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AT A FORUM for international students in Ireland last month a number of students raised the main issues they were facing while living in the country.
One student said she was attending college in Dublin but was commuting from Belfast three times a week as the rents in the city were too high.
Another student from an ethnic minority said he could not source accommodation and had to ask a white classmate to rent a place and sublet to him.
The problems raised underscored the issues being faced by international students studying at universities, colleges and language schools in Ireland – a large and ever-growing cohort.
Figures from the Higher Education Authority show that there were in the region of 18,220 international students enrolled in Irish universities, institutes of technology and colleges during the 2014/15 academic year.
As well as this there are tens of thousands of students studying in English language schools in the country.
The Government also has plans to expand and grow the number of international students significantly over the coming years.
However, those working closely with foreign students studying here are finding that Ireland’s accommodation crisis and a lack of funding for international offices at universities are making things very difficult for people coming here.
Domestic problems
According to Derrie Murray – programme officer with the Irish Council for International Students (who organised the forum with the Union of Students in Ireland last month) – the problems facing people coming here to study are numerous.
There are a lot of problems. Where do you start?
Accommodation costs have skyrocketed in the major Irish cities popular with international students – namely Cork, Dublin and Galway – as demand far outstrips supply (the issue isn’t as prominent elsewhere).
New purpose-built student accommodation is being developed at sites across the Dublin area, with hundreds of beds coming on-stream this September.
Most of these rooms are starting at €200-€250 per week. A price that is worrying students and representatives.
“I mean, it’s great to see purpose-built student accommodation coming into the market,” said Murray.
But these rooms are starting at €250 a week. And while that’s great for people who can afford it, many can’t.
Murray said that there was a popular misconception that international students had money to spend.
“International students are from varied background just the same as Irish students are from varied backgrounds,” said Murray.
“Some can afford accommodation with gyms and bowling alley and all rooms en suite but not everyone want or needs that,” he said.
Murray said that many of his colleagues at ICOS as well as from organisations said that the situation in Ireland around accommodation was the worst they had ever seen it.
Fraud
On top of this, research shows that Ireland is the worst European country for international students experiencing some sort of fraud.
According to European Commission-funded research by HousErasmus+ published earlier this year, 30% of international students said they experienced some sort of fraud while studying here – the highest level in Europe.
Three quarters of people surveyed who studied in Ireland said that they had found accommodation more expensive here than they had expected; while 12% on international students here said they had experienced discrimination.
Derrie Murray said that these problems are compounded by a lack of funding being given to the international offices in colleges and universities.
“The international offices in the universities need to more resources,” said Murray.
“I mean, picture it yourself, you’re coming from the States or Asia – you’ve never been to Ireland, you know nothing about the rental market, you need somebody in the college able to help you find accommodation,” he said.
It’s a matter of under-resourcing and that’s something that we really try to hammer home.
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“first time mum Zuri and experienced dad Kumar.”
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The mane thing is you explained the joke
That fact gives me pride. But I did paws briefly before explaining it.
Dang can’t think of any more. I’ll have to draw the lion here so…
Cub your enthusiasm!
So you’re feline proud Paul.
He is the King of the Journal ,after all !
Cuteness overload
Beautiful creatures . majestic
I’m sick to my teeth of hearing “I don’t agree with zoo’s, no animal should be caged”… In imagination land that’s a brilliant idea, all animals roaming free etc. Reality check, If it wasn’t for these “prisons” a lot of these animals would now be extinct. Case in point, Longleat in England started a conservation in the 1960′s with Africa for the rhino, can’t remember whether its the white or black one. Anyways, since they started the breeding and re-population programme, its now come off the endangered list. All because idiots think no 1 its some kinda of magic Viagra, and 2, a “lovely ornament”… So I’m a firm believer in zoo’s, well until we can sterilize these idiots so they can’t reproduce.
Well said babs
Babs, you’re talking out of your arse!
So cute. While I don’t like the idea of keeping wild animals in zoos, for reasons of safe keeping until we can stop poachers and hunters this is what we can provide. I am not saying all zoos are good. But some do their best.
Beautiful animal, would be even more so in it’s own habitat.
Without reverting to name calling and with all due respet to Dublin Zoo, the bottom line is that Zoos are an entertainment business, their financial product is the animals the house and the revenue those animals produce. Baby animals generate huge footfall resulting in huge revenue for zoos.
Animals retained in zoos are denied everything that makes their lives meaningful. Every part of their lives is controlled and manipulated. They have no choice in what or when they eat, whom they mate with, or whom they live with. They are housed in structures that are not even close to the rainforests, plains, and jungles that are their indigenous habitats.
Instead of providing lifetime care, zoos routinely trade, lend (i.e. chinese pandas are all on loan), sell, barter, and distribute animals they no longer want—despite knowing that many species form lasting bonds that are important to their long-term health and happiness. Removing animals from bonded social groups and forcing them to adjust constantly to new routines, different caretakers, and unfamiliar cagemates is disruptive and traumatic. Most animals go mad in captivity.
Zoos have ingeniously managed to tag the world “conservation” on to their product to gloss over the reality of their existence. Zoos do not save animals from extinction, they only breed them to replenish their stock. Another argument as to why a lot of animals cannot be reintroduced back into their natural habitat is because they no longer have a natural habitat due to world over-population which is increasing. So I agree with you on the sterization suggestion but as well as me, it should really include a few more humans in that.
I don’t mean to be ‘preachy’ but there is another side to zoos and I am entitled to my own opinion.
Please watch “Earthlings”, “Blackfish” and “The Ghosts in Our Machine”. It might be of further help to you.
As a fellow sentient being, the same as the fellow sentient beings held in zoos, ask youself this question, “Would I like to live my whole life like that?”.
On the ball
I don’t agree with Zoos.
Thankfully zoos can’t talk so it’s a one sided argument.
I didn’t know India had lions… I thought they were only found in Africa. Learnt something new today!
Should name the cub Gismo
have your say