Submission to DFA on White Paper on Overseas Development Aid

June 2005

ICOS was established in 1970 to promote the welfare of international students in Ireland and its mission is to enhance the quality and the benefits of international education in Ireland by providing expert support services to international students and the institutions which host them.

One of ICOS' main responsibilities over the years has been to collaborate with the Department of Foreign Affairs and more specifically with Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) in the management of the Fellowship Training Programme (FTP). The FTP attempts to fill capacity deficits in the programme countries through the sponsorship of well placed individuals to undertake programmes of study abroad mostly at post-graduate level.

ICOS welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the discussion on Ireland's Overseas Development Aid programme and while the organisation will make a few general comments on the aid programme overall, the focus of its commentary will be on the on-going potential of the Fellowship Training Programme (FTP) to contribute to the development process and to Ireland's wider Foreign and International Education Policy objectives.