Papers of James Meenan – Move of UCD to Belfield

32 U.C.D. and the Future

they are to rival the universities as centres' of higher technological education and it is not inconceivable that they might outstrip the universities altogether in this regard. Credence is lent to the views expressed above by the plans outlined by Mr. Martin Gleeson, of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee|Dublin Vocational Education Committee]], in his recent speech at the opening of the school year. Under the heading 'Plan for a Diploma with Status of a University Degree' he is reported as saying:

'The Department of Education were now prepared to provide an examination to be taken by students entering professional courses in technical colleges, the standard to be equivalent to that required for entry to N.U.I. A pre-requisite to its establishment would be its acceptance by professional bodies in lieu of thie rpreliminary examinations.

The Department were, as a result, prepared to investigate the possibility of establishing, in conjunction with the technical colleges and certain professions, a National Diploma or a Technical College Diploma which would have the status of a University Degree and to be acceptable as such by the professional bodies.' ('Irish Independent,' 8th October, 1959).

The institutes of technology are in fact, if not in name, to be raised to the status of a technological university. Thus a new university, a third university in Dublin, is being founded without any flag-waving or laying of foundation stones. But, more important still, this is happening without any public enquiry into the need for a third institution of university status and without a full consideration of its effect on the future of the existing universities or of the community's ability to bear the extra cost.

What is the necessity of having another examination of a standard 'equivalent to that required for entry into N.U.I.' — i.e. the Matriculation or Leaving Certificate examinations? If a student can pass the proposed new entrance test, he can pass or will already have passed one of the two existing examinations. If he has passed one of these, why does he not go to the university for his professional training? Presumably because he cannot afford it, or prefers to take his professional qualification by part-time study. To neither group of earnest student should the university doors by closed.

All credit is due to the Vocational Education Committee for its efforts to ensure that such students are provided with the opportunity of attaining full professional status. But we do not see why the community should be burdened with the maintenance of several independent training establishments, when by the co-operation of the universities and the provision of more and adequate scholarships the same results could be obtained more economically and in a manner that would be of greater benefit to the individual student.

'A satisfactory solution in our view could only be one which provided for due co-ordination between the work of the University and the College (of Technology) in the same field. Resources in manpower and equipment are limited and economy in their use is therefore necessary. Unlimited competition between two institutions covering the same ground in the same centre would be wasteful. Moreover close association between applied science and other faculties is important . . . To give the College (of Technology) independent degree-giving powers, so far from improving its co-ordination with the University, would have severed such links as exist between the two institutions.'

Problems in the Proposed Move 33

This paragraph is taken from a recent report of the British University Grants Committee ('University Development 1952-1957,' para. 119), and refers to the situation in Glasgow. It might have been written about the situation in Dublin, where it applies with greater force — more than two institutions are involved in competition, and the 'resources in money, manpower and equipment' are even more limited.

We urge that co-operation must be achieved and that the expansion of both U.C.D. and the institutes of technology should not be financed as completely independent projects. This would appear to be a sphere in which a University Development Committee as proposed by the Commission would be particularly useful 'in advising on long-term plans for development and problems of co-ordination' (Report, pp. 41 & 128).

2. THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

The Institute for Advanced Studies, a statutory body financed directly out of public funds, is divided into three schools, viz., Theoretical Physics, Cosmic Physics and Celtic Studies, which are housed in Merrison Square. The Cosmic Physics School also controls the Observatory at Dunsink.

The essential work of the Institute lies in research. From time to time, however, members of the staff give statutory public lectures and specialised courses are run which are attended by advanced students from both U.C.D. and T.C.D.

The Institute also accepts students of its own. In all cases these students are of degree or higher standing and come, both from our Irish universities and from abroad, to do research which is suitable for a doctorate thesis. As the Institute is not itself a degree-giving body, research students may wish to submit their theses either to N.U.I. or to T.C.D. We understand that difficulties can and do arise in this regard. The Institute may not be able to continue to attract students unless it can facilitate them in this matter of higher degrees. In the School of Cosmic Physics at least, because of the practical nature of the work involved, research students are essential.

Individuals may hold appointments both in the Institute and in one or other of the Colleges in Dublin. Members of the Institute make use of the libraries of both Colleges. Collaboration in research between the universities and the Institute also takes place. Some members of the Institute are known to be willing, or even anxious, to undertake some further, though limited, teaching duties to the more advanced university students.

Closer ties with the universities would appear desirable and may be essential in the matter of granting higher degrees. Some of the difficulties involved might be overcome if the universities were willing to confer honorary professorships on the professors of the Institute. Such a procedure would give members of the Institute official status and even limited rights (e.g. library, restaurant and common-room facilities) in the universities, and might enable the Institute's research students to register as students of one of the universities for the purpose of qualifying for higher degrees.

If still closer integration should be considered, a marked improvement on the present position might be achieved, both from the point of view of