Sun Mar 23 01:57:27 UTC 2025: ## Ireland Seeks to Boost Educational Ties with India, Focusing on Joint Degree Programs
**Chennai, March 23, 2025** – Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, is in India to strengthen educational collaborations between the two countries. During a visit to Chennai, Lawless highlighted the significant number of Indian students in Ireland, representing the largest non-EU student population. He emphasized the valuable contributions Indian graduates have made, particularly in IT and healthcare.
Lawless met with Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister and visited IIT Madras, praising the institute’s innovative research. He announced plans for increased collaboration, including joint undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. These programs would allow students to split their studies between Indian and Irish universities, potentially spending two years in each country. The Minister noted the strong Irish economy and high demand for graduates in fields like engineering, STEM, and healthcare, leading to readily available employment opportunities for international students.
Ireland’s appeal to Indian students, Lawless explained, stems from factors such as its strong economy, shared time zone with GMT, proximity to the UK and US, and access to the EU. He also pointed to the availability of post-study work visas and potential pathways to permanent residency. Specific research collaborations are being explored in niche areas such as renewable energy and oceanography, leveraging Ireland’s Atlantic coastline and IIT Madras’ expertise. Several Irish universities already boast a large number of Indian students, including Trinity College Dublin, University College Galway, University of Limerick, and University College Cork. The initiative aims to further cement the already substantial €16 billion trade exchange between India and Ireland.
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