Third level qualifications by alternative modes of study

Abstract

Chapter One follows the progress of technological education in Ireland from the Autumn of 1961 when the OECD asked for a survey of the educational systems of each of its member countries, so that there would be a well educated and well trained pool of graduates to take Ireland into the technological age. Chapter Two follows the history of Sligo RTC from its intake of 38 technician students in the summer of 1971 to an application from over 6,000 prospective students,in the Summer of 1990 to fill the 600 approximate first year technician places on offer, at Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Post Degree level. Chapter Three addresses the educational progress of students through third level education in a mode other than the norm. It is an analysis of a number of different experiments that have taken place at Sligo RTC and covers courses at Certificate, Diploma and Degree level. It shows how this can be a cost effective method of bringing education to many who have missed the main-stream mode. This is termed "Second Chance Education" in the thesis. Chapter Four develops the idea of using outcentres as a means of taking third level education out to the people, with the resultant benefits of reducing the cost to the student and utilising space now coming available at second level centres, due to a drop in second level student numbers. Chapter Five developes the ideas expressed in Chapter Four by placing them in a national setting. Further ideas are incorporated which could deal with a large cross-section of the population, e.g. from prisoners to pensioners.