Following the 2016 referendum vote to pull out of the European Union (EU), the U.K. government started the withdrawal process in March, this year. This spells a sea change in Ireland’s education scenario and the opportunities available for students. Barry O’Driscoll, senior education advisor, Education in Ireland, admits how, since the Brexit referendum, higher education institutions in Ireland have witnessed a notable increase in enquiries and applications from international students, outside the European Union.
“They know that there is certainty with Ireland,” explained Barry. “Our membership of the EU has played an integral role in building Ireland’s reputation as a location for world-class research and as a centre of excellence in higher education. All of Ireland’s universities are ranked in the top 5% globally, and in many fields of research, rank in the top one per cent, globally. Ireland’s place in the EU will ensure that Irish higher education institutions continue to access valuable EU funding so that Ireland remains at the forefront of research and innovation,” he affirmed.
Many of Ireland’s higher education institutions offer merit-based scholarships. In this regard, Barry said that many of the national educational fairs gave parents and students a chance to discuss this further with admissions staff.
“In terms of post-study work opportunities, over a thousand technology companies, half of the world’s financial institutions, nine out of 10 global pharmaceutical corporations and 17 out of the top 25 medical device companies are based in Ireland,” he added.
Work opportunities
The primary focus of most students who go abroad to purse higher education is an employment offer post-graduation, in the foreign land, in order to gain exposure and experience. The 24-month stay-back visa option plays an instrumental role in facilitating this for students who have been studying in Ireland. “This allows graduates at the master’s and Ph.D level the chance to remain in Ireland for 24 months after their studies to seek employment. Currently, Ireland has skill shortage in particular areas such as software engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical sciences, data analytics, fintech and international finance. Highly skilled international graduates are well-placed to take advantage of opportunities in areas such as these,” elaborated Barry.
“At Education in Ireland, we say that Ireland offers the ‘warmest of welcomes’ to international students. We believe that while other countries are becoming more restrictive to international students, our recently announced extension to our stay-back option amply demonstrates that we are an open and welcoming society,” elucidated Barry. “Given Ireland’s location as an English-speaking island in Western Europe, we could be described as a gateway between Europe and the United States. Many of the programmes offered by our higher education institutions offer internships. That many Indian students have gone on to secure positions with leading companies such as Intel, Ernst and Young, IBM, Hewlett Packard and Procter and Gamble, bears ample testimony to our welcoming culture.”
Prominence
Souvik Roy from Kolkata, who is pursuing his master’s in electronic engineering from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM), concurred. He explained how, much like his peers from around the globe who were applying to universities abroad, he too was confused as finding the right college and course, especially abroad, could be arduous. “There is also the stereotype that a degree abroad means the U.S., the U.K. or Germany!” he said. “While all these countries must have great education systems, colleges in Ireland have some of the best programmes. The environment is perfectly conducive for studies,” he added.
He admitted that Brexit did bring a lot more prominence to Ireland as, other than the U.K, Ireland is the only country that speaks English in Europe, which is a great deal for companies, more so because Ireland is with EU. “I have seen a lot of freshers struggling to find a job here, but experienced professionals like me who take a career break and come here to study have a greater chance of grabbing jobs.”
In the light of the rise in hate crimes in the U.S, students are increasingly wary about safety concerns involved in studying abroad. Ireland receives approval in this area as well. “As an international student, one of the primary concerns is safety and security in a foreign land. Ireland is a peaceful country with almost zero hate crimes,” said Roy.
Kiran Varman Srinivasan, who is pursuing his B.Sc Aircraft Maintenance and Airworthiness Engineering at University of Limerick (UL), echoed this view. “I chose to study in Ireland as it is one of the friendliest and safest countries in the world. What’s more, it is investing a lot in its education system and offers many internationally-recognised qualifications.”
