Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 181: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the connections currently active between the third level sector here and the third level sector in Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19759/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2010/11 there were 876 Canadian students in Irish higher education institutions, making Canada the 8th largest source country for international students in Ireland. I understand that most of the Irish universities, as well as a number of the Institutes of Technology, also have student exchange agreements with Canadian universities. The Canadian Embassy supports a number of programmes for Irish academics to encourage curriculum development and research on Canadian or Irish Canadian issues. The Ireland Canada University Foundation operates the Dobbin Scholarship Programme of visiting research scholarships to Irish and Canadian scholars and its Irish Language Programme supports the teaching of Gaeilge in Canadian universities. UCD hosts the "Craig Dobbin Chair of Canadian Studies" which enables a visiting Canadian professor to work in UCD for a 2 year period. Other organisations that contribute to academic exchange include the Association for Canadian Studies in Ireland, the Canadian Association for Irish Studies and the Ireland-Newfoundland Partnership.