Wednesday March 7th 2018
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Young women more likely to have degrees than male peers Callum Lavery News Editor @callum_lavery
DCU will benefit from a new multi-million fund which will encourage underrepresented students to access higher education. 2,000 students across Ireland will benefit from the €5.7 million fund, which will help new undergraduates from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, first-time mature students, students with disabilities and the traveller community. “DCU has the oldest and largest Access program in Ireland and I believe it does a lot to ensure the students in DCU are from all back-
grounds,” said Niall Behan, DCU Students’ Union President. There are currently over 1,300 Access students studying in DCU, and 360 students entered first year in 2017. Through the Access Programme, “an effort is made to help those who may traditionally struggle to reach third level (be) able to,” Behan said. 93 per cent of Access students who enter DCU complete third level education, according to DCU Access research. Over the past 10 years, 92 per cent of DCU Access graduates achieved a 1st or 2nd class honours degree and from 2011 to 2017 this figure has stabilised to 97-98 per
cent. The fund of €5.7 million will be split between 17 universities and Institutes of Technology in Ireland, separated into four regional clusters. “I believe the figure is worthwhile as it is a step in the right direction,” Behan commented on the fund. “Education is for all and unless there are efforts made the gap will widen between classes.” “Universities are a place for everyone and all efforts should be made to ensure this holds true.” The plan was launched by The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. and Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. on February
22nd. The Action Plan for Education, which the government claim will make Ireland’s education system the best in Europe by 2026, “outlines the Government’s commitment to breaking down barriers to education and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential”, according to the HEA. Regional clusters of higher education institutions submitted project plans to the HEA, detailing how the cluster intended to work together to improve access in their region over the next three years. DCU was among the four clusters who were successful in their proposals.
YOUNG women are more likely to have a third-level qualification than young men, new figures show. A recent report by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has shown a major gap in attending third level education between genders in their 20s and early 30s. The report showed that females were less likely to be classified as early school leavers and were more likely to have a third level qualification. Around 60 per cent of females aged 30-34 had a third level qualification compared to just 46 per cent of males. Similarly only 24 per cent of males aged between 20-24 had a qualification compared to 33 per cent of females. Older age groups showed little difference such as those in their 50s and 60s. Education experts say the gender gap among younger age groups is due to the boom-time trend of young males leaving school early to join the manual workforce. The early school leavers’ rate among 18-24 year-olds was 5 per cent in Ireland in 2017. However, the report found that those with a primary/no formal education were over four times more likely to be unemployed (14 per cent) when compare to those with a third level qualification (3 per cent). The early school leaver rate in Ireland has improved. Ireland was ranked seventh lowest in the EU on this indicator in 2016, compared to sixteenth lowest in 2009. Despite females being more likely to earn a third level qualification, women were less likely to be employed compared to males. Although this gap does narrow as the level of education increases.
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€5.7m fund launched for underrepresented students
Fionnuala Walsh News Editor @fionnuala_walsh
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