04/08/2005

International students welcomed to province

Over 70 students from 40 different countries were welcomed to Northern Ireland during a reception at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday.

The reception, hosted by Will Haire, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning, honoured students taking part in the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) Programme.

The Programme will involve some 80 overseas students, all in scientific and technical disciplines, undertaking work placements for a 10 week period during the summer in Northern Ireland. A similar number of students from Northern Ireland are on placements in almost 40 countries worldwide.

Outlining his Department's role in the Programme, Mr Haire said: "We are very keen to provide international students coming to Northern Ireland with the opportunity to gain an insight into education, industry, research and the community on this island.

"Our two Universities play an excellent role in this area. Queen's University sends and receives more students than any other single institution worldwide, whilst the University of Ulster, who joined the Programme in 1996, continues annually to increase their level of participation.

"The continued support of our Universities helps contribute to this Programme's success."

The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) is a world-wide organisation encompassing 80 countries, which provides students in higher education with course-related, practical experience in another country.

Since it was founded in 1948, it has accommodated over 300,000 exchanges.

Northern Ireland sends and receives around 50% of the UK's participating students.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 August 2001
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
27 July 2004
Overseas students arrive in NI
Around 70 overseas students have arrived in Northern Ireland as part of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) Programme.
20 August 2015
Rise In Number Of GCSE Students Achieving A*- C Grades
There has been a significant increase in the number of GCSE students achieving the A*- C grades. The proportion of entries awarded A* - C grades has risen by 0.7% this year to 78.7% Education Minister, John O'Dowd, congratulated the students and said they should be proud of all their hard work.
19 July 2004
Queen's welcomes overseas students
More than 50 overseas students arrived in Belfast at the weekend to take part in a three-week International Summer School at Queen's University. Now in its fourth year, the Summer School programme, entitled 'Ireland: Northern Perspectives', runs from 19 July to 6 August, and is coordinated by the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen's.
17 December 2024
NI Students Urged To Apply For Study USA Programme
Further Education (FE) students across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to take advantage of a life-changing opportunity by applying for Study USA, a prestigious US scholarship programme.