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“At a time when countries begin to look inward, I hope this strategy sends a clear message of Ireland’s commitment to continue to be a global, diverse society and for some a beacon of hope and educational opportunity. 

“We want to attract the best generation of international learners, researchers and innovators to Ireland.    

“That brings significant benefits for our economy but also our society. It helps us address the skills needs we have but also helps open opportunities through diversifying our education communities.”  

Global Citizens 2030 is underpinned by six core pillars. Among the core objectives are: 

• To harness Ireland’s offer to prospective students and researchers as a native English-speaking society, an advanced economy, a committed member of the European Union and a high quality multi-cultural, diverse, inclusive and culturally rich learning and research experience; to attract the highest quality students and researchers to our shores.  
• To launch a new International Education Mark, an initiative which sends a clear message to our international audience and prospective students of the quality of Irish education institutions.  
• To continue supporting the Erasmus+ and other mobility programmes, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups as outlined in the National Access Plan, including learners who cannot undertake physical travel.  
• To further the unique role that education and research have played in building the friendships, co-operation and strategic relationships that underpin all-island collaboration in many areas to enable increased student mobility on a North-South basis, but also between Ireland and the wider UK.  
• To deploy Talent and Innovation Attachés across the globe, dedicated to the co-ordination and prioritisation of our global talent and innovation activities. 

“As part of Global Ireland we will deploy Talent and Innovation Attachés in key locations across the world to help deliver this ambition.  

“However, this strategy is about more than just attracting international students to Ireland. It is also about partnering with industry to recruit hundreds of high calibre PhD students to tackle national and global challenges like climate change, pandemics, water poverty and cyber-security.   

“It is about giving Irish educated learners the opportunities to become global citizens. The European University initiative, for example, enables seamless mobility – physical, virtual or blended – for learners, researchers and innovators to develop their international competencies.  

“And it is about further developing the education and research that plays a unique role in building the friendships, co-operation and strategic relationships underpinning cross-border collaboration.  

“I am excited about this strategy and I am keen to work with our many stakeholders to make it a reality.”

NOTES

These pillars are supported by seven flagship initiatives:  

• Increasing the global Talent and Innovation footprint as part of Team Ireland, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will develop a physical presence in six Ireland House locations by 2030, using an appropriate mix of Talent and Innovation Attachés, local team support, strategic relationships and partnerships with Irish and international organisations operating in these regions. 
• The International Education Mark (IEM) is a statutory quality mark that is intended to represent and promote public confidence in the quality of Irish providers delivering programmes of education to international learners. Institutions authorised to use the IEM are providers that can be trusted to deliver a quality educational experience. 
• European Universities are networks of universities in Europe which aim to boost the excellence dimension of higher education, research and innovation, while promoting gender equality, inclusiveness, and equity. It also allows for seamless and ambitious transnational cooperation between higher education institutions. Eleven Irish Universities are participating in various European University Alliances. Recognising its strategic importance, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will further support continued and deeper engagement with this initiative. 
• Innovate for Ireland is an ambitious partnership between industry and Government which will attract hundreds of high calibre PhD students to undertake research and innovation in Ireland. It will foster a global perspective to tackle national and global grand challenges such as climate change and climate adaptation; global health and pandemics; water poverty; digital society; cyber-security and others. 
• The EU Presidency will place the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, along with the Department of Education, in a central co-ordinating role on the education and research elements of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in 2026, including the negotiations on key policy instruments such as Erasmus +, Horizon Europe and European Social Fund +. Furthermore, in line with its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy, the Department will work with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Léargas to develop strategies to address the affordability of Erasmus + mobilities and encourage greater participation from underrepresented groups. 
• Mindful of the substantial progress made in collaboration with the Shared Ireland Unit in the Department of Taoiseach on North-South research programme, as well as the investment in new Teaching Block in University of Ulster Magee Campus, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will engage work with the Department of Education in London to examine the feasibility of Shared Island Mobility and Exchanges (between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain), based on an inclusive exchange programme for learners, staff, researchers and innovators of institutions in Ireland and the UK. 
• In seeking to become Internationally Recognised Thought Leaders in Talent and Innovation Policy, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will build on the recently established civil service research network and develop a research programme for talent and innovation policy challenges in small advanced economies. A new Research and Innovation Agency which is being created through a landmark Research and Innovation Bill 2023, will further evidence Ireland’s commitment in this regard.