November 14th, 2011: Irish Students Attending US Colleges Up 8% since 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Irish Students Attending US Colleges Up 8% since 2007
Ireland one of the Top Ten Leading Destinations for US Study Abroad Students
Dublin, November 14, 2011 — Despite increased competition for US college entry, the number of Irish students attending US colleges is up 8% since 2007[i], a rise that may only continue in the face of Irish government’s proposed cuts to post-graduate study. Marking International Education Week 2011, latest figures from Open Doors 2011, the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, show the number of Irish students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education in 2010/11 have continued to remain steady with only a slight decline of 3.7%[ii] from 2009/10 to 2010/11 academic years.
Commenting on the figures, Ms Colleen Dube, Executive Director, Ireland-United States (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange said: “With numbers down significantly in countries across Europe, we are heartened to see only a slight fall off on Ireland’s figures from last year. This highlights the continued interest in and motivation of Irish students to pursue studies and research in some of the top universities in the US. Irish students have not only been successful in getting admitted to top US institutions but in securing significant financial aid to support their studies. In light of the Irish government’s proposed cuts to the post-graduate study, the US may become an even more attractive option for Irish students.
“In contrast to the 17.9% drop in the number of students carrying out full-time undergraduate courses in the US since 2007, the number of Irish students on non-degree / exchange programs in the US from Irish Higher Education institutions is up a sensational 115%. This demonstrates the continued commitment of Irish institutions in providing students with the option to study abroad in the US, and the successful relationships that have been built with US higher education institutions, to increase the number of exchange programs on offer.
“Ireland’s unique cultural offerings and excellent academic reputation continues to draw international students as we remain one of the top ten destinations in the world for US study abroad students with 6,798 studying here in the 2009/10 academic year,” Ms. Dube concluded.
The Ireland-United Stated (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange runs the Fulbright Program which annually offers post-graduate students, scholars and professionals funding to study, lecture or research in the US. This year’s Fulbright awards competition for 2012-2013 closes on Friday 18th November at midday. Visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.
The Ireland-United Stated (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange also operates EducationUSA which is Ireland’s primary and official source of information on educational opportunities in the US. The Advisory service is part of the EducationUSA network, comprising over 450 US educational advising centres worldwide.
ENDS
Note to Editor:
Open Doors
The Open Doors report is published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States. IIE has conducted an annual statistical survey of the international students in the United States since 1919, with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since the early 1970s. The census is based on a survey of approximately 3,000 accredited U.S. institutions which host international students. Open Doors also reports on surveys on international scholars at U.S. universities; international students enrolled in pre-academic Intensive English Programs; and on U.S. students studying abroad (since 1985). A full press kit and further details on the Open Doors 2011 surveys and their findings can be accessed on www.iie.org/opendoors, and the full 120 page report can be ordered for $64.95 from IIE Books at www.iiebooks.org.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State manages a wide range of academic, professional, youth, sports, and cultural exchanges that include approximately 40,000 participants annually, with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. These include, among others, the Fulbright Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, and the International Visitor Leadership Program. ECA also manages the EducationUSA network of over 400 advising offices worldwide (http://educationusa.state.gov/) for students who wish to study in the United States. For more information on the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange activities, visit www.exchanges.state.gov.
International Education Week 2011
International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
The Ireland-United Stated (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation sponsored by Senator J. William Fulbright whose vision was to build an alternative to armed conflict by providing a structured network for dialogue and exchange between individuals and cultures.The Fulbright Program was established in Ireland in 1957 and was initially administered by An Bord Scoiláireachtaí Cómhalairte (the Scholarship Exchange Board). A bilateral agreement between Ireland and the United States was signed in 1988 and a statutory public body, The Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission) was established in 1992. The Fulbright Commission is an Irish public body and registered charity and is supported by the US Department of State and the Department of Foreign Affairs to operate this educational exchange program between Ireland and the United States. Annually, the Commission awards scholarships for Irish citizens to study and research in the United States and for US citizens to study and research in Ireland. Since that time more than 1,600 Irish postgraduate students, academics and professionals have studied in top US colleges and research institutes and more than 650 US students and scholars have come to Ireland. Visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.
| Year | Number of Students |
| 2006-2007 academic year | 1,081 |
| 2010-2011 academic year | 1,167 |
| % Change (2007-2011) | +8.0% |
| Place of Origin | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | % Change |
| Ireland | 1,212 | 1,167 | -3.7 |