Enterprise Ireland 5 Year target for 5,000 Indian Students in Ireland
120% increase to date this year in Indian applications to study in Ireland
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today
(Tuesday) announced that Ireland is on track to more than double the number
of Indian students coming to Ireland to pursue third level education
programmes by the end of 2014, the majority of which will be at advanced
post-graduate level. Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to grow the number
of Indian students to over 5,000 over the next five years, generating fee
income of approximately €50 million, with a further €50 million direct
spend in the economy on accommodation, services and other related
expenditure.
Minister Bruton made the announcement during this week’s 5-day trade and
investment mission to India, organised by Enterprise Ireland and IDA
Ireland with the support of the Embassy of Ireland in India, during which
Irish universities and education institutions announced a range of new
programmes and partnerships with Indian institutions.
The anticipated growth to over 2,000 students from India over the next 18
months, coupled with a dramatic 120% increase in Indian student visa
applications for Ireland to date this year, is evidence that Ireland is
rapidly growing its share of the huge Indian education market. The mission
coincides with Education in Ireland fairs in Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi
and Mumbai, focussed on promoting the high quality internationally
recognised education qualifications and rich cultural experience that
Ireland has to offer for Indian and other overseas students. Education in
Ireland is the international brand promoted by Enterprise Ireland for the
Irish international education sector. 17 Irish Higher Education
Institutions and colleges are attending the fairs, building on their
already well-established links with India.
Welcoming the strong progress being made Minister Bruton said:
‘International students have a significant impact on the Irish economy. In
the short term they deliver fee income, local expenditure and job creation
in Ireland, and in the medium to long term, they build strong strategic
relationships with future key influencers in India which can deliver major
benefits in the form of trade and investment over future years. On the
jobs front, we can anticipate over 650 new jobs on the basis that
approximately 13 new jobs are estimated to be created for every 100
international students that come here. These Indian students also play an
important role in deepening the business, cultural, education and research
ties between India and Ireland. International education is a sector where
Ireland can really excel, and the progress being made by our colleges in
the Indian market is tremendously encouraging’.
The announcement of new programmes and partnerships with India by a number
of Irish colleges attending the Education in Ireland fairs this week also
confirms their confidence in this market and their ongoing success in
winning new business and increasing Ireland’s share of India’s
international education market. Among the announcements are:
· The launch by UCD of an office in Delhi to support partnerships in
education, research and innovation with institutions, companies and
other organisations in India, as well as support students who apply
to UCD. UCD is also launching four ‘V.V. Giri’ Global Excellence
Full Tuition Fee Scholarships. V.V. Giri, the fourth President of
India, studied Law in UCD between 1913 and 1916.
· The signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) by WIT with two
prestigious Indian Universities, VIT University Vellore and Manipal
Institute of Technology (Manipal University) focussing on
collaborative research and staff and student exchange programmes.
This brings to 27 the number of formal MoUs beween Irish institutes
of higher education and Indian counterpart higher education
institutions.
· UL has launched its new Bachelor of Technology in Aircraft
Maintenance and Operations.
Further partnerships and programme announcements are expected over the
coming year.
Kevin Sherry, Enterprise Ireland Head of International Sales and
Partnering, who is accompanying Minister Bruton on the mission added:
‘Ireland’s education institutions are already making a name for themselves
in the Indian market, and are successfully building a very strong and
recognisable brand under the Education in Ireland banner. They are making
enormous strides in positioning Ireland as a quality and respected
education destination for Indian students. This mission is about building
on this progress and continuing growth to the mutual benefit of both
countries’.