Student numbers are projected to grow by as much as 19% over the next decade, according to a new report by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Projections of Demand for Higher Education 2025-2045 report forecasts strong growth in demand for full-time higher education places in the coming years, with demand expected to peak in 2034 before easing towards 2045, reports RTE.
The primary driver of this growth is a rising number of Irish school leavers reaching college age, linked to higher birth rates between 2007 and 2012, with continued growth in postgraduate study also anticipated — particularly among non-EU students.
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Welcoming the publication, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless said: “This report highlights the continued strength, success and attractiveness of Ireland’s higher education sector.
“With more than 200,000 students now enrolled across our institutions, demand for higher education is expected to continue growing over the next decade. My focus, and that of my Department, is to ensure we have the policies and planning in place to meet this demand by keeping higher education accessible and responsive, while continuing to uphold the strong international reputation and quality of Irish higher education,” reports RTE.
His department said the projections, based on the latest available data, provided a more stable planning foundation than the previous estimates published in 2022, which had been affected by uncertainty arising from Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report will inform future policy development and investment decisions to ensure the higher education system can meet growing demand while maintaining quality and accessibility, reports RTE.
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