Life in Irish universities has been transformed in recent years with the advent of e-learning, more evening classes, distance learning and increased numbers of mature students taking courses.

The Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB) says student support services . . .such as on-campus healthcare, counselling services and financial advice . . .should be more accessible for these students outside 'office hours'.

The IUQB's report will also recommend that the seven Irish universities should have student support services catering specifically for the now ethnically diverse nature of the Irish student population.

IUQB chief executive Padraig Walsh said: ?Student support services were traditionally designed for 18-year-old white Irish students attending college full-time between 9am and 5pm. This is not the common picture any more as there are so many foreign students, part-time students, mature students and people doing distance learning courses that we need a different approach to student support services.

The report, entitled, 'Good practice in the organisation of student support services in Irish universities', will be released by the IUQB tomorrow.

Established in 2003, the IUQB is a statutory body set up to coordinate a quality assurance system for the seven Irish universities.