Indian students go for Irish cream
Barry O'Driscoll, Regional Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Mexico, Colombia markets, Education in Ireland under Irish state agency Enterprise Ireland, talked with the Free Press Journal about Ireland as a study abroad destination, options and opportunities for Indian students and much more.
How does Ireland as a study destination differentiate itself from other popular countries for students such as the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc.?
Ireland is a leader when it comes to the ‘employability rate’ for graduates, both Irish and international compared to other countries. The Irish higher education system is very closely aligned to the skills needs of industry, so graduates in Ireland are renowned for being very much ‘employment ready’. The fact that Ireland produces highly skilled graduates, coupled with the country’s geographic location, as a stepping stone between Europe and the US means that a significant number of multinational corporations operate their Europe headquarters out of Ireland. This creates a very strong ‘post-study work’ ecosystem for graduates in Ireland.
Ireland is ranked in the top 10 for education according to IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2019. As per Times Higher Education, universities in Ireland rank amongst the top 5% world-wide. In addition to this, the Irish government offers a valuable, 2-years stay-back option for international graduates and masters’ level. The country is ranked number-1 for attracting and retaining international talent, setting Ireland apart from other countries.
Are Ireland-bound Indian students coming from bigger cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore are you also seeing a trend of individuals from smaller cities applying to universities in the country?
The number of Indian students choosing to pursue their higher education in Ireland has been steadily increasing in the last 10 years. Ireland is firmly now on the radar of Indian students when it comes to study abroad options, and in 2021 around 5,000 students all over India chose Ireland for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Furthermore, we are currently seeing an increase in the number of Indian students applying to Ireland at the rate of about 10% per year
What have been some of the positives and challenges that Education in
Ireland has witnessed over the past decade in facilitating more Indian students to the country?
Ireland has progressively emerged as a desirable study destination for Indian students. It is a nation that has traditionally excelled at changing direction when confronted by challenges. Similarly, with the pandemic, the country chose to willingly embrace the opportunities that change offers, supported Indian students with healthcare aid and even provided a weekly compensation for students who lost their part-time jobs.
How is Ireland planning to encourage more international and Indian students in the next 1015 years? Does it have plans to surpass the intake achieved by other countries in the Anglo-sphere?
The aim is not to attract international students in numbers beyond that of other English-speaking countries. Ireland is, after all, a small country with a population of just five million. What Ireland’s higher education institutions are aiming to do, however, is to build and grow a diverse international student community. Ireland's education system consistently ranks top 10 globally, attracting international students towards the quality of education it provides. The international students who come to study in Ireland come from EU member states such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany as well as non-European countries such as US, Canada, India, China, Malaysia, Nigeria and Mexico. Ireland currently has the fastest growing economy in the EU and there is an increased need for skilled graduates in sectors such as ICT, medical devices, pharma, finance, and agri-food. Highly skilled graduates play an important role in filling the critical skills needed in the Irish economy.
There used to be a two-year stay-back opportunity for students who studied in Ireland. Is that opportunity still available to students? If yes, have there been any changes in the same?
Yes, all international students seeking employment in Ireland, can stayback with the help of the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme. Ireland offers a two-year stay-back option for non-EU students graduating at a Masters level.
Can we say the degrees sought in Ireland have total international acceptance with regards to jobs across the world?
Yes, all degrees from Irish higher education institutions are fully certified and internationally recognised.
Industry led and practical programmes in Ireland make international graduates’ career-ready and highly employable in Ireland and beyond. Irish higher education institutions have an employability rate of 80-96% for students across sectors. In fact, Ireland is a hub for tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Facebook, Slack, LinkedIn and the likes of it.
What are some of the programmes that are popular among international students? Is there any study conducted on the same for students who want to study in Ireland?
There is a steady demand for graduates of specialised disciplines in Ireland, and particularly those pursuing STEM subjects such as science, ICT, technology, finance and mechanical, software and electronic engineering. Job prospects are especially promising for those looking to grow in the IT sector which is the backbone of Ireland. It is anticipated that applications for courses in Design, Digital media, Hospitality, Animation, Cloud computing, and Aeronautics will see a surge in the coming years. However, Indian students usually gravitate towards popular courses like Engineering, Biotechnology, Computers, Marketing, Business, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, and Communications. More recently, there has been an increased interest in courses that focus on emerging technologies such
as AI, AgTech, Data Analytics and Science, and Cyber Security.