IUA Press Release

Clearing Obstacles for Researchers to drive National Recovery through R&D

Jennifer Cleary, Seán Sherlock, T.D., Minister for Research & Innovation, Magda Wislocka and Westley Forsythe of the EURAXESS Ireland Office.

At a showcase of its services, Seán Sherlock, T.D., Minister for Research & Innovation, today commended the work of EURAXESS Ireland in helping to deliver on Government’s programme for National Recovery by promoting opportunities for researchers and facilitating them in either finding opportunities in Ireland or elsewhere in Europe.

Speaking at the Showcase co-hosted by its joint funders, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (DJEI) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA), Minister Sherlock said, “The availability of top quality people to deliver new knowledge and to turn it into goods, services and benefits for our citizens is essential”.

“The programme for National Recovery includes an important role for innovation and commercialisation. As a result of sustained national R&D investment, Ireland has built a strong science base, and has joined Finland, Germany and the US in the world’s top twenty countries for scientific output. In addition, two thirds of Ireland’s R&D is in the private sector, creating new product and service innovations that will drive exports, growth, and jobs”, the Minister added.

The attraction of highly skilled people to Irish Industry & academia is a key component of developing Ireland as an innovation leader.  A key initiative in helping to deliver on this objective is the Hosting Agreement scheme, also known as the Scientific Visa. The Hosting Agreement Scheme fast-tracks non-EU researchers’ immigration and also allows the researcher’s immediate family to live in Ireland for the agreement’s duration. The agreement also entitles the researcher’s spouse and dependents to apply for a work permit.

Ireland voluntarily signed up to this EU Commission directive in October 2007 and was one of the first Member States to implement it.  The scheme has been very successful and to date the EURAXESS Ireland office has processed over 1,000 Hosting Agreements for thirty accredited organisations, and 460 researchers (15 % of the total Irish researcher population).

“As companies engage more in research and innovation they should consider the services of the EURAXESS office, and the benefits of the Hosting Agreement Scheme, crucial in the recruitment of researchers”, said Minister Sherlock.

Giving the keynote speech at the Showcase, Stefaan Hermans, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate General Research and Innovation said, “For the past decade the Commission has made significant efforts to emphasise the importance of researcher mobility as part of career development. Our aim has been to create a single market for research and ease of researcher mobility is crucial to this”.   

To overcome obstacles facing researchers the European Commission established the EURAXESS Ireland office and portal in 2004. Part of a European Network the office is located at the IUA and is co-funded by the DEJI and the IUA. EURAXESS Ireland’s services and supports are available to companies, research organisations and higher education institutions.

The EURAXESS Ireland office, one of over 200 services centres across Europe, provides free advice and guidance to researchers and their families on administrative, working and cultural matters including immigration, residency and work permits, schooling, and other practical information to guide them before and upon their arrival in Ireland.

The EURAXESS.ie Portal is a one-stop shop for researchers seeking to advance their careers and personal development by moving to other countries, and for organisations in search of the best European talent. Part of a European network of thirty-seven national EURAXESS portals, it provides access to a complete range of information and support services for European and non-European.

EURAXESS.ie also hosts a job portal, which provides a free search facility that allows employers to identify potential research vacancy candidates and advertise their research vacancies. Uniquely, the Irish portal allows both the researcher and research organisations to create profiles that link when vacancies of mutual interest arise. There are now over 5,000 registered portal users who receive regular job and funding opportunities updates. Registered researchers can conduct a tailored search for available research positions and funding opportunities according to their disciplinary and professional experience.

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For further information please contact: 
Lia O’Sullivan, Communications Manager, Irish Universities Association, 6764948, lia.osullivan@iua.ie

Additional Information:

• EURAXESS Ireland was designated in 2004 by the Department of Enterprise to act as a hub for the Irish Researchers Mobility Network.
• The office was initially co-funded by the European Commission, the IUA, and the Dept. of Enterprise for a 3 year period. EU Commission funding ceased in 2007 but the EURAXESS office continues to function with financial commitment from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the IUA, thus ensuring the sustainability of the network in Ireland.
• Organistations accredited as part of the Hosting Agreement Scheme inlcude: all seven Irish universities, ten Institutes of Technology, eight other research institutions, and six private sector companies.
• The EURAXESS Ireland portal www.euraxess.ie
• The central EURAXESS portal http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess

Enterprise Ireland Press Release

Ministers Quinn and Bruton launch new International Brand for Education in Ireland

The Minister for Education and Skills Mr Ruairí Quinn T.D. and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. today (24/03/2011) jointly launched “Education in Ireland” – the new umbrella brand for marketing the Irish higher education and the English Language Sectors internationally. The new brand is one of the commitments in the Programme for a National Government 2011-2016.

The drive to promote Irish education abroad, which is led by Enterprise Ireland, aims to double the number of international students studying in Irish higher education institutes 2015. Around 26,000 international students currently undertake third level education in Ireland. The combined value of third level and English language international education in Ireland is estimated to be currently worth €900m to the Irish economy.

However, the strategic imperative to promote Irish education internationally goes deeper than immediate economic benefits such as increased spending by international students in our economy. The internationalisation of Irish education is seen as a critical element to support Ireland’s international trading relationships and export-led economy.

Speaking at the launch Minister Quinn said:

“Ireland’s education sector has many intrinsic strengths which give real, lasting value to our international students and that give us a competitive advantage in the international education market. But our success depends on the quality of our offer and our ability to tell our story internationally. The new brand is more than a logo. It represents our vision of Ireland as an internationally recognised world leader in the delivery of high-quality international education.”

Minister Bruton added:

“The Education in Ireland brand provides the vehicle to present a unique, high-quality Irish education experience to international students. The international students we educate today are the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs and decision makers in our partner countries. They will be the tomorrow’s advocates for Ireland and will make up a new network of Irish-educated alumni that can be of critical assistance in the future promotion of Ireland abroad.

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About the Education in Ireland Brand

The new brand comprises a new logo, tagline and key messages which will be disseminated to key audiences via an international communications strategy to be rolled out in Ireland’s key international education markets such as the USA, China, India and the Middle East.

The Education in Ireland offer is supported by a new tagline “World-class Standards, Warmest of Welcomes” to highlight the quality education offer as well as Ireland’s unique cultural personality.

A stylised shamrock as been selected as the new logo – designed to be distinctly Irish and also fit well with other similar Irish brands in international markets such as IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland etc.

The key messages attached to the brand highlight Ireland’s education offer and reinforce the wider messages about Ireland emanating from Enterprise Ireland, our Embassy network, the IDA and Tourism Ireland:

• Ireland is a friendly and safe country
• We are English-speaking
• We have internationally recognised qualifications and extensive choice of courses
• There is a supportive learning environment in Ireland for international students
• We have an innovative and creative culture
• We have many distinguished graduates
• Leading global companies have chosen to locate in Ireland.

The brand is supported by a planned programme of marketing and promotional events over the course of 2011 in key target markets including China, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and the USA.

International Education Strategy 2010-15

The International Education Strategy 2010-15 “Investing in Global Relationships” was launched in September, 2010 along with a new immigration regime for international students – reforming entry requirements but imposing safeguards to prevent abuse of the system.

The strategy set out a vision to enable Ireland to compete to the highest international standards and recruit talented students from overseas. The plan includes ten core actions to enhance the internationalisation of Ireland’s education sector, addressing areas such as quality, visas & immigration, competitiveness, promotion and networks of influence.

For further information contact:

Ciara O’Mahony, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland

+353 1 7272284 or + 353 87 2043435

Ciara.omahony@enterprise-ireland.com