FGs TEFL proposal to row us out of recession

Laminations

Fine Gael has unveiled its plans to generate 6,000 jobs by making the country a magnet for foreign students.
Fast-track visas in key markets, scholarships for Asian students and additional English language courses are among the party's proposals for doubling Ireland's share of the lucrative international education sector.
Education spokesman Brian Hayes said an extra 900 million euro could be pumped into the economy as a result of the five-year road map.
"In comparison to other English-speaking countries Ireland has not capitalised fully, with our market share estimated to be a disappointing 1% of the global international education market," Mr Hayes said.
"Increasing our market share would have huge benefits, not only in terms of revenue but also in relation to the creation of jobs."
There are currently 40,000 non-European students in Ireland, with around 15 local jobs created for every 100 pupils. The sector generates an estimated 900 million euro annually - 400 million euro from higher education and 500 million euro from the English language sector.
Fine Gael's International Horizons plan suggests the setting up of a special international education office and the automatic issuing of green cards to PhD graduates in the science, engineering and technology sectors.
The party also pledged to make the country a specialised centre of excellence for English language teacher training.
"The international education sector offers real benefits for the economy and for society," Fine Gael Immigration & Integration spokesman Denis Naughten said.
"A thriving international education sector will also inject resources into the third level sector at a time when the primary source of funding - the Irish State - is under severe fiscal pressure. It will improve the standard of education for Irish students and will stimulate other sectors such as the tourism industry."

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I think its a good idea (at least its an idea) and I'm amazed we only have 1% of the global international education market, being lauded as a great place to study english.

Sulmac

The official policy document can be found here.

It's not just a TEFL proposal, but rather all third/higher level education.

At first glance it seems like a good idea, and (as you mentioned) at least they're giving us ideas and proposals, unlike the current crowd.

That said, it's obviously not a "fix all" to the recession, but at this stage every little helps.

ei.sdraob

Sulmac wrote: »

The official policy document can be found here.

It's not just a TEFL proposal, but rather all third/higher level education.

At first glance it seems like a good idea, and (as you mentioned) at least they're giving us ideas and proposals, unlike the current crowd.

That said, it's obviously not a "fix all" to the recession, but at this stage every little helps.

I agree its a good idea

also with immigration decreasing we now have immigrations officers (and infrastructure) who have a lot less work to do

danman

I like this idea.

It seems like a fairly simple policy to impliment

silverharp

not to mention all the zombie hotels that could be converted to student res

ei.sdraob

Silverharp2 wrote: »

not to mention all the zombie hotels that could be converted to student res

put them in the empties in Leitrim they'll learn the language in no time

Liam Byrne

Will they be able to afford to stay here, though ?

Because no amount of incentives will work if the cost of living and basic essential services doesn't go down and stay down.

Eliot Rosewater

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Because no amount of incentives will work if the cost of living and basic essential services doesn't go down and stay down.

Indeed, and this brings us to the central problem with these proposals: the minuscule scope. The problems facing Ireland and its economy are fundamental and are not going to be fixed in the long run by a fast track visa program and a number of other small incentive schemes. What is needed is a radical revaluation of the countries economy. In this regard, our ever-increasing lack of competitiveness in the international arena is the most pressing issue here. The damage inflicted by unsustainable government and economic expansion, led by the short-term thinking epitomized in social-partnership, must be undone.

Of course to do so would mean, first and foremost, tackling the Unions. It would mean reducing social welfare and the public sector wage bill to sustainable levels. This would involve huge cuts. But no party in Ireland has the moral courage to do this.

Liam Byrne

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Of course to do so would mean, first and foremost, tackling the Unions. It would mean reducing social welfare and the public sector wage bill to sustainable levels. This would involve huge cuts. But no party in Ireland has the moral courage to do this.

True, but it would equally involve providing alternatives to the so-called "green taxes" (making them avoidable by doing the right thing), the ill-thought-out "pro-competition" increases in electricity, telco and broadband charges, proper regulation of insurance and related services which are screwing disposable income due to THEIR bad investments, and also ridding ourselves of the jobs-for-the-boys quangos and other ridiculous payoffs for those who rub shoulders with the right people.

declan06

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Of course to do so would mean, first and foremost, tackling the Unions. It would mean reducing social welfare and the public sector wage bill to sustainable levels. This would involve huge cuts. But no party in Ireland has the moral courage to do this.

How about cutting social welfare costs by getting people back to work? I think tackling unemployment would do a lot towards fixing the economy.

Sulmac

Interesting article in the Irish Times on international students (after the main story on these proposals):

Poor State co-ordination is stifling key sector

FG’s policy document exposes our miserable performance in winning foreign students, writes Seán Flynn.

IRELAND HAS many built-in advantages in the hunt for its share of the multibillion-euro foreign student market. As an English-speaking, neutral country with a strong literary tradition, “Ireland of the Welcomes” should be well placed to compete.

But Fine Gael was being gracious yesterday when it described Ireland’s performance as “disappointing”.

Within the education sector, many are less polite. Some complain that Ireland is not even on the radar for many potential students – especially in Asia. Others complain about the lack of a co-ordinated approach between Government agencies.

The potential is vast. It’s estimated that each foreign student will spend about €26,000 per year in their host country. And every 100 students will help to sustain 15 local jobs.

International students are worth some €12 billion to the British economy and account for 8 per cent of New Zealand’s foreign earnings.

But Ireland is playing catch-up. The total revenue generated by the higher education sector from foreign students is just €400 million annually. And numbers are in decline: between 2007 and 2008, student applications from India – a key growth market – were down by over 40 per cent.

The most pressing difficulty is the long delay in visa applications. A Chinese student can expect to wait a month for a visa; in Britain the process can be completed within 48 hours.

Fine Gael hopes its new fast-track visa system will address this issue.

But the key to a new approach is better co-ordination between the State agencies. At present, responsibility is dispersed between the departments of Education and Justice, Fáilte Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

There is also little focused marketing of the higher education sector. The universities and the institutes of technology market their own areas. But there is no one State agency charged with spreading the very good news that Ireland has two universities (Trinity and UCD) ranked in the world’s top 100.

Fine Gael sees its new international education office as a “one-stop shop” that will deliver a more co-ordinated approach.

This kind of strategy will be welcomed by many in the sector who have grown tired of the various “turf wars” that have undermined Ireland’s potential in this sector.

Last summer, the Farmleigh economic summit also identified the strong potential of our international education sector.

The Government hopes to publish its own proposals shortly. Many of the proposals tabled yesterday by Fine Gael are likely to form part of the Government’s new approach.

© 2010 The Irish Times