Last 18 to 22 September, Shivali Mehendale, our Director for Institutional Partnerships South Asia, visited our institution partners in Ireland and the UK to show GSP’s commitment to follow-through on international students’ well-being as they study and live abroad.
Together with Lew Wernick, Director for the UK and Ireland, she explored 11 of Ireland’s highly ranked educational institutions, including the University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, National College of Ireland, University College Cork, University of Limerick, University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Technological University of Shannon (TUS), Griffith College, South East Technological University (SETU) and Dublin Business School.
During her trip, Shivali met with one of her accomplished students, Purav Shah, who recently completed his MSc in Pharmaceuticals (Research) at Trinity College Dublin. Purav shared his inspiring experience as an international student and talked about how Ireland’s culturally diverse and welcoming environment exposed international students like himself to a wide range of new learnings, perspectives and value-adding experiences. Shivali highlighted the substantial increase in the number of Indian students choosing the region: “It’s fascinating to see the significant growth in the number of Indian students in Ireland over the past decade”.
Recent data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that the academic year of 2022-2023 has seen a record number of international students with 35,140 international enrolments in higher education, which is around one in seven students or 13.7% of the student population in Ireland.
This trip not only emphasised the appeal of Ireland’s universities but also revealed the numerous opportunities it offers to aspiring international students from around the world. Ireland’s high-quality education proves that it’s one of the top destinations for students worldwide. “These key factors make Ireland a compelling destination for students”, Shivali remarked.
Other than the significant increase of international students, Shivali also noted the economic and cultural parallels between Ireland and the UK, as well as Ireland’s standing as the largest English-speaking country in the EU, which makes it attractive to international students seeking post-education opportunities and enables smoother integration and easier communication for international students.
At their stop in London, Shivali engaged in informative and enjoyable explorations of the city’s iconic landmarks and educational institutions. Her experiences, from traveling in a foreign country to experiencing public transportation (like the train from Heathrow Airport to Liverpool), offered an eye-opening perspective on the international student experience. She also explored famous London landmarks, including the Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, getting a glimpse of the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
The UK is named one of the world’s most multicultural cities and is home to more than 127,000 international students. During their visit, Shivali and Lew also stopped by three institutions: London Metropolitan University, London South Bank University, and Greenwich University. Their interactions with university representatives laid the foundation for potential collaborations and provided insights to educational opportunities available for international students in London.
With Ireland and UK’s growing significance in global education, GSP is committed to connecting international students with quality education and career opportunities and providing tailored support and guidance. By acknowledging the individual aspirations and challenges of each student, GSP ensures that the educational experience is not just informative but transformative, preparing them for a successful future.
For more information on partnering with GSP and to explore these options, feel free to check out our GSP platform and don’t hesitate to reach out to our Business Development Managers for more information.
