- Tell us about your university and its role within Ireland’s higher education landscape.
DCU is a young, ambitious and innovative university with a mission to “transform lives and societies”. Located in Ireland’s vibrant capital, DCU is ranked among the top 2% of universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings and is home to over 23,000 students from 130 countries.
Known for its innovative teaching and learning, DCU’s inspiring teachers are recognised for their personalised ‘human touch’ approach. In addition, DCU has always had a productive relationship with enterprise and leading employers. This ensures that our programmes are highly relevant to today’s workplace and undoubtedly contributes to DCU’s consistently high graduate employment rate.
DCU is ranked 301 in the world for its research environment, and it is this global reputation that underpins our postgraduate programmes. The university is home to leading research centres in areas such as educational assessment and evaluation, bullying prevention, human rights, cellular biotechnology, neurotherapeutics, sensors, plasma technology, biomedical diagnostics, machine translation, cloud computing, data analytics and more - What sets your university apart from others?
Careers are being redefined by technology, sustainability, and international collaboration and DCU has forged a reputation as a university that doesn’t just teach, it prepares! Recognised as Ireland’s “university of enterprise”, DCU blends academic excellence with industry engagement, ensuring its graduates are not only academically accomplished but also equipped for the world of work.
With the growing demand for expertise in data, renewable energy, healthcare innovation, and digital transformation, DCU’s programmes, developed in collaboration with industry and informed by global research, align directly with these ambitions. The results are measurable: 93% of DCU graduates are employed or pursuing further study within nine months, an outcome rooted in both rigorous academics and hands on career support. - What makes Ireland such an attractive destination for international students?
– Globally recognised
– High-quality education
– Strong post-study work opportunities
– Clear pathways to permanent residency
– A safe, friendly, and welcoming English-speaking country within the European Union
– Students can also benefit from rich cultural experiences, a dynamic lifestyle, competitive tuition, and the chance to improve English skills in a country known for its hospitable atmosphere and natural beauty - How do you see the Irish higher education sector evolving over the next five years?
Ireland’s higher education sector is driven by a national strategy and responses to demographic and technological changes. Strategies like Global Citizens 2030 aim to embed Irish talent and innovation globally and make Ireland a first choice destination for international learners, researchers and innovators. - Are there particular markets or student segments you’re looking to grow in the near future?
DCU will base its decisions on historical data, market potential and political/economic stability. Our primary markets are China, India, USA and EU countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
The next three years will see a focus on emerging markets and building new pipelines in MENA, Southeast Asia, and South America. - Outside of work, what’s one thing a visitor to Ireland shouldn’t miss?
A trip to Howth fishing village on Dublin’s northside is a perfect day trip as it offers outdoor markets, cliffside hikes, and lighthouse views. It is only about a 40-minute DART ride from Dublin city centre. - What attracted you to take part in The PIE Live Ireland?
To connect and network with educators, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world with the possibility of developing international partnerships and professional relationships.
Market insights into global trends in student recruitment helping to broaden our understanding of challenges we are facing and gaining some perspective on the solutions we can implement.
Being inspired and motivated by success stories. - Which sessions on the agenda are you most looking forward to attending, and why?
Quality vs. quantity: how to deal with volume growth. I am interested to see if the speakers bring AI into the equation in processing applications
Look out for…
Keep an eye out for Colette O’Beirne, global recruitment manager, DCU, at The PIE Live Ireland.
If you had to sum up your approach to international education in three words, what would they be?
Impactful, innovative, student centred
What’s a typical day like for you at your institution?
One thing about working in international education is that no day is the same!
I usually start the day with reviewing recruitment data and progress against recruitment targets. Typically, I meet with team members to review activity and progress against our strategic plans, check in with our in-country staff, liaise with admissions on any issues or roadblocks in the admissions process.
Most days, I meet with different faculty international engagement groups to discuss individual faculty activities and how best global recruitment can support their goals in internationalisation.
Where will we find you at The PIE Live Ireland?
Networking, attending sessions, making new connections and anywhere there is coffee!
