International students at Student Campus Limerick have been left riddled with stress and anxiety, with neither the school’s owners nor the relevant authorities providing information about their future, according to the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).
It said that the apparent closure some weeks ago had caused hundreds of students to get in contact, seeking information on their immigration status, fees and other issues. ICOS has also been contacted by the Chilean Embassy, it said, which wanted to know more information on next steps on behalf of Chilean students.
The PIE News has contacted Student Campus Limerick for comment.
Orla Lehane, executive director of ICOS, said that international students in Ireland deserve “fairness, transparency and respect”, as they had come to study in Ireland “in good faith”.
“Instead, hundreds of students have been left in limbo, with no clear information about their studies, their immigration status, or what happens next,” she added. “This uncertainty is causing unnecessary stress and anxiety.”
Lehane called on the Department of Justice to give “urgent clarity” on the help available to affected students and what was being done to resolve the situation.
Hundreds of students have been left in limbo, with no clear information about their studies, their immigration status, or what happens next
Orla Lehane, ICOS
She noted that students have not been in class for a number of weeks. “This is completely unacceptable and risks undermining confidence in Ireland as a destination for international education,” she said.
The Department of Justice told The PIE it was “aware of the current issues regarding Student Campus”.
“The Department is monitoring the situation and will provide information in relation to the status of affected students in due course,” it said.
Late last month, international students and teachers held a protest over the situation, according to reporting by the Irish national news outlet RTÉ. Students who reporters spoke to were left confused over their future in Ireland, as they needed to be enrolled in education to stay in the country.
Meanwhile, some teachers have claimed that they have not been paid by the school since April, according to RTÉ.
And students are worried that they may not be given pack the fees they have already paid for tuition.
It follows reports that several English language schools in Ireland are not refunding students for their program fees when they are denied a visa, despite regulations requiring schools to pay students back within 20 days of a visa refusal. However, ICOS has stressed that the vast majority of providers are not engaging in such practices.
Ireland continues to be a popular destination for international students looking for ELT programs, representing the largest English-language country in the EU.
Last month, ELT providers speaking to The PIE praised new bridging permissions letting students completing an English language program stay in the country while they progress to higher education.
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