Ireland Aims To Recruit More Students From India, Sri Lanka As It Plans To Welcome Students Back on Campuses Soon

Post Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit), Ireland is now emerging as a popular study destination among Indian students. As many as 5,000 students from India are currently enrolled in Irish higher education institutions. 

With globally recognized courses, this English-speaking country is planning to add to its international student numbers, particularly from India and Sri Lanka. 

Education in Ireland, the national brand for Enterprise Ireland under its Ministry for Education and Skills, has been in charge of promoting Irish higher education institutions overseas. 

It is organizing a virtual showcase on Oct. 23, 2021 to attract more students from India and Sri Lanka for the 2022-2023 academic year.

It will give prospective students a chance to interact with representatives of Irish universities and ask them questions related to courses, colleges, admissions, post-study opportunities, travel, accommodation, scholarships, and much more. A virtual seminar with Irish visa office representatives and student ambassadors will also be held. 

Participating institutions include Trinity College Dublin, Griffith College, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Galway, Institute of Technology Carlow, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University College Dublin, and National College of Ireland. 

These institutions offer globally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as science, engineering, business, and humanities. Officials from the Irish visa office in New Delhi will also be among the representatives. 

One of the main reasons why Ireland plans to open its borders soon for international students is that the country has vaccinated 90 percent of its adult population, including students.  

Brendan Ward, Ireland’s ambassador to India, said this is an appropriate time for the country to welcome back students from across the globe who want to pursue tertiary education. He assured that all Irish higher education institutions have been working together to make sure that the safety measures and rules are followed when international students arrive in the country and that they are eager to welcome back students on campuses.

According to Barry O’Driscoll, the regional manager for India and South Asia for Education in Ireland, Ireland has a robust education infrastructure that is aimed at grooming students into professionals ready for the job market across different industries. The event will enable students to explore the programs and colleges on offer and the possible opportunities associated. 

As per a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the country’s real GDP is projected to grow by 4.2 percent in 2021 and is projected to lift growth to 5.1 percent in 2022, indicating that it has recovered well despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. 

As of now, around 35,000 students from 160 countries are studying in Ireland. Nearly 85 percent of Indian students have chosen to stay back in Ireland for work since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ireland is slowly opening up to international students in September 2021 as part of the government’s plans to bring back students to campuses in a phased manner to resume in-person teaching. 
With the country remaining part of the EU, international students can benefit from flagship and prestigious schemes such as Erasmus Plus. More than 30 higher education institutions offer a variety of around 5,000 programs that lead to internationally recognized and quality-assured qualifications. Students can visit https://india.educationinireland.live/ for more information on the event.