8.9 | HEIs addressing Social Disadvantage
Inmany parts of Limerick city, the proportion of the population leaving school with just a primary education is considerably higher than the national average. In 18 EDs, the rate is 20% or higher, with nine EDs recording an early school leaving rate more than 30%. Solutions to these historic issues require a broad spectrum of responses such as lifelong learning and upskilling, which are advocated strongly in Chapters 4 and 6 of the RSES. Higher education institutes play an important role in addressing social disadvantage. They can provide accelerated and supported pathways by establishing dedicated facilities to help address disadvantage in their immediate communities. The proposed development by LIT to create a large multi-use Community Engagement
Gateway (CEG) facility at its northern boundary with the Moyross Regeneration Area, is a progressive initiative.
The primary focus of the CEG will be a modern, vibrant and flexible facility, which will deliver new community, education and sports facilities. The CEG aims to address the low educational attainment issues prevalent in the area, by breaking down physical and psychological barriers between northside RAPID areas and the provision of a higher education facility in the community. UL plans to open a CityCentre campuswhichwill support the enhancement of the City Centre. This will bring up to 2000 students and over 100 staff into the heart of the City. This will support the objective of the MASP to strengthen the consolidation and regeneration of Limerick City Centre. The MASP supports the ambition of UL to develop an international identity, to expand and integrate with the City Centre and to develop the proposed South Clare Economic SDZ.
8.10 | Linking Enterprise and Higher Education
The enhancement of linkages between enterprise and higher education and research is critical. This can be achieved by the provision of enterprise development programmes, accessing research opportunities and the provisionof dedicated centres focusing on particular aspects of the enterprise/third- level interface such as the planned Mid-West Regional Design Centre. The MASP supports initiatives such as these and seeks investment to facilitate their implementation. Academies of Learning will distinguish the next phase of UL’s Co-op principle. Academies will be developed between UL and individual institutions in enterprise to build programmes of learning. Enterprise will collaborate with UL through programmes of learning devised with
the University to meet the specific needs of industry. The MASP supports the ambition of the University to develop enterprise-led academies of learning demonstrating cohesion with enterprise supported by fit for purpose infrastructure. There is a need to future proof the Metropolitan Areas long-term talent stream. There are several collaborative education-industry initiatives already underway, which focus on increasing the quality and quantity of the talent stream for the Mid-West. These include the Shannon Consortium, Limerick for Engineering, Limerick for IT, a dedicated Hospitality Education & Training Centre, Regional Skills Forum, UL and Hospital Group (Clinical Research Unit). As per Chapter 7 of the RSES, this MASP acknowledges the work in Limerick as a UNESCO Learning City. This positions the real opportunity to communicate the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Areas selling point as a hub of internationally recognised learning excellence.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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