In an exclusive interaction with ETEducation, Ireland’s Ambassador to India Kevin Kelly emphasised that the next phase of India–Ireland higher education ties will move beyond student mobility to deeper institutional collaborations, including the possibility of Irish universities establishing campuses in India to meet the country’s growing demand for quality higher education. Excerpts:
Q. How do you see India–Ireland higher education ties evolving in the next five years?
Ireland’s Ambassador: There’s such potential. We are at a very exciting time in terms of partnership, not just in education but across a range of sectors. The next phase will not just be about attracting Indian students to Ireland, but also about deeper collaborations, stronger linkages between universities, and over time looking at Irish universities setting up campuses in India.
Q. Is Ireland encouraging its universities to explore opportunities in India?
Ireland’s Ambassador: Yes, I’m actively encouraging Irish universities to look at India and the opportunities here. The demand and appetite for education in India is huge. While students will always travel abroad for international exposure, it makes complete sense to also explore a presence here and develop institutional collaborations in the long term.
Q. How important are institutional collaborations and research partnerships going forward?
Ireland’s Ambassador: They will be central. We want deeper academic relationships, stronger research linkages, and long-term partnerships between higher education institutions. This is about moving beyond student mobility to a more comprehensive engagement between universities in both countries.
Q. Will student mobility still remain a key pillar of India–Ireland education ties?
Ireland’s Ambassador: Absolutely. Student mobility will continue to be important. We have seen strong interest from Indian students in Irish institutions, and that will remain a key part of the relationship even as collaborations and partnerships expand.
Q. What role do Indian students and diaspora connections play in this partnership?
Ireland’s Ambassador: They are extremely important. Indian students are now the largest international cohort in Ireland, and the Indian diaspora plays a significant role in strengthening people-to-people and institutional links. These connections support long-term academic and research engagement between the two countries.
Q. How does Ireland’s higher education ecosystem support such collaborations?
Ireland’s Ambassador: One of Ireland’s strengths is the close integration between higher education institutions, industry, and government. This creates a strong ecosystem for innovation, research partnerships, and employability, which can be leveraged for deeper collaboration with Indian universities across technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and other emerging fields.>
