Socio-Economic Analysis
The Statistics Unit are currently analysing the socio-economic profile of students in higher education in Ireland by institute, field of study and other characteristics. This is centered on deprivation index scores assigned to students based on their home address (Census small area data). The HEA plan to change the equity of access funding model to be based on deprivation index scores in the coming years.

Earnings Analysis – HEA + Revenue Data
The Statistics Unit are working with Revenue, Department of Education & Skills and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection data in the CSO to model graduate earnings up to 8 years after graduation. This is an extension of work already produced in collaboration with the CSO looking at graduate outcomes.

Data Dissemination
We are moving away from paper publications to mostly online data dissemination via tables for download and data visualisations. Major analyses will still be published via reports on our website. We also hope to make our data available on the CSO Statbank in 2020.

Collaboration with External Researchers
We are currently working with a number of external researchers to make best use of rich higher education student data. Work at present is focussing on factors that influence student success in terms of completion, final grades and earnings and also value added at third level by institute in terms of graduate outcomes.