Over 5,500 Brazilian students are expected to be studying in Ireland by 2016, bringing a €136 million boost to the economy.
DCU is a partner university of the programme. It will offer Brazilian students doctorate courses in areas such as biotechnology, chemical sciences, mathematical sciences, aerospace and engineering.
Trade and Development Minister, Joe Costello signed an agreement this month to receive 4,000 Brazilian undergraduate students in Irish universities as part of Brazil’s ‘Science Without Borders’ scholarship programme. “This is on top of the previous agreement between Ireland and Brazil announced in June this year for up to 1,500 postgraduate Brazilian students to study in Ireland,” Minister Costello explained.
“Ireland currently hosts just 100 third-level Brazilian students per year so this will be a truly substantial increase,” he added. “This new partnership between Ireland and Brazil will be a major boost for the international third level education sector in Ireland.”
Head of Education at Enterprise Ireland, Marina Donohoe explained: “In the context of Ireland’s strategy for internationalising Irish higher education, this agreement will help to drive collaboration and growth in research, academic and student exchange between Ireland and Brazil.
“In terms of economic benefits to the Irish economy, Ireland’s inclusion in the ‘Science Without Borders’ programme has the potential to deliver €15 million in fee income, plus an additional €19 million in additional spend in the Irish economy [for each year of the initiative],” she added.
To support the initiative, Education in Ireland set up an online portal in Portuguese to allow prospective students search for the courses available, get advice on the application procedure and learn more about living conditions in Ireland.
The programme aims to send 100,000 of the best Brazilian students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and creative industries to top universities around the world.
The agreement was secured during Enterprise Ireland’s trade mission to Brazil led by Minister Costello. It aims to highlight the strengths of Ireland’s education offering in key target markets such as Brazil.
Céline Loriou
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