universities More mature students attended Institutes of Technology than universities and represent a larger portion of student intake in their respective institution type. The greater number of mature students attending institutes of technology is likely to have been influenced by the duration and type of programmes provided. 5 | A majority of mature students attend HE on a fulltime basis While a majority of mature students participate in higher education on a full-time basis, older candidates and members of the Traveller Community are more likely to participate on a part-time basis. 90% of
