Fourth Level Ireland Network Westley Forsythe IUA Monday

Fourth Level Ireland Network Westley Forsythe, IUA Monday 21 September 2009 www. iua. ie

Policy development

Structured Ph. D programmes ‘Apprenticeship model’ • Lone or small groups of students – one HEI • Ph. D Thesis • Generic/transferable skills - an ‘extra’ • Typically three years ‘Structured’ programme (incorporating ‘apprenticeship’) • Groups of students – possibility of multi-HEIs • Ph. D Thesis • Generic & disciplinary skills embedded in education • Normally four years • Thesis remains the basis on which the award is made

Structured programmes funded by… • Higher Education Authority (i) SIF (ii) PRTLI • Research Councils’ GREPS • Dept. of Agriculture • Health Research Board

Fourth Level Network • SIF funded • Deans of Graduate Education in all universities

Achievements • ECTS agreement • Irish Universities Graduate Student skills statement • Collaborative promotion of Irish graduate education • Share good practice • Point of contact for funders and those developing and delivering graduate education

Challenges • Maintenance of quality • Four year stipends • Avoidance of a two tier system • ‘Co-opetition’: Does not encourage sharing of good practice; undermines collaborative approach • Inter-institutional arrangements: ECTS, QA mechanisms (IUQB National guidelines) • Defined authority and role of the Network?