The National Forum is delighted to welcome the establishment of a new national group of experts to explore framework options for the future development of higher education across the island of Ireland. The Higher Education Futures Group has been convened by the Royal Irish Academy and its members include National Forum Chair, Dr Lynn Ramsey, and current and previous members of the National Forum Board, Mr Jim Miley of the Irish Universities Association and Dr Joseph Ryan of the Technological Higher Education Association.
The Higher Education Futures Group, under the leadership of the Academy’s Senior Vice President, Prof Gerry McKenna MRIA, will be advisory. Its range of focus and activities may include inter alia: the role of higher education on the island of Ireland and the effects of COVID-19 on its delivery and demand, the regional roles of higher education and the role of the technological universities, future funding models, and North-South collaboration in teaching and research (including future participation in EU and UK funding programmes).
The Higher Education Futures Group will be informed by a wide range of discussions with stakeholders and networks and will use its convening power to stay connected with other relevant discussions ongoing in this area. It will publish outputs as part of a series as they are completed and accepted by the group. It is intended that the totality of outputs, along with a final overview provided by the group, will provide a framework for the maintenance and development of a world class, comprehensive and sustainable higher education sector within the island of Ireland.
The first meeting of the group is due to take place in September 2020. For more information and a full list of members of the new group, see here.
