ICOS Seminar: "A Call for Action on Quality in International Education"
13/4/09 - The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) would like to use the occasion of its annual seminar and AGM on 11 June 2009 to focus discussion on the need for progress on the issue of the protection of international students.
Late last year, we learned that Education Ireland, the new national agency which was to advise government on policy, coordinate promotion of the Education Ireland brand and implement a quality mark will not now be established. The Government has, however, indicated that the functions of Education Ireland will be taken up by other agencies. Just a few months away from the start of a new academic year, HEIs and other stakeholders would like to have some reassurance that the Government does indeed have a plan. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform has been engaged in a general review of student permission from an immigration perspective and the results of that review have been anticipated for some time.
ICOS is ready to support the Government and work with relevant agencies to strengthen Ireland’s image and position in order to make it an attractive and high quality destination for international students. An example of that willingness and one which is particularly close to ICOS’ mission was the development over a 2-year period of a Code of Practice and Guidelines for HEIs on the “Provision of Education to International Students”. This Code which was prepared by a working group under the auspices of the Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN) is now ready and we must ensure that it is adopted as a benchmark for quality by all institutions that enrol international students whether at home or offshore.
ICOS takes this opportunity to provide a forum for stakeholders in order to move the discussion forward. We can learn from other jurisdictions and together identify obstacles and barriers which seem to be impeding our progress. The economic circumstances in this country and globally have changed radically in the past year. The internationalisation of our education services, however, remains a vital part of the creation a knowledge economy which is central to the Government’s strategy to lead us out of this current recession. Challenging times call for creative solutions and above all it is a time for action.
The seminar will be of interest to anyone working in or associated with international education whether in Government Departments, state agencies, Higher Education Institutions or student organisations.
AGENDA
CHAIR: Dr Frank McMahon, Director Academic Affairs, DIT
10.00 Registration, Tea/coffee
10.30 Welcome - Ms Sheila Power, Director ICOS
10.40-11.00 International Perspective - Mr Fabrice Hénard, Analyst, Directorate of Education, OECD
11.00 – 11.20 Irish Government Response: outline current policy & intentions
- Mr Seamus McLoughlin, Principal Officer, International Division, Dept of Education & Science
- Mr Kevin O’ Sullivan, Principal Officer, Policy Division, Dept of Justice, Equality & Law Reform
- Ms Mary Killeen, Employment Permits Section, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment
11.20– 11.30 Sector Response:Ms Anna Cunningham, Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN)
Working Group
11.30 – 12.00 Q& A Session
Close of Seminar
12. 30 – 1.30 ICOS AGM (MEMBERS ONLY)