Press release
Over 200 students from around the world awarded Irish Aid Fellowships
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
Over 200 students from Irish Aid partner countries will take up positions in third level institutions all over Ireland next month as part of the Ireland Fellows Programme.
A total of 234 fellowships have been awarded. The 2023 Fellows are from a diverse range of places, including 21 countries in the continent of Africa; the Occupied Palestinian Territories; Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; and Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean, Pacific, Africa and Asia.
The awards allow high-potential professionals to undertake a Master’s-level qualification at a University or Institute of Technology in Ireland in programmes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders, develop partner countries’ capacity to achieve the SDGs, and build positive relationships with Ireland.
They will begin their studies in third level institutions across Ireland this September for the 2023/24 academic year. This year’s Ireland Fellowship Programme intake also includes three students from Vietnam who will study in Ireland for one year as part of their PhD programme.
Announcing the awards, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:
"The Ireland Fellows Programme has given thousands of people from our partner countries the opportunity to study in Ireland to gain skills and qualifications that can be put into practical use back in their home country. This is one of Irish Aid’s most longstanding programmes. Graduates have gone on to make significant contributions across a range of important areas. This is a very impactful programme and we are proud that Ireland, through its excellent third level institutions, can help to deliver long-term change."
Minister for Overseas Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming, said:
"The Fellows who will come to Ireland are an incredibly talented group of people. I am delighted to be able to host them in Ireland during their Master’s programmes. Education is vital for a country’s development and the knowledge the Fellows gain from Irish third level institutions is invaluable. The bonds and friendships they build in Ireland are an integral part of the Programme. Their experiences here ensure they join the greater Irish family and help to build knowledge and understanding of Ireland around the world."
The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes gender equality, equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity. Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).