PRESS RELEASE: Irish Council for International Students calls for more action to be taken on international student issues
PRESS RELEASE: Irish Council for International Students calls for more action to be taken on international student issues
The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) will mark International Students’ Day on 17 November by hosting a webinar which will focus on the experiences of international students, most notably the impact which COVID-19 has had on their time in Ireland. The webinar also comes at an important moment in the history of ICOS as this year the organisation celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Laura Harmon, ICOS Executive Director says: ‘ICOS is proud to celebrate 50 years providing support and guidance to international students in Ireland, and we look forward to continuing to build upon our work over the coming years. Unfortunately, 2020 has been a very difficult year for everyone, and international students are no exception. We want to shine a light on the most pressing issues facing international students including insurance costs, the need for immigration reform, regulation for the delivery of online courses and the need for the introduction of an international education mark to ensure courses meet a high standard.’
ICOS acknowledges the supports which English language schools, higher education institutes and government have put in place for students, but equally we believe that more action is required to support international students in the coming months on key issues including:
- Insurance for international students – in October 2020 the cost of insurance for international students living in Ireland for more than 1 year increased by more than 400% which ICOS feels is completely unfair
- Immigration reform – recently the immigration system has been overwhelmed by the demand for its services, yet the long-term problems it faces pre-date the outbreak of COVID-19, and there is an urgent need for government investment and complete review of the immigration system in Ireland
- Implementation of regulations for delivery of online classes –there are currently no regulations in place to ensure that English language schools and higher education providers are offering quality classes, and to protect international students’ rights
- Introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM) – under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Amendment Act 2019, the IEM will establish tighter regulations for education providers and improve standards in international education sector.
ENDS