Young Irish adults are the most educated in Europe with over half of 30 to 34-year-olds holding 3rd-level qualifications. The finding comes from a new Higher Education Authority (HEA) study which is the first of its kind into the performance of our 3rd-level sector.
It has found that Ireland is number one in the world for the availability of skilled workers and three-quarters of Irish employers are satisfied with graduate skills.
It also says that Ireland has the 4th highest percentage of maths, science and computing graduates in the EU.
This first ever System Performance Report says that institutions here have responded flexibly to demographic, staffing and financial pressures while also adapting to meet government objectives for the system as a whole.
Completion rates for honours degree courses are well above the OECD average - but there has been a deterioration in non-progression rates at Level 6 and 7.
The report also shows that the numbers and proportions of students from under-represented socio-economic groups are increasing but not fast enough.
The Chief Executive of the HEA, Tom Boland said "This report demonstrates that in the recent difficult years of economic turmoil, the Higher Education system has risen to the challenges of growing student numbers and reduced resources".
"A resilient Higher Education system has provided significant extra capacity to meet increased demand, to address areas of specific skills needs, as well as providing capacity for labour market activation programmes" he added.
The HEA says funding and the rising student-staff are challenges for the future but Education Minister Ruairi Quinn says they can be overcome.
