of the economy that do not depend on multinational investment and recognition. There are many different types of further education awards, known as Post Leaving Certificates. The Further Education and Training Awards Council conferred awards in the extra-university system. Further education has expanded immensely in recent years helped by the institutions, and because of this the type and range of these awards have been formalized to restore confidence. There were two separate schemes enabling progression for holders of FETAC awards to universities and institutes of technology. FETAC awards carried points that could be used to access higher education. FETAC was dissolved and its functions were passed to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on 6 November 2012, and the progression schemes continued. Grade inflation Ireland has a higher proportion of third-level graduates than any other EU country, although many university students are better suited to further education and training, including PLC, apprenticeship and traineeship courses. At the same time, the proportion of graduates with first-class honours has reached record levels, particularly in institutes of technology. There is disagreement about whether this increase is due to improved methods of instructing increasingly motivated students, or simple grade inflation. President Michael D. Higgins believes that it is due to grade inflation, and has expressed concern about the continued quality and value of university degrees. Whatever the reason might be, employers increasingly examine graduates' extracurricular activities, work experiences, and soft skills as they search for the most able applicants. List of higher education establishments These are lists of colleges and universities within Ireland; some colleges are constituent colleges of universities. Universities Recognised as Universities under the Universities Act, 1997 as amended: Dublin City University National University of Ireland Maynooth University University of Galway University College Cork University College Dublin Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Limerick University of Dublin Trinity College Technological Universities Technological Universities have been formed by the merger of former Institutes of Technology. Atlantic Technological University Munster Technological University South East Technological University Technological University Dublin Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest Institutes of technology Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology Dundalk Institute of Technology Pontifical University St Patrick's College, Maynooth (also known as Maynooth College or the Pontifical University at Maynooth) Colleges of education St Angela's College of Education, Sligo Marino Institute of Education Mary Immaculate College, Limerick St. Patrick's College, Thurles Recognised, associated or constituent