Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1719. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to state his policy on the development of Confucius Institutes at Irish universities; the role that will be played in these institutes by the Chinese government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1484/25]

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

The Confucius Institutes are an initiative of the Chinese Government, intended to promote study and awareness of Chinese language and culture worldwide. There are three Confucius Institutes in Ireland; in UCD, UCC and the University of Galway.

Ireland's universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, and the management of their day to day functions are matters for the individual institution which would be overseen by appropriate institutional governance arrangements and associated policies. As such, the presence of Confucius Institutes in Ireland is fundamentally a matter for individual higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider, depending on the value they see them as adding.

The diverse international linkages that our HEIs have bring a richness to the experience of students. As such, it is for the HEIs themselves to consider how best to pursue different international partnerships, while ensuring that other considerations, including those of academic integrity and independence, are also maintained and supported.