On Feb 3rd 2009, at the initiative of the Academy's Science Secretary, the Royal Irish Academy convened a high-level meeting of senior representatives of institutions responsible for higher education in Ireland to consider the effects of the expansion of third level over the past twenty years on the performance of students in undergraduate courses in science. In particular, the meeting explored the effectiveness with which higher educational institutions had accommodated this expansion in the light of (a) a desire to develop a knowledge-based economy and (b) the need to sustain a greatly expanded investment in postgraduate education and research. Six short talks were presented followed by a panel discussion and open forum conducted under the Chatham House rule. An Academy discussion document outlining the main issues and conclusions arising from this meeting is now available.

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Issues and Recommendations