Irish universities held an outreach tour in India last week, with 21 institutions participating in Education in Ireland’s annual roadshow across major cities. The initiative aimed to engage with students and parents about academic programs, scholarships, and research opportunities.
The visit took place shortly after a series of reported attacks on Indian nationals in Ireland. In August, the Indian Embassy issued an advisory urging citizens to “take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially at odd hours.” The advisory stated that there had been “an increase in instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens.”
Irish President Michael D. Higgins condemned the incidents, calling them “despicable attacks” that “diminish all of us and obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to the life of this country.”
Indian Community in Ireland
Sudipto Das, senior lecturer and vice dean for AI and digital health at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said such attacks were unusual. “These instances have never happened before,” Das said, adding that awareness and vigilance have increased.
“The communities are quite intertwined in Ireland, there’s a lot of similarities, and that relationship has been built over a number of years. That’s why the Irish community is also quite shocked,” he told The PIE News.
Despite the concerns, Das said interest among Indian students remains strong. “We are visiting schools and meeting students, but I’m getting a lot less concern than I expected, which is reassuring,” he said.
Irish universities said they are increasing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of international students. “Universities have been proactive in addressing safety concerns by working closely with the Garda, running sensitisation and awareness programmes, and organising regular feedback sessions with students,” said Aritra Ghosal, founder and director of OneStep Global.
He added that pre-departure sessions in India guide students on safety measures, cultural integration, and staying connected with their university offices.
Growing Interest in Critical Fields
Indian students form the largest group of international students in Ireland. The number of international enrolments reached 40,400 in 2023–24, a 15% increase over the previous year. Most Indian students are pursuing studies in computer science, AI, data analytics, and health sciences—sectors facing labour shortages.
“I’m definitely seeing the trend very much towards courses that have future employment. Right now, they [Indian students] are really concentrated around computer science,” said Kilian Dooley, head of academic affairs at the University of Galway.
Ben Ryan, deputy head of school at RCSI, noted that Ireland’s ecosystem supports such programs. “We’re seeing really strong applicants with strong educational backgrounds expressing interest in our programs,” he said.
Ireland’s two-year post-study work (PSW) visa continues to attract students. Das said, “Compared to other programs, it shouldn’t be that difficult to get sponsorship, because the skill sets our students bring are so specific and in demand.”
This comes as the UK plans to reduce its graduate visa duration from two years to 18 months starting January 2027.
Ireland’s minister for further and higher education, James Lawless, emphasised that the country “benefits socially, culturally, and academically” from international students. To strengthen this sector, Ireland is introducing a new international education quality mark, TrustEd Ireland, which will apply to all institutions, including language schools.
The visit took place shortly after a series of reported attacks on Indian nationals in Ireland. In August, the Indian Embassy issued an advisory urging citizens to “take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially at odd hours.” The advisory stated that there had been “an increase in instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens.”
Irish President Michael D. Higgins condemned the incidents, calling them “despicable attacks” that “diminish all of us and obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to the life of this country.”
Indian Community in Ireland
Sudipto Das, senior lecturer and vice dean for AI and digital health at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said such attacks were unusual. “These instances have never happened before,” Das said, adding that awareness and vigilance have increased.
“The communities are quite intertwined in Ireland, there’s a lot of similarities, and that relationship has been built over a number of years. That’s why the Irish community is also quite shocked,” he told The PIE News.
Despite the concerns, Das said interest among Indian students remains strong. “We are visiting schools and meeting students, but I’m getting a lot less concern than I expected, which is reassuring,” he said.
Irish universities said they are increasing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of international students. “Universities have been proactive in addressing safety concerns by working closely with the Garda, running sensitisation and awareness programmes, and organising regular feedback sessions with students,” said Aritra Ghosal, founder and director of OneStep Global.
He added that pre-departure sessions in India guide students on safety measures, cultural integration, and staying connected with their university offices.
Growing Interest in Critical Fields
Indian students form the largest group of international students in Ireland. The number of international enrolments reached 40,400 in 2023–24, a 15% increase over the previous year. Most Indian students are pursuing studies in computer science, AI, data analytics, and health sciences—sectors facing labour shortages.
“I’m definitely seeing the trend very much towards courses that have future employment. Right now, they [Indian students] are really concentrated around computer science,” said Kilian Dooley, head of academic affairs at the University of Galway.
Ben Ryan, deputy head of school at RCSI, noted that Ireland’s ecosystem supports such programs. “We’re seeing really strong applicants with strong educational backgrounds expressing interest in our programs,” he said.
Ireland’s two-year post-study work (PSW) visa continues to attract students. Das said, “Compared to other programs, it shouldn’t be that difficult to get sponsorship, because the skill sets our students bring are so specific and in demand.”
This comes as the UK plans to reduce its graduate visa duration from two years to 18 months starting January 2027.
Ireland’s minister for further and higher education, James Lawless, emphasised that the country “benefits socially, culturally, and academically” from international students. To strengthen this sector, Ireland is introducing a new international education quality mark, TrustEd Ireland, which will apply to all institutions, including language schools.
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