Tempus Info Day Amman 21 January 2013

1. Tempus Info DayAmman21 January 2013 Gerry O’Sullivan National Contact Point Ireland

2. National Context • National Strategy • Bologna Process • International Strategy

3. National Context

5. Video

6. There are more than 40 higher education institutions in Ireland, including • 7 universities • Dublin Institute of Technology • 13 institutes of technology • 6 colleges of education – teacher training • (Partly) publicly-funded small colleges • There are also a number of private third-level colleges - including Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Future: Reduction to 24 (Jan 2013)

8. Demographic Context

9. The persistence of inequality Data source: Philip O’Connell, David Clancy & Selina McCoy (2006) Who went to college in 2004?

10. National Strategy To 2030

11. Development of a National Strategy • Switch in focus from working with individual institutions to developing the system as a whole • Previous priority of improving participation rates to be tempered with a greater focus on efficiency of provision and diversification of modes of participation • Institutions responsible for their course offerings but the HEA has responsibility for efficiency of entire sector; potential tension between both responsibilities • Performance funding mechanism

12. Current Higher Education challenges • Economic recovery • Labour Market Activation • Innovation and creativity must be promoted at all levels of the education system • Skills profile of population vs. Skills Needs of the Economy • ICT Skills Needs • & e.g. Construction sector reskilling

13. Current Higher Education challenges • Participation and flexibility of provision • Non-traditional entrants & flexibility of course offerings to meet diverse student population needs • Managing growing demand despite effective fall in per-capita funding levels • CAO Demand and Demographics • Broader entry cohort • Quality and standards

15. National Strategy • National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 • The centrality of Teaching and Learning to the mission of Irish higher education • Greater innovation in the design of higher education • Greater flexibility in the delivery: 39 – 24 institutions • Integration of teaching and research • Continuing professional development through collegiate networks

16. Bologna Process

17. Key Bologna Actions • Degree Structure Bachelor/Master/Doctoral • European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) • Recognition of Awards/Lisbon • National Framework of Qualifications • European Diploma Supplement (DS) • Ireland well placed to implement all

19. International Strategy

20. The context is global and the international dimension is vital

22. Rank Country of Origin Ireland Offshore & distance 2011/12 2010/2011 Difference 64 Jordan 28 13 41 30 11

24. Characteristics • Ireland as a small, open European economy relies on international engagement • An internationalised education system has a crucial role to play in our international profile and attractiveness • In context of national strategy for economic renewal, the government established High level Group on international education in 2010 to: • Develop a national strategy • Co-ordinate a national approach • Report Investing in Global Relationships: Ireland's International Education Strategy 2010-2015 published September 2010

25. Vision • The most compelling rationale for internationalisation is investment in future global relationships with • Students educated in Ireland – our future advocates overseas • Educational institutions – our teaching and research partners • Countries – our business and trading partners • Internationalisation enhances the quality of learning, teaching and research • And will contribute to Ireland ambition to become a global innovation hub

26. Objectives and Targets to 2015 • Increase: • Total international HE students 50% by >12,000 to 38,000 • Full-time int’l HE students 50% by 8,500 to 25,500 • Int’l students doing advanced research by 50% to 3,800 • Taught postgraduate int’l students from 13% to 20% to 5,100 • Exchange and JYA from outside EEA to 6,000 from 3,600 • English-language students by 25% to 120,000 • Offshore students by 50% to 4,500 • Economic impact by €300 m to €1.2 bn • Strengthen institutional links with priority partner-countries • Increase outward staff and student mobility

27. Key findings: • Numbers of international students registered in Irish higher education institutions 32,000 (2012) - an increase of around 2% over last year’s figures. • The composition of Ireland’s international student cohort is also changing in important ways. PhD student numbers have increased by 35% and now account for 20% of Ireland's international students – Ireland’s performance in this area is above international norms. There has also been a 6% increase in full-time degree student numbers. International students have increased under all the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields. • Revenue growth has continued to be strong. International education is now estimated to be a €1 billion sector for the Irish economy, with international students in higher education contributing around €700m and English language students around €300m.

28. The best performing priority market has been Malaysia, which saw 10% growth in student numbers. While growth in other priority markets has been more modest, a renewed focus on India, China, the US and Ireland’s participation in Brazil’s Science without Borders Programme should see stronger growth in these markets in 2013 and beyond. • The crucial importance of transnational education (TNE) to the global expansion in international education - and therefore to the future prospects of Ireland in this sphere - is becoming obvious. The rate at which Irish HEIs are rising to this challenge is mixed, but already this data indicates that 23% of Ireland's international students are offshore and this had led to a shift in the profiles of some countries of origin. For example, 46% of Chinese students are now studying offshore and the numbers based in Ireland have dropped by 10% (300) in one year.

29. Ten Strategic Actions (1) • Partnership and collaboration – greater collaboration within & between government, HE sector and English language sector, coordinated by High Level Group, with 4 Working Groups: • Implementation, market development & access (Chair: Department of Education and Skills) • Sectoral Development (Chair: HEA) • Quality Assurance and Student Experience (Chair: Quality and Qualifications Ireland) • Branding and Promotion (Chair: Enterprise Ireland) • Monitoring & Benchmarking – HEA & EI to develop database & Annual Report • Renew Education Ireland Brand and strengthen marketing • Quality – Quals & QA Bill, Quality mark, Code of Practice • Strengthened immigration and visa regime • Comprehensive HEI internationalisation strategies • Develop relevant international education offerings, based on HEI capacity and student needs

30. Consistent & supportive government policies and actions • High Level Group as key mechanism • Small Strategic Fund • Three new Scholarship programmes: • The Government of Ireland International Scholarships • The New Frontiers Programme • The Government of Ireland English Language Educators Scholarship • Strengthen networks of influence – alumni associations and contacts; HEI’s with embassy & EI support • Outward mobility by staff and students – part of HEI’s strategic plans • North-South and EU co-operation

31. Three new Scholarship programmes: • The Government of Ireland International Scholarships will seek to attract high calibre international students. One year €10000 for 30 scholarships • The New Frontiers Programme will be open to staff and students in Irish higher education institutions that hold a Quality Mark and who wish to undertake a period of study in an institution in a non-English-speaking partner-country outside the EEA. €2500 from State for 30 scholarships • The Government of Ireland English Language Educators’ Scholarship will provide for a period of study in Ireland by talented English-language educators who will become advocates for Ireland in their home country.€5000 for 15 Scholarships

32. Conclusion • Strategy on International Education comes as part of wider response to need for economic renewal in Ireland • Focus is on Ireland's international relationships, particularly on international student mobility and on educational links with future long-term trading partners However, it is not simply about trade: • There is recognition of the wider perspectives of the internationalisation process, including collaborative institutional and research links, internationalisation of curricula and engagement in multilateral initiatives, such as the Bologna process. • There is also recognition that the European dimension is crucial to the Irish education system and an active ongoing commitment to the EU programmes is essential.