> Education in Ireland

Ireland has a high quality education system.  Since the 1960s education at secondary level has been free.  Over the past ten years the number of full-time students in third level education has increased by almost 80%, while the number of full-time students in technological institutions has more than doubled.  Half of the Irish workforce has experienced third-level education and 60% of Ireland’s third level students major in engineering, science or business studies. 

We are consolidating Ireland’s international profile as a location for the highest quality university level education.  Central to this strategy is the strong links that exist between Irish higher education, enterprise and innovation. 

Education is one of the most important ties between Ireland and China.  Ireland is a very attractive high-quality destination for Chinese students.  We offer an excellent English-speaking education system and a close link between academics and enterprise.  Ireland offers, in addition to academic excellence, a safe and secure environment for Chinese students. 

China is the second largest supplier of students to Irish universities and colleges from outside Europe.  This presence of Chinese students on our campuses is a very welcome and positive trend and we look forward to this number growing over the coming years, just as I look forward to more Irish students coming to study in China. 

A large number of Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology now have joint programmes with their Chinese third level counterparts. The China/Ireland Agreement on mutual recognition of higher education qualifications was signed by Minister Zhou Ji, and the Irish Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, in February 2006. This Agreement greatly facilitates undergraduate and graduate mobility between our countries.  Click here for further details

http://www.qualificationsrecognition.ie/recognition/

In October 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding between the China Scholarship Council and The Irish Universities Association on PhD Cooperation was officially launched in Beijing in the presence of the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Batt O’ Keeffe, and the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr John McGuinness.  This provides the framework for the further development of the exchanges of top quality students between Ireland and China.

Click here for further details
www.iua.ie

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BeiWai), in cooperation with funding from the Embassy and NUI Maynooth, launched a new Irish Studies Centre on 30 March 2007.  This official opening was marked by a conference at BeiWai on the theme of Irish literature and its influence internationally. Academics from across China and from Ireland attended.   Since then, a number of visits by Irish lecturers to teach at BeiWai and other universities in China have taken place. 

The Embassy of Ireland is engaged in a number of outreach programmes with schools and universities in China.  For further details, please enquire through the following email address: beijingembassy@dfa.ie

Recent Educational Events

-Taoiseach addressing CFAU Students, 23 October 2008

-Ambassador Kelleher addressing delegates at the CIICT Conference, 27 September 2008

-Ambassador Declan Kelleher addressing students at a Beijing International Studies University Graduation Ceremony, 23 June 2008

-Speech by Ambassador Declan Kelleher at Tsinghua University, 24 April 2008

-Edgewater event, 5 March 2008