Outstripped
For the first time, the numbers accepting places in ITs -- 46.5pc of all acceptances -- has outstripped the numbers starting in the seven universities, which stands at 44.5pc.
Although university acceptances are up 600 on the previous year, these institutions are probably closer to capacity than the ITs, which had more flexibility to soak up extra demand.
The popularity of the ITs may be explained by the lower level of academic competition for many of their courses and the more vocational type programmes they offer.
HEA chairman Michael Kelly described the increase in numbers as "phenomenal". "They clearly show the strong demand for higher education. Up to two out of every three 18-year-olds are now taking a place in third level."
The rise in college entrants -- up from 42,117 last year and 39,915 in 2007 -- means that as well as school-leavers, growing numbers are also accessing higher education through routes other than the CAO.
Meanwhile, the Irish Federation of University Teachers has called on the Government to reverse the embargo on staff recruitment in third-level colleges.
Interesting article -will the popularity of the IT sector continue?
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I think it's great news that the numbers attending higher education is on the up. I'm sure the recession has made a lot of people realise that the jobs aren't going to be thrown at them and they'll need the qualifications under their belts when things pick up again. I know of so many people going back to college as mature students. It's a great time to be going back to college.
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