Graduate jobs record helps university top rankings

THE highest research income and an almost perfect jobs record for graduates has helped National University of Ireland Maynooth to the top of the pile in a ranking of the country's seven universities. The Kildare college has been named 2008 Irish University of the Year by the Sunday Times in its annual university guide, published in the newspaper tomorrow. The guide reveals that NUI Maynooth attracts more research income per academic than any other university, and has a graduate employment record of almost 100%.

The choice was also based on NUI Maynooth's record on encouraging access to groups normally excluded from third level education, according to the guide's editor Ian Coxon.

University president Professor John Hughes said it recognises the priority placed on ensuring the best experience for its 7,000 students, from the strength of the academic team interfacing with students, the innovative degree programmes they can choose from, the vibrant social scene and the employability of graduates.

It launched five new degrees in the past year and has been appointed computer microchip giants Intel's global education partner.

University College Dublin, the country's largest third-level college, was runner-up and Limerick Institute of Technology was selected as Institute of Technology of the Year, ranking 11th overall in the table of the 22 higher education institutions. The runner-up was Blanchardstown IT in Dublin.

Other criteria considered in the rankings were student grades, retention rates, student services and contribution to local development.

The guide is published just days after the seven university presidents met Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe to outline their concerns about Government funding, and their proposals for a mix of top-up fees and student loans to improve investment in third level education.

However, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has warned that the return of fees in any format will significantly increase the numbers who leave the country after graduation. A survey this week suggested that half of Irish students find college life unaffordable, and plan to work abroad after graduating.

However, just one-third of the 4,400 people who voted in a poll on the RTÉ News website up to teatime yesterday favoured maintaining the current free fees system, while 43% believe those whose families earn more than €120,000 a year should pay, and one-in-four support a loans system like that proposed by the university chiefs.