Students turn away from courses linked to sectors hit by recession

Wednesday, 23-05-2012

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Students turn away from courses linked to sectors hit by recession

Students turn away from courses linked to sectors hit by recession

STUDENTS are turning away in huge numbers from courses in business, engineering, teaching, law and disciplines affected by the economic recession. Central Applications Office (CAO) statistics show the top preferences of the 64,455 people who have submitted lists of courses which they hope to begin next autumn, up almost 5,000 on last year's applications.

College hopefuls can list up to 10 level 8 (honours bachelor degree) courses and up to 10 level 7 (ordinary bachelor degree) or level 6 (higher certificate) courses and were allowed to change their choices up to a week ago.

Although the number who have listed a level 8 business course as their first preference is up slightly on last year to 10,131, they represent a smaller proportion of overall applications – down 1% to 15.7%.

Just 9% of people listed engineering or technology degrees as their first preference, down from almost 10% a year ago.

David O'Meara, managing director of Irish company Havok, the world's largest provider of technology for movie and gaming special effects, said the figures add to already poor statistics which make it hard for such firms to employ Irish graduates.

"We are constantly told it is because young people are not interested in maths and sciences, but what is to blame is a lack of accountability by senior civil servants in the Department of Education and schools," he said.

"I don't buy into the need for more school computers or curriculum change. The department needs to stop people who are not performing from teaching our kids," Mr O'Meara said.

Almost 400 fewer people – 1,140 – have listed level 8 courses in architecture or building environment, which includes surveying, valuation and building, as their top priority.

The proportion seeking entry to primary school teaching degrees is down slightly to 8.8%, possibly prompted by cutbacks in the Department of Education budget which will see hundreds fewer teachers employed in the country's 3,300 primary schools next autumn.

The legal profession has also suffered from the downturn in the construction industry, largely due to conveyancing business falling dramatically, and first preferences for law degrees are down this year.

Arts and social science degrees remain by far the most popular among CAO applicants, with more than one-in-four students again seeking entry to these courses.

In perhaps some good news for the economy, there is a large rise in applications to undertake science degrees, now the top choice of almost one-in- nine college applicants.

This increase of almost 1,500 to 6,965 may also mean higher points requirements for those applying with Leaving Certificate results and possibly a higher calibre of science graduates in a few years for prospective employers in the biomedical and other important sectors.

The popularity of nursing degrees is also on the rise, with part of the 770 increase in first preferences under this heading possibly attributable to the high numbers of places available to mature students. Art and design courses have also experienced a slight rise in demand this year, as have degrees in medicine, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine, agriculture and dentistry.