Ireland has been extending invitations to Indian students, with their numbers on the rise, primarily due to expanding research and employment prospects. Irish institutions maintain active connections with more than 30 universities in India, fostering academic collaborations, faculty exchanges, and research endeavors across disciplines such as engineering, law, social sciences, computer science, and hospitality. Kevin Kelly, the Ambassador of Ireland to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, underscores the increasing influence of Indian students within Ireland.
With a well-established reputation for education and scholarly pursuits, Ireland has seen a notable increase in its appeal as an international study hub over the past decade. Annually, a growing number of talented Indian students opt to pursue both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Ireland, many subsequently exploring employment opportunities across various sectors within Ireland and beyond. Education in Ireland, operating under the Ministry for Education and Skills, assumes the responsibility of promoting Irish Higher Education Institutions in India. They actively engage with Indian educational establishments, facilitating partnerships and fostering cooperation between the two nations while also raising awareness about Ireland as a desirable study destination through a range of initiatives including events, online platforms, and media outreach. Ireland’s higher education institutes offer an extensive 5000+ programmes that lead to internationally recognized and quality-assured qualifications, with graduates emerging at the end of their education as one of the most skilled globally. Ireland looks to offer opportunities to a range of Indian students, with institutions and their respective departments seeking students according to their capacity and requirements. Over 75 Irish companies currently have set up offices in India. They primarily look to employ from the Indian market itself and recruit locally engaged staff as per the specifications and requirements of a particular job or industry.
The historical bilateral relationship between India and Ireland is deeply rooted in political engagement and extensive people-to-people connections. In terms of academic cooperation, Irish institutions maintain active partnerships with more than 30 universities in India, spanning various disciplines such as engineering, law, social sciences, computer science, and hospitality. Furthermore, Ireland's recently introduced initiative, "Global Citizens 2030 - Ireland’s Talent and Innovation Strategy," underscores our commitment to fostering academic connections and enhancing the educational experience of international students in Ireland. This strategy aims to ensure that Ireland remains a top choice for learners, researchers, and innovators from India and other regions around the world.
Over the past decade, the influx of Indian students to Ireland has surged from a few hundred to over 7,000 in 2022. Approximately 14 Irish higher education institutions have established offices with local representation in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Irish universities and colleges maintain enduring and dynamic partnerships with their Indian counterparts. Most recently, an MoU was signed between Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and University College Dublin to enhance student exchange, engage faculty, conduct academic research, and foster cross-border collaboration. Anticipated are further fruitful collaborations to emerge this year and beyond.
