CAO to collect applicants' background details in access study

IMPORTANT information on the backgrounds of college applicants is being collected for the first time this year to help widen access to third-level education. For the past three years, colleges have supplied information to the Higher Education Authority on the social, economic and cultural backgrounds of students who enrol on courses to help identify the extra supports needed for school students and for those who do get into college.

State-funded institutions have been told that they must reach certain targets for numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, people with disabilities and mature students or risk losing public funding from next year.

While there has been improved representation of these groups in college, HEA statistics have found there has been no increase in the numbers of undergraduates from families in the 'non-manual' socio-economic category – a group whose incomes often fall just above the amount to make them eligible for student grant supports.

The data collected through the Central Applications Office (CAO) this year will add to the research findings on who gets to college, giving a clear picture for the first time of the status of those applying and getting into third level.

HEA chief executive Tom Boland said the purpose is to measure equality of access and to help identify resources needed to attract students of all backgrounds into higher education: "Socio-economic disadvantage remains the major barrier to third-level participation and the information gathered in response to these questions will provide a valuable evidence base for the development of policies to encourage potential students from every background to consider third-level education and will provide useful metrics against which to measure progress."

The questions require 'yes' or 'no' answers about disability, socio-economic circumstances, cultural and ethnic background.

It is not mandatory to answer the questions but the HEA said all information will be treated in confidence, is safeguarded by data protection law and will not affect an applicant's chances in the CAO process or eligibility for grants or supports.

A number of colleges are setting aside places for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities in a new scheme for which college hopefuls can apply with their CAO form this year. More details are available from www.accesscollege.ie

* The closing date for CAO applications is February 1, with a €10 discount on the €45 fee for those who apply online at www.cao.ie by 5.15pm next Wednesday.