HEA Publishes Sectoral Review of Consultation and Reporting Arrangements: Student Services Expenditure and Student Levy
By James Holohan
Posted: 7 August, 2025
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has today published the Sectoral Review of Consultation and Reporting Arrangements: Student Services Expenditure and Student Levy.
This report examines consultation and engagement with students and the transparency and visibility of reporting on student services expenditure and student levies.
Arising from the findings of the review the report sets out four actions for higher education institutions to consider.
The Sectoral Review was commissioned by the HEA in response to a request from Students’ Union Presidents and in the context of new opportunities for national student engagement under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022. A Working Group was convened comprising students and representatives from higher education institutions to provide guidance on the review. Seventeen Higher Education Institutions were invited to participate in the review.
The Report presents the findings of the Review under three areas:
- Student Services Expenditure – consultation with students and reporting arrangements.
- Student Levy – student levies in place, consultation with students, and reporting mechanisms.
- Student Services Expenditure and the Student Levy – improvements to enhance consultation with students and reporting arrangements, and good practice on consultation and in relation to reporting.
Anne Scott, Professor Emerita, Chair of the Working Group, noted:
“The report captures the breadth of practices that exist in relation to student consultation and the transparency of reporting on student services expenditure and the student levy, and references instances of good practice that Institutions can draw from to further inform, develop, and strengthen existing practices.”
Commenting on the Report, Linda Darbey, Senior Manager, Policy and Strategic Planning at the HEA, said:
“This report highlights the HEA’s commitment to student engagement and the value of institutions engaging with students on their higher education experience. The HEA looks forward to working with students and higher education institutions on the implementation of actions to enhance consultation with students.”
HEA CEO Dr. Alan Wall welcomed the report on the sectoral review, saying:
“The report highlights the sector’s engagement with students on student services and levies. The HEA is committed to working with the sector to further promote the good practices identified in this report to improve student involvement in institutional decision making.”
The report reflects the HEA’s statutory responsibility to promote student engagement and highlights the importance of involving students in conversations on the operations of the institutions which they attend.
The full report is available to download in Irish and English below.
