Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697803614217.pdf (Ireland)
Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Irish Education.

Tuesday, April 25th Opening Statement: Paddy Howard, Principal Officer, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The department recognises the importance of STEM to society and the economy, which is reflected across all the main areas of DFHERIS interest.
We have made our written submission, which I hope is of assistance to the Committee’s deliberations.

I just want to take the opportunity of drawing out some high-level points from our Department’s perspective.

Clearly, we are conscious of skills as the central lever for a well-functioning society and economy and to the continued competitiveness of Ireland on the global stage.
Education, skills and continuous learning are the most robust, transformative and lasting means to ensure that Ireland’s best asset remains our people.

A key priority for the Department is to ensure that the skills ecosystem has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape.

When we turn to the specific topic of STEM, we find it important to first place the matter in its context.
As is widely acknowledged, society needs investment in a wide array of disciplines and skills.

We typically draw attention to the need to highlight the transversal skills needed across all sectors, such as creativity, problem solving, and people skills in responding to the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation.

Also, whether the topic is education or research, it is widely acknowledged that the societal challenges being faced at present require multi-disciplinary approaches.
That frames our approach when we turn to the topic of STEM.

I know other colleagues from relevant agencies will likely set out the good work being done at the moment in Higher and Further Education, and I know the Committee has already talked to Science Foundation Ireland in respect of research and innovation.

With that in mind, I might briefly comment on the current position with respect to Higher Education.
I understand enrolments have remained constant at around 28% for the past few years, but when we factor in the overall increase in student Seoladh Líne 1, Seoladh Líne 2, Contae, EIRCODE Address Line 1, Address Line 2, County, EIRCODE T +353 1 234 5678 | name@psb.gov.ie www.psb.gov.ie numbers in that time, we find that the number of Students enrolled in STEM has risen by 14%.
Through targeted upskilling and reskilling initiatives such as Springboard +, we have seen the mainstream supply of graduates supplemented.

Springboard+ provides free and subsidised upskilling and retraining in areas of need.

The HCI- (Human Capital Initiative) also forms a strategic response to changing workplace and both have a strong STEM element and are funded through the National Training Fund.
We are aware that just because a learner is not enrolled in a STEM course does not mean they cannot be exposed to new technologies or scientific ways of thinking.

Also, STEM students benefit from looking outside their fields of study to learn new thinking.

We believe that all graduates should have the opportunity to continue lifelong learning.

This work distinguishes that digital skills are a transversal skill, and are required in varied ways through all stages of life, and in all career paths.
On the issue of Digital Skills, Dimension 3 of the National Digital Strategy sets out the importance of focusing our skills policy on meeting digital skills at every level, including high level digital skills, digital skills for the labour market and digital skills for society.

This focus is vital in order for us to be an international leader in the digital economy.

To that end, the Department has underpinned the National Digital Strategy by setting two overall targets.
The first of these is to increase the number of learners who graduate with higher level digital skills to more than 12,400 graduates, apprentices and trainees, and the second target is to increase the share of adults in Ireland with at least basic digital skills to 80%.

As you can see in our written submission, achievement of these goals has been largely completed, and the country continues to show significant progress to meet the remaining elements.
We have also set out the actions and progress being made in respect of equality in our written submission.

Questions of equality and access are very much in our minds in all that we do.

I might conclude by observing that our Department will be developing a new science advisory structure.

While located in our Department, this structure will offer a service to Government.
In particular, it will work to improve delivery of cross-sectoral science advice which has the potential to illuminate pressing societal problems.

ENDS ….. 2