This is another difficult area to campaign on as institutions aren t very forthcoming on exactly what computer services they provide. USI will be giving out questionnaires to Students Unions before Christmas to find out exactly what computer services are provided by your colleges. Also we will be asking what computer services you want in your colleges. Along with the questionnaire there will be a researched paper on examples from various other institutions around the world. As an interim measure we will be campaigning to get more computers into colleges, especially those that have a low rate of computers per students.
Mature students are grossly under-represented in Irish third level education.
USI will continue to push for greater access for mature students and greater financial support for mature students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with extra responsibilities. We will also lobby to ensure that when a mature student returns to education they are means tested on their own income and not that of their parents regardless of residence. Information Communications Technology ICT is crucial for students both during their time in college and after they graduate. USI will lobby to ensure that all students have access to ICT foundation modules during their undergraduate training. USI will lobby to ensure that more resources are made available for graduates of all disciplines to undertake further training in ICT in order to enhance their career prospects.