Speech by Dr. Michael Mortell,
President, University College, Cork
at the Conferring of Science Degrees and Diplomas Thursday, 25 July, 1996
 
The Role of the University in a Knowledge Driven Society

I want to say a few words about a university's graduates, its research in science and technology, and the importance for sustained economic development in Ireland.

One of the main factors that today's society must respond to is the rate of change in science and technology and its impact on economic well-being. The pace of change in science and technology is such that, without continued research, our knowledge base becomes obsolete in a very short time. And the pace at which research discoveries are transformed into products for the market is such that, if we are not involved in this research, our graduates cannot be adequately prepared for modern industry.

It is accepted world-wide that so much economic activity today is knowledge based; indeed it has been said that "knowledge is the only meaningful resource" And this, of course, changes the whole basis for economic activity, because knowledge is a very mobile commodity and depends essentially on people - on what is now called the human resource.

This concept of a knowledge based society brings the University onto centre stage in the economy. For the university is the repository of knowledge, and the research based university is continuously updating that knowledge and passing it on to successive generations of students. It is the highly trained graduates who will drive the knowledge based economy.

We saw a perfect example in the news just last week. Hewlett Packard have announced they are to expand their workforce in Leixlip by a further 800, and 400 of these will be graduates.

If it is so patently obvious that universities, research, well trained graduates are more and more essential to our economic well-being, why do I have to waste your time and mine talking about it. The answer is very simple: while governments and civil servants pay lip service to the essential role of universities - especially when they are abroad seeking internationally mobile investment - and while we have such catchcries as "We are the young Europeans", "we have a young, highly educated and flexible work force" , yet when it comes to investing in the goose that lays the golden egg they are much more reticent.

University Presidents have been pointing out for years the paucity of resources which we as a nation have devoted to research - and the consequences of this policy for the national well-being. The decision makers - Minister and Civil Servants - seem to have treated the matter simply as special pleading by the Universities. They have chosen to ignore that while it may mean research in the universities, it also, and much more importantly, means securing the jobs for future generations in this country.

The central message for Government now is: properly funded universities carrying out research in well equipped laboratories, and thereby training the generations of graduates, are essential for the future well-being of this country. This is the essential source from which the new jobs will be created, by attracting the internationally mobile investment to Ireland, and by creating indigenous industry.

Last year the Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology commissioned a report by the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC) chaired by Mr Dan Tierney, a hard-nosed businessman. Here is what it says on Research:

1. "By international standards, the funding of basic research in Ireland, at 11% of EU norm, is unacceptably low" "There is a scepticism in official circles in Ireland - (read Government and Civil Services) - towards the role and importance of science" "The concept of any society surviving solely on the application of technologies developed in other countries is facile".

   Recommendation of STIAC
   There should be a phased increase in the level of basic research funding, rising from the present �5 million to �0 million per annum, i.e. a four-fold increase.

2. STIAC says that the
   "Third level sector is the only performer of basic research in Ireland at present, and the major performer of oriented basic research" It recommends that all PhDs should be funded at a level of no less than �000 per annum.
3. On the question of equipment, STIAC says: "Research is an activity which relies heavily on access to quality state-of-the-art instrumentation. Without access to such equipment Irish research is seriously disadvantaged. A serious gap has developed between what is being provided and what is required.

STIAC recommends �million per annum for 5 years, over and above the existing support, to upgrade equipment. A recent Higher Education Authority (HEA) Report says a doublingof that amount - i.e., � million - is justified!

What was the result? In 1994, the HEA equipment budget was �million, in 1995 it was �million, in 1996 it was �million. To put this in context, it cost UCC � million to reinstate an advanced technology laboratory in the NMRC 4 years ago.

I continue to quote from the STIAC Report:

"We have had one of the lowest percentages of Government spending on R+D in Europe. No country - least of all this country - can afford such a lack-lustre response to the critical need for knowledge"

"Government must recognise that continuous support is needed for under-pinning all aspects of research and development, operating a 'foresight' technology programme and ensuring a constant supply of skilled people"

In the STIAC Report the Government has been presented with the unanimous views of the science, business and State sectors.

This year we have a further Report Shaping Our Future - a Strategy for Enterprise in Ireland in the 21st Century. This Report was commissioned by Mr Richard Bruton, Minister for Enterprise and Employment. In his Foreword, the Minister says "This work urges Ireland to take the critical actions that will help our enterprise sector to flourish and to keep our eyes firmly focused on the major prizes that await success - on the employment front and in a better quality of life for all our people".

Now we have the Presidents of the Universities, the STIAC Report of the Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology and Shaping Our Futureof the Minister for Enterprise and Employment all saying the same thing. They are not saying it just for the benefit of the universities. They are saying it to ensure that the infrastructure is put in place now which will yield the jobs for future generations in this country.

When will the Government stop paying lip services, and take action? Because of the rapid pace of change, even though we are talking about the longer term future, action must be taken now. Otherwise Ireland will rapidly lose its competitive advantage of a good supply of well trained graduates. Multinational companies such as Hewlett Packard and General Instrument are already saying that they can see that the graduates they seek to expand their Irish operations will not be there in sufficient numbers. Then the multinational investment and the jobs will go elsewhere. Now is the time to deal with this problem.