Minister affirms duty to international students on standards
In an opening address to ICOS’ 2011 Annual Seminar on 9th June, Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, told attendees that Government has “ a duty to provide assurance to international students about the standards they will experience in Ireland”.
Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon TD, addresses the ICOS Seminar
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to provide a Quality Mark and said that the relevant legislation to put this into effect will be published before the Dáil rises for its summer break. The Minister added that the Quality Mark will be “awarded not only in respect of academic standards – it will also reflect the wider supports and services that are essential to ensuring a satisfactory overall experience for international students.”
The event had sought to take a critical look at Ireland’s new international education brand and particularly its tag line , “World Class Standards Warmest of Welcomes” and to examine how real substance and commitment can be put behind it.
The Minister spoke about the need for action at all levels from Government to institutional, to student union and individual level “to make that slogan a reality”.
Minister Cannon complimented ICOS on its work noting that the Government “places great value its contributions” to the debate and sharing of good practice on international education.
Among the other key contributors at the seminar were Dominic Scott OBE, CEO of UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), who shared his experience on national interventions to enhance the student experience, drawing on lessons learned from the Prime Minister’s Initiative in the UK and Samantha Tan (Vice-President for Equality and Diversity, Queens University Students Union) who shared her perspective as an international student.
Dominic Scott, UKCISA
Samantha Tan, Queens University Belfast Students' Union