Structured Employer Contributions to Higher Education Funding

The Irish Experience

Funding of higher education (HE) systems is receiving increasing attention internationally. Rising participation rates and demographic demand are exacerbating funding difficulties in many countries. In response to a HE funding crisis in Ireland, the Irish HE system responded with significant increased activity in international income generation and by introducing a structured employer contribution for the first time in 2017 through the use of its National Training Fund. This paper captures the public debate which surrounded the development of structured employer contributions to HE funding, noting that the resultant Human Capital Initiative Scheme will be unrolled in late 2019. An early indication of the feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in the Irish context, noting factors which need further consideration before the generalisability of the approach to other countries can be determined.