Annual Reports
Annual Report 2010
An important development was the release in September 2010 of “Ireland’s International Education Strategy 2010-15, Investing in Global Relationships”. While the strategy focused strongly on growing the numbers of international students who would chose Ireland as a study destination, there was also a significant emphasis on measures to protect students and on enhancing the quality of the student experience. These were issues on which ICOS had strongly campaigned throughout the year. The publication of the Government’s long awaited “New Immigration Regime for full-time non EEA Students”, also in September, meant that ICOS was busy as it responded to questions from member institutions, students and the media on the implications of the new measures. As always, ICOS hopes it has stuck the right balance in its representation, working with the Government and its agencies but at the same time ensuring that the students’ voice is heard. » More
Annual Report 2009
Throughout 2009, ICOS’ focus remained firmly on creating a positive environment for international students in Ireland. Our main event was a national seminar in June which brought together key Government actors and higher education representatives in a call for action on the quality issue and highlighting the recently released Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN) Code of Practice for providers of education to international students which offers benchmarks and guidelines on the standards to be achieved in student services.
ICOS continued to work closely with USI to ensure that the student voice was represented on relevant national platforms, including the High Level Group appointed by the Minister for Education and Science in December to develop Ireland’s new international education strategy. ICOS in turn supported USI in organising regional fora to allow international students to voice their feelings and concerns about their experience of higher education in Ireland. The first of these was hosted in UCC in November. » More
Annual Report 2008
The energy and optimism with which ICOS started the year was unfortunately replaced in the final months of 2008 with a period of uncertainty and insecurity. This mirrored the climate of the nation as a whole as the country struggled to come to grips with the banking crisis and the worst recession in decades. ICOS has come through the challenge a leaner and more focused organisation. » More
Annual Report 2007
2007 was a busy and successful year for ICOS with steady progress and achievement under all our objectives. Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the year was ICOS’ international students’ forum, “Diverse Voices”, held in UCC in November and attended by over 130 international and Irish students from higher education institutions across the country. » More
Annual Report 2006
ICOS and its member institutions continued to work in 2006 to create a more favourable environment for international students. The organisation’s operational priorities for the year included: policy work particularly in relation to the rights of legitimate non-EEA students to work in Ireland, both while studying and after graduation; delivery of high quality information and training services to members which would increase cross-cultural awareness and communication skills among staff in HEI’s and administration of aspects of the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme. » More
Annual Report 2005
2005 was a year of change and review in ICOS as the organisation sought to clarify its role and set out its strategic priorities in relation to its key constituencies: international students, its member organisations and the Department of Foreign Affairs for which it administers aspects of the Irish Aid Fellowship Programme and from which it receives over 90% of its funding. » More