Dr. Deirdre Lillis:

The game we are in is the knowledge economy game, which is inherently global. There is a huge piece around attracting the best researchers, innovators and teachers to Ireland. It is very much played out in an international sphere. For any technological university, we have ambitions to be up there with the best of the universities in order that we can bring that back into our regions. That would be our motivation as a strategy for the university. There is no getting away from the fact that non-EU international student fees are a source of income for universities. However, I think it is the reason for doing it, and there is also the balance between that international cohort on our campuses versus what we are providing in our region. It is really important also that Irish students, even if they can never travel internationally and some cannot, get that multicultural experience by being in the same classes as international students. I would say it is essential in moderation. It should not drive a technological university strategy.