Plans To Open Third Level Education In Place - Harris

Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris TD will publish Plans to Open Third Level Education in June. These plans will aim for a better campus experience for third level students for the following academic year, which begins in September 2021.

Under Level 5 restrictions, third level students have been mainly studing online. Practical and time critical work are the only exceptions to the rule.

However, the Government have announced that there will be an increase in on-site learning from September 2021.

What did Minister Harris say?

On these plans, Minister Simon Harris had this to say.

“Over 250,000 people attend further and higher education every year. This year, the bulk of their work has been online. We know we had do it and we know why but we also know we cannot have an academic year like the last. We need to begin the next academic year on the right foot, get our learners and staff back onsite and start the work of preventing long term effects of the pandemic for our youngest adults”. 

Harris also added. “Today, the working group of students, colleges, staff representatives, further education and training providers and my Department has met to develop a plan for re-opening, which will be published by Government in June. I know this has been a tough year for students and staff but thankfully, a better year awaits you”.