Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on increasing the numbers of international students studying here, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29231/14]

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

The Government is strongly committed to promoting Ireland as a centre for international education through implementation of Investing in Global Relationships: Ireland's International Education Strategy and rollout of the Education in Ireland brand internationally by Enterprise Ireland. Since the publication of the strategy, there has been 36% growth in full-time non-EEA students in institutions reporting data to the HEA. The first Higher Education System Performance report published by the HEA notes that "the higher education system is broadly on target to have international students accounting for 15% of total full-time student numbers by 2020." The HEA also indicates that the system is showing strong alignment with the priority markets set by the High Level Group on International Education, with 45% of international students coming from priority markets. Particular progress continues to be made in the United States, where Ireland is in the top ten destinations for American students and the top small country destination and Brazil, where we have attracted 3% of all scholarship students under the Science Without Borders programme, again making us the top small country destination.

A mid-term review of the international education strategy is being undertaken by my Department and will be published later in the year.