Investment in Access
Overview of Access Funding
From 1996-2005 the HEA supported the development of access programmes by higher education institutions through its targeted initiative funding programme. Since 1996, HEA funded institutions have drawn on this funding to develop the necessary infrastructure and programmes of action which support wider access for people with a disability, mature students, young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and members of the traveller and refugee communities.
In 2006 with the intrduction of the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) this funding was mainstreamed through the core, annual recurrent grant to higher education institutions. A new funding model is currently being phased in for all HEA funded higher education institutions. As part of this model it is planned that the core funding for access initiatives will be linked to the number of students from under-represented groups enrolled in each institution. This is subject to the successful introduction of new access data collection systems by institutions from 2007 onwards.
In 2006 a new Strategic Innovation Fund was introduced, through which €510m will be allocated between 2006 and 2013 to higher education institutions for projects to enhance collaboration in the sector; improve teaching and learning; support institutional reform; promote access and lifelong learning; and support the development of fourth level education.
For more information on the Recurrent Grants of the HEA please click here
For more information on the Strategic Innovation Fund please click here
HEA publishes new national plan for equity of access to higher education