World-renowned economists and academics addressed students on issues including the future of Ireland’s third-level education sector at this year’s Trinity Economic Forum.
Former DCU president Ferdinand, Von Prodzynski participated in a rousing debate on whether the country’s third-level institutions are ‘broke, broken or both’.
Discussing funding models and the quality of education provided, Von Prodzynski described how “the system’s working but it’s at risk”.
Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland pointed out that while the sector needs urgent funding, Ireland’s third-level leaders have been largely successful at maintaining standards despite the country’s economic turmoil.
Concerned student audience members made several contributions to the lively debate, during which Dr Darragh Flannery of the University of Limerick stated funding for the sector “has to come from the private purse”.
Speakers at the Forum also included Fiona Muldoon, Director of Credit Institutions and Insurance Supervision at the Central Bank of Ireland.
The banking expert gave insight into the current state of Irish banking, telling those gathered “the sovereign and banking link are not broken”.
Established in 2012 by a group of Trinity College Dublin students, the Forum is intended to give students from across Ireland an opportunity to get involved in dialogue concerning the future of the country’s economy.
Ian Moran
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