1. A financial emergency : The Irish response Tom Boland Higher Education Authority SHEEO Higher Education Policy Conference, San Francisco August 2011

2. Economic context Massive downturn in economic activity –GDP fallen by c.20% since 2007 –GNP fallen by c.27% in the same period Significant budgetary consolidation underway since mid-2008 which will continue to 2014 Government debt rose from 25% of GDP in 2007 to 64% in 2009 - Debt sustainability is a key issue.

3. Huge rise in unemployment

4. Quantifying the demand

5. Funding

6. Investment per student in HE, 2007 Source: OECD (2010) Education at a Glance 2010, Indicator: B1.1a

7. That was 2007.

8. In the intervening years… Student numbers have increased by ~16% (from 170,000 in 2007/08 to 197,000 in 2010/11) The proportion of students qualifying for grants has risen from ~33% to ~46% Demand is at an all-time high and is projected to increase Public funding has not increased and is likely to decline in the coming years Student contributions have increased from €900 to €2000 Unit of investment per pupil is under pressure

9. Systemic efficiency Ireland must pioneer new levels of efficiency and innovation in the design and delivery of higher education System-level infrastructures & efficiencies that are quality enhancing Shared services and collective engagement with the challenges The fundamental challenges are not financial They are educational; they are teaching and learning challenges

10. National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 System Quality Funding Sustainability

11. Fees?