Feedback from Diverse Voices

"We, as international students, whether we plan to be here in Ireland for a few months to a few years, or think about staying permanently, we are living lives that are restricted and temporary. But even among the challenges that migration often brings, we bring with us our culture, our heritage, our socio-political histories, our languages, our beliefs, our ways of living, our individual choices. We are living lives that are whole and still in the process of becoming. We come from a range of different countries, of social and cultural backgrounds. Our differences are something to be celebrated, not used as a tool for division”. These were the words of Diane-Sabenacio Nititham, PhD student UCD, who spoke at the recent International Student Forum in University College Cork (UCC).

The event, entitled “Diverse Voices”, was organised by ICOS (Irish Council for International Students) and supported by the Department of Education and Science. An impressive line-up of speakers, some who came to Ireland as international students, offered personal reflections on their experience; these included Councillor Rotimi Adebari, Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council, Neo Zhang, Northern Ireland’s International Student of the Year, 2007 and Hamidreza Khodabakhshi, President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). By bringing together over 130 students from 30 different countries, the forum provided a unique opportunity for international students in Irish Higher Education to discuss issues which impact on their lives in Ireland.

Presentations were followed by workshops which focused on integration from both the international student and home student perspectives. Another workshop looked at Irish government policies regarding international students and explored how international students themselves can become more involved in decisions which affect them.

Internationalisation of higher education institutions is increasingly important in an Irish context. In 2006, Irish tertiary institutions attracted over 25,000 international students generating revenues estimated at over €335 million for the economy. International students also contribute to Ireland’s prosperity by providing a continuous pool of skilled labour to fill skill-shortage gaps in our labour market. Other benefits of internationalisation are often overlooked and in the words of forum speaker and PhD student in Dublin City University, Ciaran Dunne, who is researching this subject, “in a world where cultures collide with ever-increasing frequency, culturally diverse student bodies represent a genuine opportunity for educational institutions to instill the competencies and values necessary to participate effectively and productively in globalised societies.” Mr Dunne went on to say that, “If universities are genuinely serious about internationalization, there must be clarity about what internationalization actually means. Internationalization is so much more than simply bringing international students to campus. It’s about what happens when these students are on campus. It’s about achieving inclusive excellence.”

Institutional support, living arrangements and availability of cultural peers are just some of the issues which affect integration. A significant number of international students have a tendency to only mix with students from their home country. This can really limit their experience in Ireland. People can forget that integration is a two way process. Simply engaging in conversation with people from different cultures can kick-start integration.

“Most international students both expect and desire contact with home students but research findings suggest there is low interaction” according to Sheila Power, ICOS Director. “This forum was beneficial for all attendees, as it allowed them to explore the issue of integration more fully - both from the international and home students’ perspectives. Participants included Irish student leaders, researchers and international students both at undergraduate and post-graduate level.”