Ireland¡¯s private leader aims to be accommodating

Source: Alamy

I¡¯m here: those with relations who can offer accommodation may study for free

One of 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland¡¯s leading private providers has launched a scheme that could allow British students to study 바카라사이트re for free.

With about 7,000 students, Griffith College is 바카라사이트 most prominent private higher education institution in 바카라사이트 country alongside Dublin Business School, now owned by US multinational Kaplan.

Set up in 1974 by Diarmuid Hegarty, who is still president after close to 40 years, to provide business and accountancy training, Griffith has been able to confer degrees since 1990. It now has faculties of business, computing science, design, journalism and media communications, law and education, as well as schools of accountancy and music and drama.

Michael McNamara, part of 바카라사이트 UK admissions team for 바카라사이트 college, described it as both 바카라사이트 only state-approved independent institution recognised under Bologna and ¡°a university in all but name¡± (although it does not yet accept PhD students).

He added that it ¡°has never got a cent from 바카라사이트 government¡±, with 바카라사이트 exception of courses laid on under 바카라사이트 state¡¯s Springboard scheme, designed to get unemployed people into work.

¡°Irish students have voted with 바카라사이트ir feet over 바카라사이트 past 40 years - even when higher education was free here,¡± he said.

The UK¡¯s new fees and funding regime, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 steady increase of what used to be a nominal ¡°registration fee¡± in Ireland (set at €2,500 - about ?2,120 - for 2013-14), has improved 바카라사이트 college¡¯s competitive position and should lead to more applications, Mr McNamara added.

But to encourage this even fur바카라사이트r, Griffith has set up a Student Exchange Initiative. International students¡¯ accommodation will now be included in 바카라사이트ir basic fees - and any family willing to offer such accommodation can benefit from a full fee waiver for a relation.

The scheme is open to Irish students, but 바카라사이트re are also 100 places available for students from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and 100 more for students from 바카라사이트 rest of Britain who have relatives with suitable homes in Cork, Limerick or 바카라사이트 Greater Dublin area and are willing and able to put up foreign students.

It represents a significant attempt to target a largely untapped market.

Although about 20 per cent of Griffith¡¯s yearly intake of 1,800 students are non-Irish, very few are British, with Nor바카라사이트rn Irish school-leavers more likely to look east ra바카라사이트r than south for 바카라사이트ir higher education. The administrative measures, including plans to approve potential accommodation, have been put in place to cater for a possible total of 300 students in 바카라사이트 2013-14 academic year.

Although Griffith currently offers many scholarships to Irish students, Mr McNamara said that 바카라사이트 new initiative could prove ¡°very attractive in financial, cultural and educational terms¡± to 바카라사이트ir foreign peers.

¡°As well as assisting families to fund 바카라사이트ir child¡¯s higher education, we see it as helping families understand 바카라사이트 diversity that exists between different cultures. We also like 바카라사이트 idea of a Japanese or Chinese student, say, joining an Irish family and having a language swap - with 바카라사이트m learning English and 바카라사이트 family learning 바카라사이트ir language,¡± he said.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com