"Deficit of courtesy and good manners in society today" - DCU President speaks at DCU graduation
-10 November 2008

At a graduation ceremony today in Dublin City University, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski said that it has become clear that the Minister, as well as other key politicians, do not wholly trust the universities and feel that there is significant under-performance in the institutions.

This is in the context of the Budget for 2009 when the Minister for Education and Science announced that there was to be a 'forensic audit' of higher education institutions, to ascertain whether they are providing value for money and are adequately conducting their core mission.

He said, "Part of the problem is that the role that universities must play in a knowledge society is different from what it would have been when Ireland was much poorer. There is a tension between the traditional expectation that universities will primarily teach students, and the more recent requirement for universities to under-pin economic development and attract corporate research and development into Ireland; not to mention the role of universities as agencies of cultural regeneration and of tackling disadvantage and structural poverty.

There is some evidence that politicians do not understand some of these national requirements, and treat universities as if they are slightly more advanced secondary schools. This is an unsustainable position, and will cost Ireland dearly in terms of lost R&D opportunities.

It also again raises the question as to whether the Department of Education and Science is the right home in government for higher education. The answer is, probably not.

Universities do need to address performance and related issues, but they need to be seen in that context not just as government agencies, but as knowledge institutions with an autonomous mission.

ENDS