Ahead of The PIE Live Ireland, panellists highlighted a destination with strong recruitment opportunities and a significant overhaul of student protections under way. Their discussion will raise questions about whether immigration decisions, accommodation provision and education policy are sufficiently aligned to support future growth.
“The real question, I think, is not whether we’re well positioned, it’s whether we’re going to take advantage of it,” said Declan Coogan, associate director of student recruitment at Trinity College Dublin.
Coogan pointed to growing European interest, opportunities in Latin America and continued demand from the US. While stressing that experiences differed between institutions, he argued that Ireland still had a compelling story to tell amid challenges facing other study destinations.
The real question, I think, is not whether we’re well positioned, it’s whether we’re going to take advantage of it
Declan Coogan, Trinity College Dublin
However, he said visa experiences varied between recruitment markets, making it difficult to distinguish changes in policy from differences in implementation. Greater coordination across government would help the sector understand and respond to those challenges, he suggested.
For English language providers, uncertainty is already complicating decisions about where to invest in recruitment.
Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, CEO of English Education Ireland, said providers were awaiting greater clarity on migration policy while preparing for the transition to TrustEd Ireland.
That uncertainty comes as Ireland introduces TrustEd Ireland, the statutory quality mark administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) for higher education and English language education providers.
The mark assesses providers against standards covering areas including ethical recruitment, transparent information and support for international learners. It is set to replace the Interim List of Eligible Programs for student immigration purposes.
Mary Grennan, QQI’s head of international education, said the development of the framework had already prompted positive changes, including close alignment of English language programs to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and the integration of university language centres into institutional corporate and academic governance structures.
“It’s a statutory engagement with the ELE sector for the first time ever, which is a significant development for the sector and for QQI,” she noted.
For O’Connor Lloyd, stronger regulation offers a long-term benefit despite the pressures facing providers.
The discussion on October 13 will also extend to transnational education (TNE), with Coogan cautioning against interpreting ministerial enthusiasm for offshore provision as evidence of a wholesale shift away from attracting students to Ireland.
He said Irish institutions were already exploring overseas partnerships, particularly in China, but argued that international recruitment remained central to the country’s approach.
“The primary focus is bringing talent into the country,” he said.
These questions will inform the forthcoming PIE Live Ireland discussion: how to translate demand into enrolments, build understanding of TrustEd Ireland and ensure that the country’s international education ambitions are supported by practical delivery. The panellists will also be joined by Paul Johnston, director general of the Irish Universities Association (IUA).
