Weeks after the Irish government announced it would double its post-study work allowance for international postgraduates, the extension of the ‘stay back option’ was a key pillar of Ireland’s marketing message as the skills minister joined a high-profile mission of 16 universities to India this week.
Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation John Halligan nodded to the extension, which enables international postgraduates to stay and work in Ireland for two years after completing their studies, in his address to Mumbai University as part of Enterprise Ireland’s education mission.
“The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for Indian students,” he told students.
“India is currently the fastest growing market for international higher education students”
“We are known for delivering ‘employment ready’ skills so students can transition smoothly into the workplace,” he added. “This has been an important driver in Ireland’s transformation into a high tech, knowledge-based economy.”
The mission is part of a national strategy unveiled last year to grow the value of its international education sector by €500m and boost international student numbers by a third by 2020.
“India is currently the fastest growing market for international higher education students,” noted Halligan.
There are currently some 2,000 Indian students studying in Irish higher education institutions, 80% of which are studying at postgraduate level and will therefore benefit from the stay back option extension.
Giles O’Neill, head of Education in Ireland at Enterprise Ireland said he is “extremely pleased” with the interest expressed by Indian students at the fairs so far.
“We are also delighted about the breadth and depth of the many and varied institutional links, as demonstrated by the number of Irish academics and faculties in India this year, supporting the work of their international teams,” he added.
The mission, comprising of 16 universities, has already visited Chennai and Bangalore this week, and will progress to Pune before finishing in New Delhi on February 26.
As well as attending the fair in Mumbai, Halligan also witnessed the signing of an MOU between Trinity College and the Bombay Stock Exchange Institute, ringing the opening bell of the BSE in Mumbai this morning.
Throughout the week, he is attending a series of events in the city and will also meet with the Ministry of Education for the state of Maharashtra, before attending the Education in Ireland fair in New Delhi and visiting Adi Gram Samiti, an Irish aid-supported NGO working with women and children.
