Third Level Education

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Questions (855)

Carol Nolan

Question:

855. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the oversight, if any, his Department has relating to the content of the graduate diploma in social, personal and health education and relationships and sexuality education course at DCU to date; if the course material or objectives are approved by his Department prior to delivery; if any officials in his Department have any input into the course content or course objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Thank you Deputy for your question.

As Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science I have had no input into the content of the graduate diploma in social, personal and health education and relationships and sexuality education course at DCU, nor have any officials from my Department. Decisions around programmes and content are the remit of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as autonomous institutions as provided for by the Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018, and Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 -2006. Under this legislation HEIs are academically independent and entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including the content of the programmes offered.