Key Activities
Activities under the broad heading of Policy reflect the strategic, developmental and advisory functions assigned to the HEA under the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971, the Universities Act, 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Act, 2006. It is principally concerned with fostering the strategic development of a higher education sector that has the capacity to respond to changing needs of our economy and society.
Key functions are as follows:
- Advising the Minister for Education and Science and Government on all matters pertaining to higher education including issues relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of the system.
- Facilitating educational access for groups who are under-represented in higher education - those who are disadvantaged socially, economically and culturally, mature students and students with a disability.
- Developing policies and procedures to ensure that the Irish higher education system is appropriately linked to European and wider international systems of higher education.
- Monitoring developments on both the local and global stage that are relevant to higher education in Ireland.
- Contributing and supporting other agencies / bodies in the development of policy.