A Call for Action on Quality in International Education

This event took place against the backdrop of the economic downturn and the government's decision not to proceed with establishing Education Ireland as a new agency to advise on policy, establish a quality mark and engage in promotion. In addition, the long anticipated review of student immigration had recently begun. Amid challenging times, the internationalisation of education services remained high on the policy agenda, with the creation a 'knowledge economy' stated as central to the Government’s strategy to emerge from recession. Yet just a few months away from the start of a new academic year, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders were seeking some reassurance that the Government did indeed have a plan.

The meeting received an international perspective from Fabrice Hénard, Analyst with the Directorate of Education of the OECD, before hearing an outline of current policy and intentions from representatives of three government departments: Seamus McLoughlin for the Department of Education and Science; Kevin O’ Sullivan, for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Mary Killeen from the Employment Permits Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Anna Cunningham from the Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN) then outlined a sectoral reponse focused on the need for progress on the issue of the protection of international students, especially through action on a Code of Practice and Guidelines for HEIs on the “Provision of Education to International Students” developed by a working group under the organisation's auspices and including input from ICOS.

The seminar then provided a forum for stakeholders to move the discussion forward, looking at what could be learnt from other jurisdictions and what obstacles and barriers might be impeding progress.