NEW YORK, February 11, 2015—The Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative welcomes the Government of Ireland as a new Lead Signature Partner. Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. The Government of Ireland issued the following press release today announcing its Generation Study Abroad partnership and funding for incentive grants for U.S. student scholarships.
Irish Government Signs up as First Lead Partner for Major US Study Abroad Initiative
“This partnership is an investment in future global relationships, providing a unique opportunity to showcase our higher education system now ranked in the top twenty worldwide according to IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2014” – Minister Jan O’Sullivan, T.D.
DUBLIN, February 11, 2015—Ireland’s Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. along with the US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin F. O’Malley, today (11 February, 2015) announced that she has approved Education in Ireland to participate in Generation Study Abroad™, an initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE),which aims to double the US students studying abroad by the end of the decade.
Under the agreement, Minister O’Sullivan’s Department will provide $100,000 to IIE’s Generation Study Abroad fund which will see Ireland participating as a Lead Signature Partner. The majority of the funding will be used to provide incentive grants to colleges and universities from across the United States, which the institutions will match and award as student scholarships which will be known as Ireland-IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships.
Education in Ireland, represents all of Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology as well as a number of the country’s private higher education institutions. Its mission is to promote international study opportunities in Ireland’s higher education institutions.
Minister O’Sullivan intends to travel to the 2015 annual conference of NAFSA (Association of International Educators) which takes place in May in Boston, as Ireland is a platinum sponsor of this year’s Conference. NAFSA is the largest global event within international education. More than 10,000 international educators attend this conference annually from over 100 countries to discover emerging trends in international education and student mobility.
Participation as a lead signature partner in Generation Study Abroad will greatly enhance Ireland’s visibility and profile at this important annual international education event. Speaking today Minister O’Sullivan said “this partnership is an investment in future global relationships and will assist in ensuring that Ireland’s international profile and attractiveness is maintained by educating the next generation of US leaders, entrepreneurs and decision makers.
Our Education relationship with the US is particularly important to us We are in the top-ten destinations for American students and over the past ten years, we have had the honour of welcoming over 60,000 US students to study here”
According to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2014, Ireland is in the top-twenty worldwide for its higher education system.
Ireland is the ninth most popular study destination overall for U.S. students, according to the Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange, an annual survey conducted by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Joining the Minister, Kevin F. O’Malley, the US Ambassador to Ireland today said, “If we want to build a strong US-Irish partnership into the future we need young people to be as invested in our relationship as my generation was. This sponsorship by the Irish government is a wise down payment on our future ties. On behalf of the young Americans who will be transformed through this exchange opportunity I would like to thank the Minister for her support of this initiative.”
In addition to providing grants for scholarships to students, other commitments by Education in Ireland to Generation Study Abroad include providing sponsorship support for IIE’s Generation Study Abroad initiative and resources for students and educators, such as Study Abroad Funding, a free searchable database of scholarship and funding opportunities available at Study Abroad Funding, and IIE’s monthly Generation Study Abroad newsletter.
“Study abroad is no longer a luxury, but rather one of the most important components of a 21st-century education. Globalization brings with it the demand for a U.S. workforce with knowledge of other countries and cultures,” said Institute of International Education President and Chief Executive Officer Allan E. Goodman. “Education in Ireland will play an important role in encouraging students from a broad range of backgrounds to participate in study abroad in a country that provides strong academic programs, a global perspective, and easy access to other parts of Europe.” For detailed information about study opportunities offered by Ireland’s universities, including application information and a searchable directory of courses of study (by city and college), visit Education in Ireland’s website.
About Generation Study Abroad
Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing study abroad programs.
About Education in Ireland
The mission of Education in Ireland, a division of Enterprise Ireland, is to promote international study opportunities at Ireland’s higher education institutions. Education in Ireland represents all of Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology, as well as many of the country’s colleges
About the Institute of International Education (IIE)
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
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