Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor leads Education in Ireland trade mission to India, now the fastest growing market for recruitment of third level students.
Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor arrived in New Delhi on Friday 23 February 2018, along with representatives from the 20 Irish Higher Education institutions participating in the Education in Ireland trade mission to India.
The mission – which is ongoing at present – is centred around Education in Ireland Fairs organised by Enterprise Ireland in five cities: Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, New Delhi and Pune. During these Fairs, academics and admission officers from the 20 Irish Higher Education Institutions will engage with over 2,000 Indian students, making this the largest education mission to India to date.
Dublin City University
Trinity College Dublin
Maynooth University
National University of Ireland Galway
University College Dublin
University of Limerick
University College Cork
National College of Ireland
Athlone Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown
Institute of Technology Carlow
Limerick Institute of Technology
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Griffith College
College of Computing Technology
Dublin Business School
Michael Smurfit Business School
“I am delighted to lead the largest Education in Ireland mission to India to date, where 20 Irish Higher Education institutions will accompany me to promote the Irish higher education sector.
“Ireland’s Higher Education institutions are at the forefront of research and innovation. We are known for delivering ‘employment-ready’ skills so students can transition smoothly into the workplace. This has been an important driver in Ireland’s transformation into a high-tech, knowledge-based economy. The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for Indian students.
“This mission is part of the Department of Education and Skills’ plan to substantially increase the numbers of international students studying in our higher education institutions by 33%, from 33,000 to 44,000 by 2020.”
The first Education in Ireland Fair took place in New Delhi on Saturday 24th February. Minister Mitchell O’Connor met with Irish higher education institutions and their Indian agents, as well as Indian students considering moving to Ireland to study for a third-level qualification.
Also in New Delhi, Minister Mitchell O’Connor visited Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where she witnessed the signing of an agreement of understanding between JNU and University of Limerick. The signing is the latest development in the relationship between the two universities which is focussed on growing research collaboration, the exchange of faculty, researchers and students and joint cultural programmes.
She also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Birla Institute of Technology & Science and Trinity College Dublin.
At a reception hosted on Friday night by the Irish Ambassador to India H.E. Brian McElduff, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor announced details of two new programmes launched by Cork Institute of Technology and NUI Galway, opened the call for applications for the ‘Government of Ireland -International Education Scholarships’, and launched the ‘Ireland-India Alumni Network’.
The launch of Cork Institute of Technology’s MSc in Artificial Intelligence and the new MSc in Business & Hospitality offered at NUI Galway’s Shannon College is attracting a high level of interest from Indian students at the Education in Ireland Fairs.
Looking ahead to Monday 26 February in Mumbai, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor will meet with officials of the Government of Maharashtra and Pro-Vice Chancellor at Mumbai University to discuss how to develop further collaborations between Ireland and the State of Maharashtra in the areas of international mobility of students, staff and research initiatives.
“India is now the fastest growing education market for Irish higher education institutions. Latest figures from Enterprise Ireland show a 90% growth in exports from the Irish education sector to India since 2013. In 2017, Higher Education institutions saw a rise of 25% in the level of interest from Indian students wishing to study in Ireland.
“Based on the positive response and levels of interest we are seeing from across India on this Education in Ireland mission, we expect to see similar growth in the next academic cycle.
“This is as a result of the commitment and resources dedicated to India by our international offices and academics in Irish higher education institutions.
“Most importantly, it is down to the experience that Indian students have had while in Ireland – a world class education, a tremendous life experience and something that prepares them well for their own international careers.”