28 v International Educator MAY+JUNE.12

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ices group aregroup the Chinese. and the Unitednext States, biggest single bythat Canadian understandable. American, Imean single cohort intheuniversitysystem,which is Irish it basically. students are TheAmerican the biggest universities by 50 percent over thenext over fiveyears. 50percent by universities at students ofinternational thenumber increasing there’sis of Authority Education goal aHigher now particular. in My understanding non-EU students, morelucrative including students, international ing economic crisis in several Europeaneconomic nations.) crisis “Weathering also the Storm” (See 54 which onpage of the current thesystem. details effects navigating is economic andgovernment challenges reputational tothe Irish higher education ofIrishdemands industry. including retraining for those who the have output their with lost and its to synch jobs, Irish higher post, education’snew ofstudents, tocontinue cohort need alarger toreach forIreland’s the need stressed Quinn has into integration the in and, his in acrossthe including cuts all board caused government sectors, support for higher education. in the face oftheyears subsequent ofthe collapse Irish housing which and banking sectors have higher education’s during Tiger dramaticin achieved and Celtic scope quality its expansion andfor education skills in March the faced challenge 2011.Quinn has ofmaintaining Irish QUINN: IE: QUINN: IE: uairi Quinn,aveteran IrishLabourPar amongst students themselves. Secondly, studentsamongst themselves. Ireland isself- of intellectualthe level discourse andperformance raise they so bright people, tend very tothey be dents to higher education in Ireland andwhy? Ireland in education tohigher dents By DavidT correspondent David TobenkinInternational David Educator correspondent Quinn the how with Irish discussed and and employment then minister minister forfinance, forenterprise as Previously Ireland has had considerable success in attract in success hadconsiderable has Ireland How important are those international stu- international arethose How important An Interview withRuairiQuinn,IrishMinister for Education andSkills That’s right, in fact, to increase it, to double That’sto double it, to increase fact, in right, They’re very important. First and important. foremost, very They’re obenkin Ireland Works to Rebound After the Bubble: After - That’ssell. abig of and destinationssafe for cities foreign students. oneofthe popular 10most as surfaced precise, to be parents arenese concerned. Ireland recently, Chi- ofIrelandRepublic as far andthat as isadriver ment—formal Chinaandthe agreement—between - agree qualification recognition adegree recognition, students doingPh.D.Chinese courses here. We have of biginpercentagequantum terms, butvery terms equally whichthegood. ofouruniversities is staff we have a large on now number of foreign academics Also, ofthe interms cultures student isapositive mix. differentwith backgrounds and fromcoming different homogenous society, a very havingevidently so people IE: could bring in another €1.3 billion a year to Irish toIrish a year another €1.3billion in could bring students international estimates Thereare not. are students but other international students Irish We’ve inthe number, quite anincrease smallin EU students are charged the same amount as as amount thesame arecharged EU students ty p olitician

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Irish Department of Education and Skills

MAY+JUNE.12 International Educator 29 - The system at higher levelat higher The hassystem seenre- a duction in core funding and, by and large, to their their to funding large, by and and, core in duction credit, it has absorbed reduction an awful lot of that indeed, in quantity. or, in quality without diminution recognition developinga general of is crisisBut there the Currently, level sector. funding third in the of the in the did drop still very are outcomes positive. We rankings,international in behind the but when I got wasstatistics, drop the critical not the in the factor of academicto pupil or staffratio funding per pupil or those types of objectives or measurements, because dropped as as dramatically rankings the they hadn’t by academics told who we are key The had. factor, was done to great damage in Ireland, the this study banking bust the due to reputation our international country led goingthe to that bubble housing the and Union. European with the receivership into Quinn: per capita education, and reputation efficiency, among employers and academics. much ef How fect has financial the crisisEurope Ireland in and higher education standards had uponIreland’s and achievements since then, and how much pain has the system endured? - Yes, we believe they They’re are. goingnot Yes, The 2009 ECOFINThe report painted a very This spring I’m going to China for an extended extended for an to China going This spring I’m E: E:

to solve our problem, and we can’t use them as use them just and we can’t solve our problem, to becausethey’re phrase. the That’s excuse casha cow, and they’re quality discerning consumers for coming and of higher education. But, offer, a lot to we have an English speak recognized; we’re fact the that that’s ing country and the quality of our universitiesing country quality and and the of technology well-recognized.institutes generally are 126 individual agree are There - bilateral educational ments between Chinese and the Irish the institutions educational institutions. visit. will all be It focused- thoserela on confirming We’re tionships, them. consolidating enlarging them, talking about Irish degrees being Chinese to delivered students, part will of which be in China and delivered part will of which be in Ireland. delivered I QUINN: higher education system. Are these students an important source of funds for the higher educa- tion system in Ireland? rish Minister for Education and Skills Education for Ruairi Quinn, Irish Minister flattering picture of Irish higher education by

r epa D ish Ir s ll i Sk and ducation E of tment We have seven universities in the Republic of Ireland— we don’t need any more traditional universities in a country of this size. There is, however, given the nature of the way the Irish economy is developing, a role for a technological university.

IE: Aside from the actual reputational has suffered. In addition, a number of to be able to do an awful lot of things very damage, do you think the damage to Irish institutions have suffered dramatic well to a bust economy very quickly. We are the system itself has been fairly limited falls as measured by some third-party now recovering from that. to-date? rankings. How accurate are such percep- At one stage, Ireland was in the middle of QUINN: Yes, I do but I’m not kidding my- tions and how concerned are you by them? the financial crisis discourse. In the media, the self. We can’t go on like this. We’re looking print media and online, we were seen as one of for symmetries and for collaboration across QUINN: Well, first of all, the rankings ex- a group of economies in very serious difficulty. different institutions so that we can elimi- ist. You cannot ignore them even though That’s no longer the case. There’s no longer a nate a lot of the duplication that’s already they measure those things that they want linkage between Ireland, Portugal, and Greece, there. That will give us some time. I’d say to measure themselves. They are, like any as was the case before. And the regular visits about two years, but not much more. ranking system, biased in a certain degree by the troika representing the institutions of by those people who designed the ranking the IMF, the European Central Bank, and the IE: The HEA’s recent Landscape reports system to begin with. The major factor that European Commission has been reporting stated that since the collapse of Irish pub- caused the drop in our rankings was related positive progress in the recovery of the Irish lic finances, the perception of the quality to Ireland’s international reputation, which economy. The weak end in our economy is of Irish higher education internationally went from a boom economy that seemed employment creation. Strengthening employ- ment creation will generate extra tax revenue which in turn will, in turn, be good news for the third-level education sector.

IE: Is 2012 an important year in terms of determining the future and if so, can you elaborate why? STUDY IN GREECE QUINN: In the third-level sector, there SEMESTER • YEAR • SUMMER are some major reforms now being imple- mented across a number of sectors. First and foremost, we had a report known as the Hunt Report which sketched out a pro- file of change as far out as 2030. They made a number of recommendations which are now in the course of implementation. The first item was defining the criteria that would constitute the definition and the image, if you like, of a technological university. As the report noted, we have seven universities in the Republic of Ireland—we don’t need any more traditional universities in a country of this size. There is, however, given the nature • COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH of the way the Irish economy is developing, a • GROUPS ARE WELCOME role for a technological university. We then proceeded to get the criteria, COLLEGE YEAR IN and the shape, and the definition of what www.cyathens.org that would actually constitute. That was

MAY+JUNE.12 MAY+JUNE.12 i onal E ducator Internat signed off by the Higher Education Author-

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more information: asu.edu/studyatasu Direct ity just over five weeks ago. We have now to use the American phrase—coming to Study Abroad informed the institutes of technology—of third-level education may not continue—it is which we have 14—that they have to look currently at 65 percent. The target was by 2020 at each other and look at the landscape of to have it up to 72 percent. It will be difficult higher education and start to see how they really to meet that target. The commentary of Low Cost can form new alliances, new collaborations, presidents of universities and other colleges and new forms of working together. They have said that there may have to be a cap or Programs were set up in the mid-1970s, so it’s time for a limit on the number of students that will be Worldwide a major review of how they function. accepted for certain kinds of courses. That call for collaboration is not confined That’s pretty much the space where we to the institutes of technology. We’re also are at the moment, and it’s a space that we’ll Register Direct With CSA saying the same to the universities as well. be exploring. We may need to be selective about the types of courses that people do. Open to All - Low Prices IE: A technological university may be a There is already de facto rationing of some Confirmations Sent Quickly foreign concept for some of our readers. of the high tech courses like medicine and Early Registration Advised Can you briefly explain it? physiotherapy and other similar types of QUINN: In a classic Irish way, I’ll give you courses. This means that Irish students, if Universities and Institutes the reverse definition. It’s as far away from a they can’t get into an Irish university, may go Academic Quality - Since 1990 liberal arts college as you could get. It’s really across to Britain where from now on they’re in the STEM area. By STEM I mean science, going to be paying fees of ₤9,000 sterling to • High quality - Low prices. technology, engineering, and mathematics, participate in those courses. and aligned very closely to the needs of in- • Easy to register - Open to all. IE: dustry on the ground in that particular area. My understanding is that further cuts • Admission guaranteed. You can look at those in different ways, in the Irish higher education system are • Con rmations sent quickly. but if it has any kind of historical con- expected through 2015. Upon what fac- • Flexibility (independence). nection, it would be closer to some of the tors will that depend, and are there still • Earn academic credit. research institutes that characterized Ger- significant inefficiencies and duplication • Financial Aid assistance. many before the Second World War, where to be cut out of the system or are you now cutting into muscle and bone? • Visa documents assistance. the research and application of research to QUINN: • Housing assistance. industrial development was coming from I think there’s still room on the research institutes that weren’t your tradi- duplication. People on the other side of the • CSA counselor support. tional universities. table would say we’re already into muscle and • Location on-site support. bone and that’s part and parcel of the normal IE: • Credit cards accepted online. In recent years, the number of Irish process of negotiation. Certainly, the Higher • Balance payment options. undergraduate students has increased Education Authority believes, from what I’ve substantially while state allocations to • Accountable - Since 1990. been informed, that there’s greater room for fund these students have steadily de- collaboration and for saving. But it is still only clined. These trends were expected to marginal I have to admit. I do recognize that continue. That has led some Irish educa- in two years’ time, we’ll be looking at hav- Go Direct With CSA tors to conclude that, assuming student ing to increase the funding for third-level in fees are not dramatically increased, the some shape, size, or form. That could very CO N TAC T: two divergent trends are not sustainable. Program Manager well include some form of student contribu- Center For Study Abroad (CSA) Do you agree and can you summarize the tion that would go directly to the college. 325 Washington Ave. S. # 93 government’s approach to addressing this Kent, WA 98032 USA so-called sustainability challenge? IE: The Hunt Report said that annual Tel # 206 583 8191 USA funding must increase to support higher [email protected] QUINN: We certainly recognize there is a License # 602 292 407 financing problem in the third-level sector. education. How will Irish higher educa- We also recognize that if there isn’t a change, tion achieve that funding? QUINN: www.centerforstudyabroad.com then the continued increase in the third-level Yes, funding has to increase. I think MAY+JUNE.12 MAY+JUNE.12 i onal E ducator Internat participation by Irish high school students— the universities themselves will have to find 32 Before your students pack their bags … Before they step onto an airplane …

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MARSH Misc: NA The reality is that the present funding is not sustainable if we want to maintain both the expansion of third-level education and the maintenance of its quality.

or generate more money. They have demon- both the expansion of third-level education the of a top fee of ₤9,000. strated considerable skill in generating and and the maintenance of its quality. And when the Tory government brought attracting additional funds, both philan- that in, there was a suggestion not every IE: thropic and others earning their own way. If Recently, the Higher Education Au- university would necessarily charge that we can develop the intellectual property side thority told Irish media that student amount but only those thought of as being of universities so that they can commercial- contribution charges would increase by part of the first division, which was a very ize some of the research that they’re doing it €250 for each of the next three years, naïve assumption because which university would help—there are some positive signs bringing it to €3,000 by 2015. Is that is going to want to say “we’re not a top uni- in relation to that. Inevitably, there’s going correct? versity; we charge lower fees.” to have to be a contribution from the pub- QUINN: You are. It’s not a formal decision, So the expectation now is that every uni- lic domain either through a tax transfer of but that’s the thrust of where we’re going. versity in the United Kingdom and certainly revenue from the central government or an That was indicated so people could get a within Britain and Wales is going to go up increase in fees by the participants. sense of what it was. The higher educa- to that figure. In Northern Ireland, where That’s all in the mixing bowl at the mo- tion market, if you want to call it that, of there are two universities, the Northern Irish ment. The reality is that the present funding the two islands of Britain and Ireland has Minister of Education [John O’Dowd] has is not sustainable if we want to maintain been transformed by the introduction in talked in terms of a fee there of approximate- ly ₤3,500, which will be considerably higher than what is the case here in the Republic. There’s a very good article recently in The Guardian newspaper by Will Hutton. The next step you take matters He has written, in my view, a very percep- tive analysis of the impact of the change in Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations (MAIR) the funding for third-level education of Brit- In collaboration with the University of the Pacifi c, Stockton, Calif. ain. One of his conclusions is that British Apply now for January and July enrollment graduates will emerge as the most indebted graduates in the world as a consequence of Designed for seasoned and aspiring professionals, this limited the changes that the Tory government are residency program in Portland, Oregon, allows you to earn an bringing in. We are not yet sure what dis- M.A. that supports your career development in the fi eld of placement effect this might have toward international education. students from the United Kingdom com- Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication ing to study in Ireland. July 11–27, 2012 • Portland, Oregon IE: Can you accommodate as many as Over 40 workshops in 1-day, 3-day, and 5-day sessions who might want to come? Designed for professionals in diverse, interculturally related QUINN: We simply don’t know because we fi elds ranging from business to study abroad, from healthcare don’t know what sectors they’re going to ap- to international student advising, the Institute’s stimulating and ply for yet. But we’ll know in and around supportive environment helps you gain knowledge and skill, next August what the displacement or the gather resources, and build networks. change in the landscape is. It’ll be an inter- esting story to follow. The Intercultural Communication Institute IE: A recent European Universities As- [email protected] • 503-297-4622 • intercultural.org sociation report was not very optimistic

MAY+JUNE.12 MAY+JUNE.12 i onal E ducator Internat about the possibility of universities in

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All products are written by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of Chartis Inc. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to actual policy language. For additional information, please visit our website at www.chartisinsurance.com. 1254_004 02/28/12 developing alternate sources of a particular look at the impact of fi- higher education funding beyond state nancial crisis in higher education in and student contributions. With respect Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. You to Irish higher education, in addition to mentioned that many are now excluding revenues from foreign students, how Ireland from that group. One thing the optimistic are you that other nongovern- educators I’ve spoken to have said is that mental financial resources can be found the Irish higher education sector has had to help fund Irish higher education? greater success in containing the dam- age caused by the crisis. Actually, they’ve QUINN: In the present climate, I would be said Irish Higher Education Authority cautiously optimistic, not wildly optimistic. has done a relatively good job. Would There isn’t the same tradition of endow- you agree and why has Ireland been bet- ments in universities in the European sector ter able to address the financial crisis? as there is in the United States. Of course, the level of endowments in the United QUINN: First of all, all of the salaries of States varies dramatically across the spec- the lecturers and the staff who were on trum of your universities. permanent contract have been protected, so there hasn’t been the decimation in IE: Several Irish university students I terms of salary. Sadly, short-term contracts spoke to said that when they graduated, have not been renewed. Because we have they plan to seek work abroad. They had a social partnership agreement with the no plans to return to Ireland, and they trade unions and academic staff would be said the same was true of their Irish stu- largely unionized, the public service salaries dent friends and Irish educators said they would be protected in return for increase of had heard that from students. What is the productivity. role of Irish higher education in retaining The agreement was negotiated in the these students in the country, and is there Croke Park Stadium in Dublin and it’s anything that can be done to keep more known as the Croke Park Agreement. It has of those graduating from leaving perma- another year to run. It’s producing some of nently from Ireland? that productivity that is contained within it, QUINN: We’re a small island off another but it’s also providing salary stability, which island off the West Coast of Europe. There’s is not the case obviously in some other coun- a natural wanderlust in to go tries at the moment. That in turn has helped and see the big world. The people who now maintain morale within our system. go with the university qualification will be IE: working in offices rather than working on Should the EU expand its role in their own, and they’ll do that. I’ve done it in ensuring the quality of higher educa- my own time. It’s a natural part of the expe- tion research, which they’ve done to an rience and you see it with Australia as well. extent, but in particular also the cost of However, two factors begin to kick in. They instruction? If so, how should their role start working for multinational companies be expanded in your opinion? with the object of possibly finding them- QUINN: I think that’s something that we’ll selves back in Ireland eventually. It’ll be of be discussing at the Council of European value to Ireland and a value to themselves Education Ministers. Ireland is to take the no matter where they’re working. And, it is presidency next year in the first semester often the case, the minute their kids start and it’s something that I will certainly be speaking with an American accent, they talking about as well as the whole question start making plans to come home to Ireland. of European ratings of universities. IE

IE: The cover feature article in this is- David Tobenkin is a freelance reporter based in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

MAY+JUNE.12 MAY+JUNE.12 i onal E ducator Internat sue of International Educator is taking

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