Student exchange deal agreed with Indian universities

Irish students will be able to study in some of India’s top universities under a series of agreements signed in the Asian country today.

As part of the largest ever Irish trade delegation to India, three bilateral college agreements were signed which will pave the way for student exchanges, joint research activities and the development of joint programmes.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin said the agreements would provide cultural, commercial and economic benefits and strengthen relations between Ireland and India.

“Developing educational linkages with India is an important gateway for deepening the wider cultural, political and economic ties between our two countries,” she said.

The trade mission is part of the Government’s ‘Asia Strategy’ targeting trade opportunities in countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“That strategy and this mission, reflects Ireland’s recognition of the growing political and economic importance of India in global terms,” Ms Hanafin said.

The agreements were signed between the University College Dublin (UCD) Smurfit School of Business and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore (IIM-B); Trinity College Dublin and the National Centre for Biological Science; and the Dublin Business School and T. John College.

Representatives of 16 Irish universities, institutes of technology and independent colleges were present at the meeting in Bangalore, as were senior academics from 15 leading Indian institutions.

The Education Department is anticipating seven bilateral co-operation agreements will be signed between Irish and Indian colleges over the course of the week-long visit to India.

UCD said the agreement would enable MBA students and faculty staff from each country to spend time in the other country’s institute.

Each year around 175,000 Indian candidates take the entrance exams for the 1,250 MBA places in the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore (IIM-B), making it the most difficult postgraduate business school in the world to enter.

Professor Tom Begley, Dean of UCD Business Schools, said: “Bangalore offers our MBA students a unique opportunity to study and live in one of the most exciting and vibrant economies in the world.

“It is the Indian city which best matches the Irish economy in terms of its recent growth, particular in the technology sector.”

Professor Begley said getting the chance to study at the IIM in Bangalore was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ms Hanafin said: “The rapid development of the Indian economy has resulted in a new demand for a full spectrum of products and services. This offers many potential business opportunities for Irish companies.”

A representative of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) will establish a base in India later this year to advise Indian students interested in participating in an exchange in the Irish college.

Dr John Hegarty, the Provost of TCD, said: “Trinity hopes to build new bridges with modern India as we have complementary interests in scholarship, education and research. This initiative, which we will launch this summer, will see a formal point of presence from the university to provide an information point for prospective students, to establish and continue alumni linkage and to raise the profile of Trinity in India.

“Trinity has established 65 research PhD studentships, made available on a competitive basis, which facilitate students globally in attending and studying in the college.”

Dr Hegarty said the awards provide full tuition costs and a stipend for the recipient.

“We hope to see increased applications for these awards from Indian students wishing to study in Ireland,” he said.

The college is planning to sign two agreements for science co-operation during the trip including the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore and with the TATA Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.

The minister is due to hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Shri Arjun Singh later this week. She will also visit leading Indian education institutions during the course of her visit to Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.

The trade mission, headed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, includes three Cabinet Ministers and over 120 business leaders from north and south.