11:57 Dr Deirdre Giblin, director of development and external engagement at NCI, is hosting our panel on transatlantic ties. She is also the current chairperson of the Ireland Canada Business Association and reveals on stage a new MOU signed between NCI and University of the District of Columbia
1:53 Could the EU-Canadian relationship be even closer with Ireland as the conduit?
In September 2026, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU’s first-ever ‘associate member’. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the concept as a unique framework. Canada is already part of the Horizon Europe programme, the European Union’s research and innovation program
11: 51 The research landscape is a very attractive proposition for North American institutions to partner with Irish institutions. Almost every academic in Ireland will have close ties and personal links to either the US or Canada. The diaspora bring cultural benefits but also academic alliances.
11:49 And we’re back from this morning’s coffee break, freshly caffeinated and ready to jump back into sessions. I’ll be bringing you updates forn a panel on transatlantic ties – North American perspectives on higher education partnerships with Ireland.
Our fabulous panel includs Dolores O’Riordan, vice-president for global engagement at UCD, Douglas Proctor, assistant vice-president, global at York University Canada, Matthew Boyce, vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Massachusetts, ursula Kilkenny, vice president global engagement at University College Cork and Diredre Giblin, director of development and external engagement at National College of Ireland, hosting the session.
11:08 And our policy has finished on a positive note. Ireland is OTT, says Paul Johnston. No, not Over The Top, Open To Talent. Appreciative ripple around the room.
11:07 Declan Coogan refers to Trinity College Dublin’s strategic plan for 2025–2030 is titled “Thrive,” a five-year roadmap aimed at fostering a pluralist university education, academic freedom, and institutional growth.
11:06 Question from the floor: “Is there any data on the numbers of visas being rejected?”
The answer seems to be no, with anecdotal evidence by market and institution fuelling speculation. This seems like an obvious gap where the sector needs to pool data to better understand the real-time situation.
11:03 Visas are Ireland’s “biggest pain point”, says Trinity College Dublin’s Declan Coogan. Visa challenges already a major theme of today’s conference.
After a spike in visa refusals from Gaza in the summer of 2026, four students made a legal challenge against the decision to not allow them to study.
3/4 challenges were successful as the court cited of ‘significant’ and ‘out of blue’ change of practice by Minister for Justice in the visa decisions.
IUA has been reminded that visa decisions are individual and therefore the government considers the decisions to be confidential information to that person.
11:00 A reminder that Ireland offers visa-free entry for students from a number of countries, with the biggest markets including EU/EEA/Swiss member states alongside non-EU countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
10:52 The population of the Republic of Ireland has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic according to data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The population rose from roughly 4.97 million in 2020 to 5,525,600 by April 2026, with the 12-month period leading up to April 2026 alone, the population increased by 66,900 people. The rising population obviously puts pressure on housing and social services.
10:43 The recent closures of BSC, ILAC and EC English school groups have been “like a tornado” through the sector, says Lorcan O’ Connor, CEO, English Education Ireland.
However he said the warning signs have been there since COVID and the closures in Ireland have been linked to regulatory issues and the sector is still strong. He feels the sector will be more ‘robust and resilient’ in the future.
10:42 QQI’s TrustEd benchmark is close to completion of the implementation period. It is seen as an essential pillar in sustainable internationalisation of the sector.
The next step will be the organisation of a communications strategy to promote the strength of the work as a benchmark of ethical recruitment. China will be a target market for promotion.
10:30 “People are speculating about the direction of travel. Ireland has had a very positive operating system in the past. In an unpredictable world, we have been very predictable.”
Declan Coogan, associate director, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland looks for continued stability and joined-up thinking as a strength of the Irish sector. But the sector is cautious here, he says. Stakeholders have noticed the direction of travel in other major destinations and is preparing itself for similar policy shifts here in Ireland.
10:28 Irish Universities Association (IUA) director general Paul Johnston reminds the audience of his criticism of the government budget 2027 as a “failure to invest in the future” of Ireland’s higher education sector. The sector predicts an annual deficit of €190m annually. Yes, we need the immigration system to work well, says Johnston – but we can’t let bureaucracy get in the way. Visa processing times are lagging, and international education is suffering because of it.
10:25 Now it’s time for a policy update. Trinity College Dublin’s Declan Coogan, Lorcan O’Connor-Lloyd, Mary Grennan of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and director general of the Irish Universities Association Paul Johnston join Amy Baker onstage.
9:58 Times are disrupted for higher education institutions around the world, says Feely. “We are now in a world that is pulling back from those opportunities,” she says of the movement of students as governments crack down on immigration.
9:56 UCD president Orla Feely takes the stage.
9:52 It’s a truly global event here today, says Baker. We’ve welcomed delegates from the US, from Vietnam and elsewhere around the world.
9:50 And we’re about to kick things off here at The PIE Live Ireland with an opening address from The PIE’s CEO Amy Baker.
9:11 Overheard: concern in the room as visa refusal rates are pushing 40% for some institutions, while some students are waiting up to 14 weeks for a visa decision.
9:09 There ain’t no party like a PIE party. Mix that with Temple Bar in Dublin and delegates are in for a treat. Memories of Sushil Sukhwani ‘splitting the G’ last year! Remember to come back later to check in on our infamous picture galleries from the event.
8:56 Here are some snaps from last night’s welcome drinks.
8:52 Remember there are eight traditional universities, five technical universities and two institutes of technology in Ireland, that operate alongside several state-funded specialist colleges and independent institutions and a large language schools sector. We’ve got all of them representing here today.
8:48 Good morning from Dublin! The sun’s shining here on the beautiful University College Dublin campus as delgates make their way here for our second PIE Live event in Ireland.
We’ve got a packed agenda today, covering everything from policy to employability – with much more in between.
This is a live news story. Check back for updates….
