DCU has teamed up with a number of Irish universities including UCD, NUIG and Maynooth University in a recruitment drive across a number of Asian countries in order to boost the number of international students.
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan announced the details last week on a visit to Beijing with representatives of seven Irish universities who are attending the two-day China Education Expo.
The China Education Expo is an annual exhibition based in Beijing which sees visitors from over 40 countries showcase their educational institution in order to attract Chinese students.
However, UCD are to benefit most from the Chinese venture following plans to open a UCD alumni office in the Irish Embassy.
Welcoming the internationalisation plans, the Minister said: “By setting up global centres, UCD will extend its activities beyond student recruitment. Their purpose is to provide a focal point for education, for alumni and diaspora community, for research and academic collaboration, for trade and intercultural exchange.”
“There are very tangible benefits to this relationship. We have seen an increase in the number of Chinese students studying in Ireland. We are also seeing very strong, innovative partnerships evolving between Irish third level institutions and Chinese universities. These partnerships are resulting in new opportunities in research and collaboration and the Education in Ireland mission will see further progress in this regard,” she added.
UCD has deeper links with China than any other Irish University at present. It’s estimated that some 10 per cent of its 6,000 international students are Chinese. The college also has a partnership with Beijing University of Technology.
Finnian Curran
Image: World Property Journal
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