Fall in university rankings damaging to global reputation

Thursday, 7 June 2018Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, is alarmed by the continued slide of Irish universities in the QS Rankings and that Ireland can no longer claim a Top 100 university.

Commenting on the influential world rankings, Ibec Senior Executive for Education and Innovation Policy, Claire McGee, said: “This outcome is a direct result of dire under investment into the higher education sector over the last decade. The lack of investment does not match or support the national ambitions to be a global education and innovation leader.

“Investment in education, particularly higher education, must be regarded as a national infrastructure priority. Ireland's return to economic growth and success is underpinned by highly talented and educated people. It is imperative that we invest in our universities and institutes. These rankings damage Ireland's reputation to attract and embed foreign direct investment to create more high quality and technology jobs. In addition, it impacts the universities' ability to bring leading international researchers and their teams, to undertake cutting edge science and innovations to support Irish business, to Ireland.

“Ibec has long called for Government to act on the OCED recommendations from 2002 to introduce a more balanced funding streams including income-contingent student loans. We must expedite the recommendations of the Cassell's 2015 report and the overall process for higher education funding. We need to stop any further slide in rankings and the time to act is now.”