In New York, Boston, Washington DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco, college counselors, study-abroad advisors, faculty members and students will learn why more than 7,000 US students selected Ireland last year for their college studies. They’ll also hear first-hand experiences from participants in the newly launched US Student Ambassador Program.

The Education in Ireland events are part of a broad initiative by the Irish Government to raise the number of full-time US students at Irish universities and colleges by 50 percent in the next three years. They began with a special welcome message from His Excellency Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States. They precede the first annual Education in Ireland tour for US college counsellors, which will take place next March.

The globalisation of higher education is a cornerstone of Ireland’s strategy to help shape future-generation international leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs and thinkers. In virtually every field, Ireland’s universities and colleges stand out internationally. From STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) disciplines to liberal and performing arts, Ireland consistently produces career-ready graduates – skilled knowledge workers that continue to inspire international companies to make Ireland their EU hub. The strategy is drawing substantial numbers of foreign students. Many come for their semester-abroad experience. But a growing number are choosing Ireland for full-time degrees. Boosting the numbers is a top priority.

“Over the years, many talented US students have benefited from a unique educational experience at Irish institutes of higher learning,” said Michelle Dervan, USA Manager for Education in Ireland. “And while some have strong family links to the country, the typical US student in Ireland is a global, career-minded individual seeking a high-quality and affordable college experience. These students add much to the vibrant education scene that makes Ireland a preferred study-abroad location for ambitious kids across the world.”

The week’s events include the following:

New York: Launch of Education in Ireland’s US Student Ambassador Program at the Consulate General of Ireland.

San Francisco: Event for students at St. Mary’s College in Moraga hosted by the Consulate General of Ireland.

Washington DC: Mitchell Scholarship Program Awards Reception at the Embassy of Ireland. The Program honors former US Senator George Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars are chosen annually for one year of postgraduate study.

Atlanta & Boston: Receptions celebrating education links between Ireland and the US hosted respectively by the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston and the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta.

Charlotte: Address at the WorldQuest High Schools Competition by Paul Gleeson, Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta.

Chicago: High School Essay Contest Winner Announcement at the Consulate General of Ireland. Contestants in grades 9-12 were invited to address the topic: “Ireland is a country renowned worldwide for its inspiring writers, musicians and artists.  In 1,000 words or less, explain what inspires you most in life…”

About Education in Ireland

To learn more about Education in Ireland’s outreach to US high schools and universities, please visit – www.educationinireland.com

The above post is reproduced, with permission, from the original feature on the Education In Ireland website here.

You can also find out more about studying in Ireland by visiting the i-studentadvisor Ireland Study Guide.

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About International Education Week

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of efforts to promote programmes that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.

The first Week was held in 2000 and today is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. To find out more, visit – iew.state.gov

The Erasmus programme allows students and staff at EU institutions in 33 countries to study for part of their degree or do a work placement in another EU country. It aims to increase student mobility within Europe.

The Polish Minister for Higher Education, Barbara Kudrycka, said at the 22^nd European Students’ Convention in Poland last Tuesday: “We would very much like to see a widening of the Erasmus scheme to non-EU countries, not only our Eastern neighbors but also for example the ones in the southern neighbourhood. In my view, the best diplomats for countries are students and scientists.”

The convention is a four-day event organised by the European Students Union (ESU), which represents 45 national unions of students from 38 European countries.  Allan Päll, the ESU’s chairperson, backed the drive to expand Erasmus: “We think education mobility enriches the life of students, both from an educational and social perspective. Moreover, we firmly believe that mobility supports European integration.” He also said he would like to see an increase in grants for students who struggle financially, to increase mobility.

Kudrycka has previously expressed an interest in allowing students from Eastern Partnership countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to be given the opportunity to study in EU countries.

She said: “Today we consider mobility is an essential of the European community because mobility is an emanation of freedom and therefore the eastern dimension of mobility is becoming even more important. Students from European Partnership countries should be given the possibility of studying in EU counties on the same terms as students from EU countries.”

More than 2.2 million students have taken part in the Erasmus scheme since it started in 1987, an and there are plans to extend it to reach three million Erasmus students by 2012.

To find out more about the Erasmus scheme, please visit the European commission website, or for those in the UK – www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus

If you are a student at a UK institution (regardless of nationality) or are planning to be, read an article by the British Council about getting involved in the scheme here.

Are you a student from a non-EU country? Would you like to see the Erasmus programme extended?

This includes a new Science and Technology Action Plan, announced by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during meetings with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in early August.

A further eleven scholarship projects are to receive funding as part of the Brazil Award: Joint Research Projects Programme, plus a further CAD$5 million has been allocated to renew the International Science and Technology Partnership programme, which was established in 2005 in order to promote collaborative research and development between Canadian and foreign scientists and technologists.

The new programmes continue the work of the 2010 memorandum of understanding between Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Brazil’s Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education. The programmes are hoped to encourage academic mobility and cooperation between top research universities in the two countries.

President and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education, Karen McBride, which manages the Canadian projects said: “It is encouraging that there is widespread public interest in the growing relationship between Canada and Brazil, particularly because of what it could mean for strategic partnerships in the education sector – which are foundational to sustained political and economic ties between our countries.”

Brazil has also recently announced an investment of US$2.2 billion in science and technology scholarships for student studying overseas, and Canada is likely to be a popular destination for those students, especially due to the opening of three new visa application centres in Brazil for processing study applications for Canada.

Want to know more about studying in Canada? See our Canada Study Guide!

Pearson has recently announced a partnership with Royal Holloway university that will see the university quality-assure and validate a degree in business that has been developed by Pearson. The degree will be available for the academic year starting in 2012, but the fees are yet to be announced, though Pearson have promised to offer good value and a cheaper rate than traditional universities. This is not the company’s first foray into education – it already provides some vocational courses (such as BTECs and Higher National Diplomas) and owns the exam board Edexcel.

The announcement comes as the ‘White Paper’ on education, which was released by the government last week, revealed plans to allow the expansion of private degree providers. In it, the government said it would “make it easier for new providers to enter the sector” by simplifying the process to obtain degree-awarding powers. Currently only five privately-funded organisations in the UK, one of which is for-profit, have degree awarding powers.

President of Pearson UK, Rod Bristow, said the new degrees would create more flexibility for students. “A Pearson degree could allow students to go somewhere near where you live for some of your tuition, do some of it online and still potentially work,” he said.

However, the new degree has sparked fears about the quality of education, if more profit-driven companies are encouraged to offer qualifications. The lecturers’ union warned of a possible focus on profitable courses, whilst the University and College Union has warned that it might lead to a drop in standards. They said that there are concerns that profit-driven providers will focus on courses that are likely to earn them the most money, and could lead to “an incremental narrowing of the curriculum and some students doing inappropriate courses at a greater cost”.

What do you think? Are companies who offer qualifications a good thing, or do you share similar fears? Let us know your thoughts!

The survey of over 1,000 international students studying in Brisbane, conducted through Brisbane Marketing’s www.studybrisbane.com.au website, also showed students chose Brisbane because it was a safe place to live and was recommended to them by friends.

Brisbane Marketing CEO John Aitken said it was not surprising safety and the environment were key factors in the choice of study destination. “Brisbane is known for its great weather and it has an international reputation as a safe and secure place to study,” Mr Aitken said.

More than half of the students surveyed nominated the climate and safety as their top reasons for studying in Brisbane, with other strong drivers being the lifestyle and local attractions and reputation of Brisbane’s education institutions.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business student Yeting Xiao from Shenzhen confirmed Brisbane’s sunny reputation and safety record swayed her decision: “The fantastic environment really allows students to relax and enjoy the study process,” Ms Xiao said. “Unlike some of the larger cities, Brisbane provides a flexible lifestyle and it is one of the safest cities in the world, so my parents don’t worry about my safety here,” she said.

International students also indicated that a key influence was the number of job opportunities available after completion of their course and 45% said if granted a visa, they would stay if offered a job.

“These results show international students choose to study in Brisbane because they realise that this city may also provide further opportunities for them in their future careers,” Mr Aitken said.

Students considering study in Brisbane can find out more at – www.studybrisbane.com.au

The attendees were all alumni who studied in the Netherlands. After attending the two-day Holland Alumni Conference on 26 and 27 May, each of them received a certificate and are now equipped to promote Dutch higher education within their own communities.

The Holland Alumni Conference was organised by Nuffic, with the support of Agentschap NL-EVD, in response to a request from the Ministries of Education, Culture & Science and Foreign Affairs. Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague and former minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the conference. The two keynote speakers were Guusje ter Horst, chairperson of the HBO-Raad (Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences), and Sijbolt Noorda, president of the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands).

Around 76,000 international students study in the Netherlands every year. The length of their stay varies from a few weeks for a specialist course to several years for a full higher education programme. During their stay these students are acquainted with higher education and research in the Netherlands and also, in many cases, with leading sectors of Dutch industry, which is keen to attract foreign students for trainee posts. After returning to their home countries these graduates can still make an important contribution to Dutch business as either customers or employees of Dutch companies abroad.

Many countries have a long tradition of using their alumni as knowledge ambassadors. Almost without exception, international alumni of Dutch higher education have pleasant memories of the time they spent in the Netherlands as students. They got to know the Netherlands as a hospitable and internationally oriented country with a fascinating research culture, and tend to be eager to tell the people at home about their experiences. The alumni network formed by these knowledge ambassadors will offer the Netherlands a significant new instrument for promoting itself in the rest of the world.

The project, initiated and funded by the European Commission, and being developed by the Consortium of Higher Education and Research Performance Assessment (CHERPA) is “a new user-driven, multi-dimensional and multi-level ranking tool in higher education and research”.

The system has been being developed since November 2009 and is due to be completed by the end of this year. The first version of the system was unveiled in Brussels last week and was demonstrated by a student, a university administrator and a business representative. They stated that the system would be finalised after further testing and modifications.

U-Multirank is an attempt to combat the usual problems with current rankings systems, which many feel are not an accurate representation of different institutions. U-Multirank’s designers, Frans van Vught and Frank Ziegele, criticised old systems for being “largely one-dimensional” and touched on the problems of a ‘reputation race’. They also said that current rankings focused on “what is measurable instead of what is relevant”.

The U-Multirank system is designed to be user-driven and will create rankings based on the user’s needs. The current version was tested with 109 universities worldwide – the majority of which were in Europe – to test the process of gathering information through questionnaires and other data collection processes. Some problems with the workload involved and the availability of data emerged, which will be tackled before the final version is launched.

A ‘global roll-out’ of the system is planned, starting with Europe. There has been much interest from European institutions, and some overseas interest, apart from in America and China, where very few universities participated in the sample test.

One hundred and twenty eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in years 7 and 8 had their first taste of tertiary education today with the Indigenous Students Experience Day at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Students from schools all over Sydney visited the Camperdown Campus for the event, which is aimed at encouraging Indigenous students to stay in school and consider higher education.

“Today is about giving these students a glimpse of what exciting opportunities are available to them,” said Professor Shane Houston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services) at the University of Sydney.

“In this group of kids we could have Australia’s next generation of great artists, scientists, historians or playwrights. Coming here today could be just the first step in these magnificent futures,” he said.

Designed to capture the imaginations of students who may not otherwise have considered going to university, the event included a series of presentations in the Great Hall, faculty-based subject electives and lunchtime activities.

Along with a host of other elective activities, students learned about insects and all things creepy with University Museums, went rock climbing with Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness, and built a structurally sound marshmallow and spaghetti tower with the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning.

As part of the University’s events for National Reconciliation Week, the students also placed a hand in the Sea of Hands public artwork on the Front Lawns, signalling support for Indigenous Native Title Rights and Reconciliation.

To learn more about higher education in Australia, why not read the i-studentadvisor Australia e-magazine bursting with articles and advice on living and learning down under.

The QS rankings, which are scored out of 100 and based on research, internationalism, teaching and graduate employability, have been running since 2004.

Scoring over 90 out of 100, Harvard University easily came out on top for each of the three categories and both the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford feature in the top 5 on each list.  Yale University, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also feature heavily in each of the top tens.

The University of Melbourne is the only Australian institution to have made the top ten, featuring at number 8 in the Psychology list. Other high listing entries from Australia, Canada and Singapore also mark a slight shift in the heavily US dominated list.

Talking of the new subject specific rankings, Ben Sowter, Head of QS Intelligence Unit says, “The new QS World University Rankings by Subject respond to a need for comparative data at a more granular level.

“In many countries students are being charged more than ever before for their degrees. So assessing the potential career outcomes of one’s study choice is becoming increasingly important”, he continued.

The Guardian asked Paul for his thoughts on the effects of the higher fees – now that it has emerged all universities will charge at least £6,000 – on the number of British students going abroad for their education, and how universities overseas are responding to the increase in demand. They quoted him as saying:

“Meanwhile, it has emerged that overseas universities are redoubling their efforts to recruit English students to their universities.

Paul Loftus, managing director of i-studentgroup, which helps universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, the US and New Zealand with their recruitment, said foreign universities were targeting the UK. “If overseas universities haven’t started lifting their recruitment efforts to try to get British students, they are now.”

Loftus said more British students than in the past were considering going abroad for university, in part because of higher fees. “Although the Australian dollar is strong, many British teenagers are enrolling on courses in Australia, Canada and New Zealand in particular.” ”

To see the full article, please click here.

For more information about studying abroad, please see the i-studentgroup website