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25/OCT ‐ 25/NOV 2012 ‐ ED 5

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Education deal President

Michael D. Higgins’ trip to South America

Ireland’s largest UniversityUCD Cam

pus!

Time to visit Colombia?

Special!

Education deal President

Michael D. Higgins’ trip to South America

Limeric

k City

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The bustling city

on the bank of

the Shannon.

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F ORMING GLOBAL MINDS

Top 1% world university∗ Ireland�s largest and most international university M ore than 5,000 international students from

122 countries 2 5% international staff L ocated in Dublin, Ireland�s capital *QS World University Rankings 2012

Programmes start on January 14th, 2013.

For more information or to make an enquiry, visit www.ucd.ie/isc or call a Student Enrolment

Advisor on +44 (0)1273 339333.

UCD International Study Centre, 19-20 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland www.ucd.ie/isc

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EDITOR’S WORDEDITOR’S WORD

With the clocks going back and the dark evenings creeping in, the new college year is now in full swing. This month’s edi t ion of Yeah! Magazine is packed with articles and features to keep you entertained. So why not sit back and relax and have a good read.

The October/November Issue has a strong Latin American flavour as Peter O’Neill reports on the Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello’s trade mission to Brazil, which coincided with President Michael D. Higgins visit to the country. As part of the mission an agreement has been reached that will see 4,000 undergraduate Brazilian students coming to study in Ireland over the next four years. Tony Phillips talks to President Higgins in Buenos Aires as he travels around Argentina as part of his South American tour.

Continuing on the Latin American theme Chris O’Connel l in terv iews Giovanni Anzola f rom Universidad de la Salle, in Columbia, about a new campaign aimed at challenging negative stereotypes about the country and attracting more students to study there. A similar initiative is also under way to increase tourism to the country.

If you’ve only recently arrived in Ireland to study, make sure to check out the Top Tips for International Students. There is advice on opening a bank account, getting yourself sorted with a mobile phone, making the best of student discounts, and other useful tips to help make settling into student life here bit easier. For those students planning to stay on in Ireland after their studies, Chris O’Connell looks at the opportunities for overseas students to find work or start their own business here.

This months Postcard gives you a taste of Limerick City. This modern city with it’s thriving cultural, arts, and sporting scene, as well as friendly locals and lively entertainment, makes for a great weekend destination.

Plus we’ve got loads of other great features including on the Dublin Community Growers’ Harvest Festival, Eco-fashion, University College Dublin Campus, as well as all our regulars.

Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTORS Peter O'NeillTony PhillipsGeovani AnzolaJose SierraMiren MaialenSilvia BernalSergio AnguloKatyluz GarciaMichelle FarleyRobert MossLorraine Woods UCD International OfficeFáilte Ireland Presidency Press Office Piotr Kadziolka

All the contents of Yeah! Magazine are only for general information and/or use. Such contents do not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) any decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries in any p a r t o f t h e m a g a z i n e i s / a r e t h e p e r s o n a l o p i n i o n o f s u c h experts/consultants/persons and are not subscribed to by Yeah! Magazine.

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EDITORIALEditor Lydia Bigley

Sub‐editors Committee Ishmael MwendaChris O'ConnellRichard Gibney Ian Callagy

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WEB & BLOGRaffael Abarca

EVENTS [email protected] YEAH! MAGAZINE DIRECTORRaffael Abarca+353 0 [email protected]

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Kenia Mara

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Lydia BigleyEditor

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EDITION # 5

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2 Yeah! International Student Magazine

4 Yeah! From Brazil & Argentina, covering theIrish President’s visit

In Focus 8 Dublin Community Growers Festival

16 PostCardLimerick City

Yeah! Pop Box21

Student opinions

Colombian Universities13

19 In focus Remembering Che'

24 CareersDoing bussiness in Ireland

28 Top Tips for International Students in Ireland

14 CampusUniversity College Dublin

23 Entertainment.A variety of talent at the Jam Club

Bit of Craic 30

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Colombia Challenges

Preconceptions

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At least 5500 under‐g r a d u a t e B r a z i l i a n students will study in

Ireland over the next four years, pumping into the island's economy, about €34 million.The agreement, signed by trade and development minister Joe Costello, marked the beginning of a new relationship between colleges and universities of the two states.

C o s t e l l o w a s l e a d i n g a n E nte r p r i s e I re l a n d Tra d e M i s s i o n t o B r a z i l w h i c h co inc ided with Pres ident Michael D. Higgins' visit to the South American country.President Higgins joined them in São Paulo for the signing ceremony.

Signing the agreement, Costello said the deal would see a significant increase in the number of Brazilian students studying in Ireland.

“Ireland currently hosts just 100 third‐level Brazilian students a

year so this w i l l b e a t r u l y substantial i n c re a s e ,” C o s t e l l o said.

The agreement — part of Braz i l ' s Sc ience Without Borders programme — aims to send 100 000 Brazilian students on undergraduate and PhDs courses to study in s c i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , engineering, mathematics and creative industries at top universities around the world. Marina Donohoe, head of e d u cat i o n at E nte r p r i s e Ireland, said at the signing ceremony, the agreement w o u l d “ h e l p d r i v e collaboration and growth in re s e a rc h , a ca d e m i c a n d student exchange between Ireland and Brazil.”

She said the deal w o u l d p u m p about €34 million i n t o t h e I r i s h economy.

“ I n t e r m s o f e c o n o m i c benefits, Ireland's inclusion in the

Science Without Borders programme has the potential to deliver €15 million in fee income, plus about €19 million in additional spend,” she said.In support of this initiative, Education in Ireland officially launched an online portal in Portuguese for Braz i l ian academics and students.

The portal will enable them to search for higher education courses in Ireland, learn more about living and studying in Ireland, and avail of practical advice on how to apply to relevant universities, colleges and institutes of technology.During a press lunch in São Paulo, Tourism Ireland director for Spain, Barbara Wood, said a Portuguese version of the w e b s i t e , h t t p : / / www.discoverireland.com,

From Peter O'Neill in SAO PAULO Yeah! Correspondent

Brazilian & Ireland

Agree Study Deal

Photo by Fennell Photography

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President Michael D. Higgins


would be launched at the end of November.

"In order to boost the number of Brazilians in Ireland, it was decided to launch a unique page for this market," she said.

Wo o d e m p h a s i s e d t h e importance of Ireland as a d e st i n at i o n fo r E n g l i s h language courses. About 10 000 young Brazilians were in the country to study English last year. Brazil is the fourth largest source market for language students in Ireland. Spain, Italy and France are the first, second and third largest, respectively.

"To increase the flow of Brazilians, we are intensifying work with carr iers who specialise in this segment and also promoting Ireland as a tourist destination," she said.

�T h e i co n i c C h r i s t t h e Redeemer statue overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will 'go green' for the first time to mark St Patrick's Day next year. President Higgins announced this after meeting the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Orani João Tempesta.

To u r i s m I r e l a n d c h i e f executive Niall Gibbons said: “Our 'greening' initiative has captured the hearts of many people everywhere and we are delighted to announce the

addition of the famous South American landmark. “Our aim is to bring a smile to the world and to convey the message that Ireland offers the warmest of welcomes and tremendous fun, as well as wonderful scenery and rich and diverse cultural activities. “Our St Patrick's programme will span Britain, mainland Europe, North America, Australia, as well as emerging

tourism markets such as Brazil, China and India.”


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President of Ireland Michael D Higgins with President H.E Dilma Rousseff , President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, in Brasilia

President Michael D. O ' H i g g i n s p a s s e d through Buenos Aires at

the end of a southern tour of South America with his wife and their entourage. Towards the end of the week ending Sunday the 14th of October he was hosted by Excellency J a m e s M c I n t y r e ( I r i s h ambassador in Buenos Aires responsible for the Southern Cone states) where he was an active participant in various events cultural, business, human rights, political and others just for fun.

I met President Higgins in two of the larger events in the Sheraton Hotel in the Retiro district of downtown Buenos Aires on October 12th, where he presided over the launch of a bilateral (Argentine-Irish) b u s i n e s s c h a m b e r w i t h M i n i s t e r f o r T r a d e a n d Development, Joe Costello T.D. The breakfast event formally launched the Irish Business Network (IBN). This breakfast was followed by a larger cultural event attended by many foreign ambassadors and representatives from the Argentina and Irish tourism sectors along with uniformed members of the Argentinian

navy. The focus of the latter event was on plans for "The Gathering" a 2013 plan to bring ex-pat Irish cit izens, and citizens of other countries with Irish connections or descent, back to Ireland as a boost to the economy (especially to the tourism sector). The Gathering is a novel idea promoting (www.thegatheringireland.com) traditional visit dates, such as Patrick's Day or Bloom's Day but also "clan" Gatherings with families looking for relatives with the same family names such as the F lynns, the Gallaghers and O'Connor's. President Higgins - a politician, poet, Gaelgóir and political economist - had a meeting with P r e s i d e n t C h r i s t i n a Fernandez de Ki rchner on October the 11 th , wh ich took double t h e t i m e al lotted and was a reported success. The meeting was h e l d a t t h e A r g e n t i n e Casa Rosada, A r g e n t i n a ' s

Presidential Palace which was adorned with numerous Irish f lags for the event . The Sheraton is a favourite of P r e s i d e n t C h a v e z o f Venezuela on his somewhat lavish visits to Buenos Aires. In t he She ra ton P res i den t Higgins gave two speeches to t h e d i s t i n c t a u d i e n c e s emphasizing the Irish diaspora and how l i nks w i th th i s d i a s p o r a n e e d e d t o b e improved by the Irish who still live on the Island of Ireland. He also made various visits to military compounds, some to honour su rv ivo rs o f the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983) such as Irish priest Patrick Michael Price and others to honour Guillermo


President Michael D. Higgins’

visit to Argentina

By Tony Phillips Yeah! Correspondent in Argentina

Tony Phillips with President Michael D. Higgins & his wife Sabina Higgins

Minister Joe Costello T.D. Sabina Higgins, Michael D. Higgins and Ambassador James McIntyre

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Brown, where Higgins said “Me honra rendir tributo a los hombres y mujeres irlandeses que hicieron de la Argentina su lugar adoptivo, el cual significó tanto en sus visas[1]” in his reasonable Spanish. Guillermo Brown, a native of Foxford in County Mayo is Argentina's most famous Irish-born hero, recognised as the founder of the Argentine navy. Just before head ing back to I re land Michael D. and his charming wife Sabina dined in one of the city's finest steak-houses "La Brigada" in the historic district of San Telmo one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods.

While Irish emigration to South Amer ica has been much smaller than the larger scale North American emigration in the m id 1900 ' s , va r i ous illustrious Irishmen and women have still chosen Latin America, and their rebel spirit have left a lasting mark. Apart from some of the better known leaders such as Argentina's Guillermo Brown or El Che (son of Ernesto Guevara-Lynch) who liberated Cuba from the Batista dictatorship with Fidel Castro in 1959-1960; there was also Paraguay 's E l i za Lynch , General Bolivar's aide-de-

camp Daniel Florence O'Leary, Mex ico 's Sa in t Pa t r i ck ' s battalion (better known as the "San Patricios") commanded by John Riley of Clifden (one of the few to survive defeat by the US in the Mexican capital), and of course the Chilean leader Bernardo O'Higgins on whose grave Michael D. Higgins laid a wreath in a formal ceremony during his vista to Chile earlier in the same tour.

Mr. O'Higgins was well received and shall be welcome back if he is to even tour the Southern Cone again. Ireland's m e a t - p r o c e s s i n g commercial connections with Brazi l are better known than the equally important contacts with Argentina and Chile as well as other parts of South America. The exchanges in recent years with South America have been much m o r e t w o - w a y. W h o knows? Maybe the Irish government could learn a few tricks for dealing with hostile sovereign debt markets from their savvy South American cousins in the same way as some

have begun to learn to dance the Brazilian samba?

Mini biography: Tony Phillips is a D u b l i n - b o r n p o l i t i c a l -economist who lives and writes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While his principal interest is in a l t e r n a t i v e e c o l o g i c a l l y appropr ia te development finance in South America (via UNASUR's Bank of the South) he a lso wrote the South American chapter in the recent b o o k " W h a t i f I r e l a n d Defaults?" published by Orpen Press launched in Trinity College Dublin in early Spring 2012.

President Michael D Higgins with Southern Cone Ambassador James McIntyre


President Michael D. Higgins gives a Speech at The Gathering event in the Sheraton

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L

students were among those

who thronged the Dubl in

Community Growers' Harvest

Festival at the Wolfe Tone

Square in the capital last month. The festival, held on the last Saturday of last month, saw more than 25 community gardens showcase vegetables and fruits they had grown on their small allotments in and around Dublin. In its first year, the event promotes community growing and sharing of vegetables and fruits. Chisomo Liwembe, an a c c o u nt i n g s t u d e nt f ro m Malawi, was impressed by what he saw and now wants to join community gardeners in Rialto where he lives.

“This is the best way to s e t t l e i n t o m y n e w environment,” he said.

The Malawian, who has been in the country for just a few weeks, says growing vegetables was his hobby back home in Africa and he would like to continue doing so in his new community. Noma Khumalo f rom South Africa agreed. “I have been working and living in Ireland for 12 years but I have made more friends in the two years I have been act ive in community gardening.

“ I n o w k n o w m y neighbours well because I meet most of them at our garden,” she said.

Documentaries Visitors to the festival w e re e a r l i e r t re a t e d t o a screening of two documentaries about community gardening. A H i d d e n G a r d e n , a documentary about how an Irish co m m u n i t y t ra n sfo r m e d a dumping ground to a lush garden,

emphasises the importance of such projects . After days of hard community work, the dirty and smelly area was no more and the residents had something more beneficial and meaningful to do. More moving, however, was the other documentary screened on the same day, two evenings before the festival. Simply entitled, The Garden, the Oscar‐nominated film, featured a community of 347 families of Afro and Latino Americans who had a successful gardening project in downtown Los Angeles for about 10 years only for their “livelihood” to come to an abrupt end. A businessman had them evicted after controversially buying the 14‐acre piece of land from the local authority. Also supporting the festival was WALK, an organisation dealing with people with intellectual disabilities. Its target is to help at least 100 intellectually disabled people find jobs by 2013. Through its “Peer Pathway to Employment” programme”, WALK is challenging companies to actively help lessen unemployment among the disabled. At least 65 percent of disabled people in Ireland are unemployed. More than just a gardening showcase, An Taisce's Green Home Programme was also there. Found online at greenhome.ie, the scheme was developed to support and advise householders on ways to save money on their household and transport costs, while at the same time, protecting the environment.


By Ishmael Mwenda

Dublin Community Growers’

Harvest Festival

in focus!

Photo by Robert Moss


Eco‐fashion designer Carrie Ann Moran presented the Autumn Winter Rediscover

Fashion showcase – alongside an interactive presentation about fashion and the environment – on 4th October in Trinity College's Pav Bar. Carrie Ann says that when she started out with her reuse idea a few years ago, the phrase “eco fashion” hadn't come into vogue. “I started as an eco fashion designer in 2008, but back then, the idea was even discussed in Ireland.” According to Carrie Ann, the purpose of the Rediscover Fashion showcase is “to engage with the students.” The Rediscovery Centre was estab l i shed to insp i re sustainable living and to prevent waste through recycling – and, i n d e e d – “upcycling”. Carrie Ann's current lines i n R e d i s c o v e r F a s h i o n a r e testament to the fact that reusing g a r m e n t s a n d materials of various kinds is a great method of conservation and “upcycling”. “ I ' m a n e c o ‐ f a s h i o n designer, but people [at the Rediscovery Centre] are from var ious backgrounds, f rom theology to environmental science. Obviously, you would have students from different [educational] backgrounds too. The idea is to reach out and to s h o w t h e s t u d e n t s t h e possibilities.” So what is the reason for recycling materials to make new clothes? “The carbon footprint of any new garment is reason enough for eco fashion. My view

on recycling textiles is that you're exploiting what would otherwise be a waste stream. So you're not just preventing a waste stream, but you're also preventing the necessity to produce new forms of textiles, that are creating toxins and using electricity, in order to c u l t i v a t e c o t t o n o r t o manufacture polyester.” “Everything we make is from recycled materials. It's at the core of what we do. Tonight is about the environment and fashion. We're here to open up the doors to students], to point out the possibilities. It's to give a platform to students to come and engage with us,” says Carrie Ann. You would wonder how creative you can be with recycled fabrics, but Carrie Ann says that the opposite is the case. “Everything that we make

is different. We might use the same style and design line for certain p i e c e s . S o , f o r example, for our top two collections this year, there are only eight pieces overall.

But each design is replicated from different [recycled] materials. The nature of the materials we work in means that everything that we make seems different, even if i t ' s based on the same design. Each design can be replicated but each piece can still be completely unique. With the variety of textiles alone, for example – we can work with different forms of textile to achieve completely different styles. You can have one coat design, but it'll be completely different if two different kinds of material are used.”More information:

www.rediscoverycentre.ie

Rediscover Fashion Rediscover Fashion

So you're not just

preventing a waste stream,

but you're also preventing

the necessity to produce

new forms of textiles

Photos by Michelle Farley

Yeah! Carrie Ann Moran (Retail Manager - Rediscovery Centre Ecostore)

Programme Manager - Rediscover Fashion

By Richard Gibney


What students recommend

Find Ireland 's best events, attractions,

restaurants and nightlife

I have just obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a first class Honour degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology. (2008 ‐ 2012) I am doing m y m a s t e r A p p l i e d S o f t w a r e Technology sponsored by Ericsson company) .

I am currently the president of the African Society at the Dublin Institute of Technology in collaboration with the African Students Association of Ireland (ASAI).

Ireland is a country where one can gain a lot from, it offers me many opportunities to excel in life. The cost of living might be high but compared to other European countries, income is high as well so there is a balance. Dublin is a beautiful city especially the night life! Strangely, I like the weather because it is neither too cold nor too hot compared to other countries in Europe where its either very cold or very hot. My family and I are lucky to have migrated to Ireland because we feel at home here.Personally, the cons about Ireland is that basketball is not huge here. I have played basketball previously and never thought I could live without the sport . Finally, I am still amazed at the Irish love their drink. Kudos to Arthur!

I've been in Dublin two months, and I've already had the opportunity to work as a volunteer with the Open House www.openhousedublin.com. For me this was a very important experience as it offers me the chance to improve my English and know more about Tyrone House. I'm loving it here; it is a city beautiful city and has a lot things to see. There are many parks, which are perfect for spending the day with friends. One thing I really like here is the reception I am getting from the people. They are very helpful.

If you want to do an exchange in Ireland, this is the place.

F o r m e , I r e l a n d i s a h i g h l y commendable destination for young culture enthusiasts, travel adventurers and foreign students a like.

The hospitality of its people is legendary as is the richness of its heritage and natural landscapes have to offer, it no wonder why it is becoming an increasingly popular place with both exchange and full‐time international students. Its unique image as a peaceful island separated from the European mainland blessed with a mild climate, adds up to its attraction as an exciting place to explore, have fun, study and play. Prices may be higher than other European countries but they have also certainly dropped in recent years. For the foreign student, one doesn't need to go far from Dublin to enjoy the country as the city itself is literally bursting with cultural events in its museums, pubs, theatres, shops and galleries. My favourite hangout spots are usually in the city's scenic outskirts such as seaside near Skerries and the mountains close to Lucan.

i recommend

Rafaela Santana

Age: 26From: Brazil

Age: 23From: Philippines

Age: 24From Nigeria

Frank Osayi

Pietros Patricio

University students in Paraguay with o u t s t a n d i n g

academic records but limited financial resources are being offered three‐year scholarships to study English in their country to p rep a re t h em fo r t h e F u l b r i g h t s c h o l a rs h i p programme.This marks the sixth year and the US Embassy has teamed up with the private sector in Paraguay to offer scholarships to outstanding young university students with limited resources. The aim of the programme is to provide them with the a b i l i t y t o “ r e a c h a n advanced level knowledge of English to enable them to be candidates for Fulbright scholarships for graduate studies offered by the US Embassy”.Each year the number of scholarships up for grabs varies, explained Jazmin Ramirez, youth outreach and English programmes a s s i s t a n t f o r t h e U S Embassy. “The first time we did it we got more support from companies because they were excited about the new programme. Every year it just depends on the goodwill of the companies.”Annually between 200‐300 students apply for the

scholarships and Ramirez says this year looks to have a similar turn out.Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce Paraguayan A m e r i c a n E m b a s sy i n

Paraguay, students must show an interest in doing p o s t g ra d u a t e s t u d i e s through the Fu lbr ight programme which requires a minimum of 580‐600 on the TOEFL exam.A p p l i ca nt s m u st b e a resident in Paraguay, be s t u d y i n g a u n i v e rs i t y degree that isn't medicine (because the Fulbright programme doesn't cover m e d i c i n e d e g r e e s ) , d e m o n s t r a t e l i m i t e d

financial resources and excellent academic records. In addition to showing a strong interest in learning E n g l i s h a n d p u r s u i n g postgraduate studies in the US. Students must not current ly be study ing English.This year, the Embassy is also offering an additional 25 scholarships to select students from the groups that started the English programme in 2006 and 2 0 0 7 . F u n d s w i l l b e provided for a 19 month i n t e n s i v e c o u r s e o f grammar and conversation a s w e l l a s a T O E F L preparation course. The scholarships also covers the TOEFL exam fees.Each year the US Embassy in Paraguay o f fers 10 Fulbright scholarships for students to study Masters degrees at US universities.

Scholarships for

Paraguayans to learn

English

in focus

Each year the US Embassy in Paraguay offers 10 Fulbright scholarships

Article submitted By Centro Cultural

Paraguayo Americano - ASunciý, Paraguay



Ye a h ! M a g a z i n e : Yo u a r e a t t e n d i n g t h e E u r o p e a n Association of International Education (EAIE) Conference here in Dublin as part of a national campaign involving various Colombian universities, with the motto “Challenge Your Knowledge”. Would you be able to tell me more about the campaign?Giovanni Anzola: Certainly. Colombia is a country emerging from many years of crisis and conflict; it is a post‐conflict society. Even though Colombia has come through the global economic crisis well, and we have a lot of foreign direct investment, there are sti l l a number of challenges for the education sector there. Among these are the need to bring our faculty's qualifications up to international levels, and to develop innovation, science and technology. For years the Colombia universities were attending conferences like this to promote themselves individually, but four years ago we decided to work together. We proposed this to the government, who have helped to promote the campaign,

and in that way change the academic and technological image of the country.Y M : A n d w h y t h e n a m e “Challenge Your Knowledge”?GA: Because that is what we are doing: challenging people to come to Colombia and see for themselves what is going on there.YM: How many universities are involved in the campaign?GA: There are 18 of Colombia's 23 a c c r e d i t e d u n i v e r s i t i e s participating in the campaign, we attend international education conferences like this one all over the world.YM: What kinds of opportunities are there for students interested in studying in Colombia?GA: As well as student exchange opportunities of up to one year, there are around 200 scholarships for post‐graduate students, which include tuition fees and a monthly s t i p e n d . T h e r e a r e a l s o opportunities for both internships and volunteering in Colombia.YM: Why should someone choose Colombia to study?GA: For me, there are three main reasons: the biodiversity; the

geographic location, in terms of international trade; and the human quality – our approach is to treat all international visitors as our “amigos”.YM: Where in Colombia can students go to attend university?GA: All of the major cities have good universities; so Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, and also the coffee‐producing region of Manizales.YM: Finally, what would you say to students concerned about the poor human rights record of the Colombian government, and in particular the military?GA: Thankfully no foreign visitors have been involved in any killings, and paramilitaries handed over their arms in 2003. There are also peace negotiations due to begin in Oslo soon. The universities are trying to play their part in i m p r o v i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n nationally. For example, the Universidad de la Salle where I work has a programme aimed at young people from rural areas to t r y t o g i v e t h e m n e w opportunities.

By Chris O'Connell

COLOmBıAn UnıVERSıTıES CHALLEnGE PRECOnCEPTıOnSInterview with Giovanni Anzola, Head of International Affairs, Universidad de la Salle, Colombia

irish awareness!


The only risk in coming to Colombia is

falling in love� So says a new campaign from Proexport Colombia a government led initiative aimed at promoting Colombia as a tourist destination par excellence and a new alternative holiday choice for national and international visitors. The goal of the campaign is to present Colombia to international tourists as a vacation alternative by showing that the only risk in coming is to the country is falling in love with its landscapes, people, food, fairs, festivals, handicrafts, and all the experiences the country can offer.The campaign is based on the testimonials of nine foreigners who came to Colombia for a short time and decided to stay for good. People of all ages, gender, professional profiles, and interests were chosen. With the resulting message 'there's room for everyone here'. At present the campaign is being promoted in fifteen countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, and the Caribbean.

Article submitted by University La Salle, in conjunction with Vice‐presidency of tourism Colombia & Proexport

Photos submitted by University La Salle Colombia.

For more information about the campaign visit the http://colombia.travel/en/index.php website and watch the video clip Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay and the videos of foreigners who fell in love with Colombia, and decided to stay and live in the country.

Columbia is an incredibly

diverse country with varied

geography and climates, a

history full of mystery and

adventure, cheerful and

hospitable people, and cultures

that have fascinated the world

for centuries.


Undergraduate programmes UCD offers a wide range of undergraduate programmes. In a d d i t i o n t o h i g h q u a l i t y programmes in the humanities, social sciences and the natural, physical and performance sciences, U C D offers courses in most professional disciplines including architecture, business, education, en g in eer in g , l aw, med ic in e , nurs ing , phys iotherapy, and diagnostic imaging. To view a c o m p l e t e l i s t o f U C D ' s undergraduate and graduate programmes go to www.ucd.ie and choose prospective students. UCD is the only university on the island of Ireland to offer programmes across the spectrum of agriculture, food science, food safety and veterinary medicine. UCD Quinn School of Business is highly internationally networked and a major feeder to UCD Smurfit School, one of the world's best graduate business schools. The high qual ity learning and student experience at UCD is made visible through the attributes of the UCD

graduate. The UCD graduate is a c a d e m i c a l l y e x c e l l e n t , intellectually flexible and culturally literate, and globally engaged. Graduate studies UCD is Ireland's leader in postgraduate education with approximately 7,000 graduate s t u d e n t s , r e p r e s e n t i n g approximately 28% of the UCD student population, and almost 2,000 PhD students. Over 50% of UCD undergraduates progress to graduate studies.

Location and Campus Facilities UCD's beautiful parkland‐style campus is located close to Dublin city centre. Dublin is one of the most unique and vibrant cities in Europe. Renowned for excellent culture, ease of access and a friendly population, Ireland's capital city is a safe, beautiful and historic city with a population of approximately 1.2 million. Half of this figure is under the age of twenty‐five, making it one of the

most youthful cities in Europe and the 8th best student city in the world.* Dublin is also an ideal starting point from which to explore the rest of Europe. With major transport links connecting to the UK, USA and Europe, there is always opportunity to visit some of the m o s t a n c i e n t , f a m o u s a n d glamorous cities in the world. UCD's campus facilities are among the finest in the country with our Student Sport & Social Centre catering for the needs of a large and diverse student body. The Student Centre was designed to provide a break out space for students to relax, which is reflected in the spacious atrium which lies at the centre of the building. This space is f u r n i s h e d w i t h co mfo r ta b l e couches, allowing students to relax within the hustle and bustle of campus life. The Student Centre is home to the UCD Cinema, Theatre and Sport & Fitness Centre, which houses an outstanding range of world class fitness and leisure facilities, which include an Olympic sized 50m pool and a state‐of‐the‐art gym.

University College Dublin – Ireland's Global UniversityUniversity College Dublin is Ireland's largest university with almost 25,000 students. It is also Ireland's most international

university with 20% of the student body coming from overseas. When applying to university in Ireland, more Irish students put UCD as their first choice than any other university. Thanks to the range of courses, state of the art facilities and outstanding reputation for graduate opportunities, UCD (ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world) is proud

to be Ireland's most popular university.

WELC OME toUCD

Submitted By UCD International Office, on Campus Accommodation UCD


Facilities at UCD also include a d e d i c a t e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l S t u d e n t C e n t r e , global lounge and 12 screen video wall w i t h s a t e l l i t e c h a n n e l s f r o m around the world. Designed for hanging out and relaxing, the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Student Centre also hosts talks, seminars, receptions and other e v e n t s – a l l c o n t r i b u t i n g t o internationalisation o n c a m p u s a n d beyond.

Accommodation L i f e a t university is about more than just study. At UCD, sports clubs, societies and social life are a vital part of t h e u n i v e r s i t y experience. Living on campus offers the best of everything UCD can offer on y o u r d o o r s t e p i n c l u d i n g restaurants, coffee shops, well‐stocked shops , a campus bookshop, a bike shop, a post office a n d h i g h ‐ s t r e e t banking facilities. A l l U C D accommodation is central and close to the sporting, leisure and social facilities on campus. Students can easily access all t h e s u p p o r t a n d welfare services they need and can rest assured that they will b e s t a y i n g i n a friendly, safe and secure environment. With free broadband

in every apartment a n d a t e a m o f R e s i d e n t i a l Assistants here to h e l p , U C D accommodation is a great choice for new students. The UCD R e s i d e n c e L i f e Programme is for students who live on campus and aims to build a community on campus through activities such as sports clubs, outdoor cinema nights and cookery nights.

Studying in Ireland I r e l a n d ' s h i g h l y s k i l l e d workforce attracts m a j o r p layers in i n t e r n a t i o n a l business including Google, Facebook, Twitter, Siemens, M i c r o s o f t , GlaxoSmithKline and Merrill Lynch, and more.W i t h a u n i q u e culture, history and position in Europe, Ireland is a modern nation built on a s k i l l e d g ra d u a t e workforce, strong business links and a y o u n g , v i b r a n t population. Ireland is a beautiful English speaking island at the western tip of Northern Europe famous for the green c o u n t r y s i d e , unspoiled beaches and long mountain ranges as well as the warm and friendly welcome. Ireland is renowned for being one of the friendliest nations in the world* and welcomes over 28,000 international

students, every year.Noted for being one of the most creative c o u n t r i e s i n t h e world, Ireland has a proud tradition of p ro d u c i n g wo r l d f a m o u s w r i t e r s , m u s i c i a n s a n d entrepreneurs. An except iona l ly w e l l ‐ e d u c a t e d population, Ireland has one of the most skilled labour forces in Europe that is recognised all over the world for high quality education, exceptional graduate e m p l o y m e n t opportunities and unrivalled business l inks with g lobal technical, medical and profess iona l corporations. Home grown companies s u c h a s Rya n a i r, H avo k S o f t wa re , Iona Technologies a n d E l a n P h a r m a c e u t i c a l s r e g u l a r l y t r a d e globally and UCD graduates such as David J. O'Rei l ly, f o r m e r C E O o f Chevron Corporation a n d P e t e r Sutherland, former chairman of BP, have gone on to compete on the world stage and lead in business.* V o t e d W o r l d ' s Friendliest Country by Lonely Planet in 2010.

*QS Best Student Cities in the World 2012

For further information on UCD please contact UCD International.

Website: www.ucd.ie/internationalTel: +353 1 716 8500Email: [email protected] // Facebook: UCDInternationalTwitter:@UCDInternat // Youtube: UCDGlobal


he bustling city of Limerick, Tlocated in the Mid West region of Ireland on the

banks of the River Shannon, is Ireland's third largest city. Founded in 812AD as a Viking settlement, this modern city has a thriving cultural, arts, and sporting scene. There are more than enough sights and activities to fill a weekend here, but perhaps the best thing about the city are the friendly and welcoming locals.

Start off by exploring the small & walkable city centre. Just like Dublin, the main drag is called 'O'Connell Street'. You can satisfy your retail urges in the many shops from big name stores to small and unique boutiques before stopping for a coffee break in one of the city's plentiful cafes.

If you prefer some history and culture, take a walk along the banks of the river Shannon, which provide the city with some of its most scenic views, particularly around King John's Castle. Built in

the 13th century, this medieval castle is open to the public and well worth a visit. Afterwards take a short stroll down to St. Mary's Cathedral, which dates from the 12th century and is the oldest building in Limerick still in daily use. Just a little further on across the bridge is the impressive Hunt Museum. This is Limerick's premier museum and contains a s i g n i f i c a n t I r i s h m e d i e va l collection, drawings by Picasso, and artifacts from Ancient Egypt. The film 'Angela's Ashes' was filmed on location in the city and you can talk part in a walking tour that shows you the sights used. You can also go on an open top bus tour or take a boat tour along the Shannon.

The city is sports mad, especially about Rugby. Many people consider Limerick to be the home of Irish Rugby and the hugely successful Munster Rugby team p l ay t h e i r h o m e ga m e s i n Thomond Park, just outside the city centre. If you're not lucky

enough to catch a game, you can do a stadium tour and learn more about the history of the sport. Afterwards head for a pint in 'Clohessy's' bar on Harvey's Quay, owned by former Munster and Ireland rugby player, Peter Clohessy.

There is no shortage of places to eat in the city, with all tastes and price ranges catered for. If you are a 'foodie', a visit to the Milk Market at Cornmarket Row is a must. Open Friday to Sunday, it is one of the oldest markets in the country. Nearby is the renowned ' C o p p e r & S p i c e ' I n d i a n restaurant. If you prefer steaks and ribs, the 'Texas Steakout' restaurant on O'Connell Street will satisfy your hunger.

You don't have to look far to find a lively pub. The Locke Bar on George's Quay is one of the city's best. It offers live music at the weekends and a large outside seating area beside the river. For something more traditional try

By Lydia Bigley

post card!


Limerick City

Nancy Blakes on Denmark Street. Other bars worth checking out are The Bailey on Patrick Street and the Old Quarter on Little Ellen Street.

Limerick is also renowned for it's music scene. It has produced bands such as the Cranberries, and comedy hip‐hop duo The Rubberbandits. For live music check out Dolan's Warehouse on the Dock Road, which also hosts a monthly gay club called La Boutique. If you prefer dance music, the club The Trinity Rooms, at the Granary, plays host to big name DJs and dance acts. Or for chart sounds and pop music head to Club Icon on Denmark Street.

W h e n i t c o m e s t o accommodation there is a good choice of hotels. If it's a special trip, stay in the 4* Clarion hotel on the banks of the Shannon or try one of the newer trendy boutique hotels such as the Absolute Hotel. Limerick doesn't currently have any hostels but good deals can be found online for Jury's Inn and other hotels in the city.

Limerick City is well situated for

day trips out the surrounding counties. A short drive will take you to the beautiful Adare Village in County Limerick, or you can visit the Flying Boat Museum in Foynes, a nice scenic drive down the coastal N69 road. It's also only a quick trip to Bunratty Castle in County Clare.

Limerick Education Info.

Limerick is one of Ireland's main education hubs and has a large and diverse student population.

The University of Limerick (UL) is one of Ireland's major universities and recently received a satisfaction rating of 85%, the highest in a nationwide survey among Irish students. It p r o v i d e s a w i d e r a n g e o f undergraduate and postgraduate courses in subjects such as business, science, computers, media, law, and medicine.

The Limerick Institute of Technology ( L I T ) w a s v o t e d I n s t i t u t e o f Technology of the year by The Sunday Times in 2012. It offers courses in a diverse range of subjects from multimedia, and fashion design, to sports coaching, and culinary arts.

Mary Immaculate College is an education and Liberal Arts college that focuses on teacher training.

The Limerick College of Further Education (LCFE) provides both day and evening further education course (Post Leaving Certificate) in a range of areas such as Accountancy, Fashion Design, and Photography.

Griffith College Limerick (GCL) is a private college that opened in 2006 and runs full‐time and part‐time courses in a range of subjects.



Classic Irish Coffee. Irish coffee was invented at Foynes Flying Boat Museum.

Second Language Learners�

Coping Strategy in Conversations

with Native Speakers

One of the many strategies that many international students employ to cope

with their lack of English proficiency is to pretend to understand or not to understand the conversational content exchanged with native English speakers. Combining auto ethnography and iterative interviews this research explores the pretending behaviour profoundly from non‐native speakers’ perspectives. During the iterative interviews, six students shared their personal experience specified in pretending behaviours. This study aims at informing the second language learning e x p e r i e n c e a n d p r o m o t i n g m u t u a l understanding between native and non‐native speakers in multi‐lingual a n d m u l t i ‐ c u l t u r a l societies. As a result, under the metatheme ( T e s c h , 1 9 8 7 ) o f p r e t e n d i n g i n conversation, pretending a s a C o m m u n i c a t i v e Strategy, eleven themes emerged. Non‐nat ive speakers ’ pretending behaviours are attempts to (1) protect self‐esteem, (2) respond to social pressure, (3) express c o n c e r n f o r o t h e r s ’ feelings, (4) cope with a n x i e t y , ( 5 ) k e e p conversation flowing, (6) keep conversation open, (7) avoid extra efforts, (8) fill in gaps, (9) make use of (an)other source(s), (10) elicit confirmation, and (11) take advantage of status.

Communication between Native and Non‐native English Speakers

Conversation with non‐native speakers who have

poor speaking ability can require time, patience, and energy on the part of the native speaker. Such effort can cause frustration for both parties, possibly leading them to avoid communication and therefore impeding familiarity unless they have an already established relationship and/or are interested in one another.

Awareness of the demands on the native speaker also cause the non‐native speakers to feel self‐conscious about how they speak with others, and rather than motivating them to learn more, they may become

d i s c o u r a g e d f r o m b e c o m i n g proficient in the new language. Lack of interaction with others then c r e a t e s u n c e r t a i n t y i n t h e i r relationships and further prevents them from developing interpersonal relationships (Berger & Calabrese, 1975). In contrast, being aware of each conversational partners’ situation might help both parties to develop the relationship.

This study analyses pretending in conversations as a communicative behaviour that has been adopted by many international students. There

are a large number of studies conducted in the related areas, such as TESOL, discourse analysis, i n t e r c u l t u r a l communication theories, a n d g e r o n t o l o g i c a l studies, and some of them discuss the behaviour of p r e t e n d i n g i n conversations. However, these studies do not discuss this common and natura l behaviour of p r e t e n d i n g a s a communicative strategy. B y i nv e s t i ga t i n g t h e motives of pretending, this study also aims at informing native speakers w h o i n t e r a c t w i t h international students about the challenges that international students encounter on a daily basis. In addition, it aims to e n h a n c e m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d p r o m o t e b e t t e r relationships between native and non‐native English speakers.

Second Language Learners�

Coping Strategy in Conversations

with Native Speakers

By Sachiko Terui, Doctoral Student, Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma (USA)

Based on the researcher’s personal experience and the theories

discussed above, the following research questions were posed:

1. Why do non‐native speakers pretend to understand/not to

understand in conversations?

2. In what situations do they feel the need to pretend?

3. Does pretending behaviour differ based on social status

among the speakers? (Are there differences in pretending

between graduate international students and undergraduate

international students?

Research Questions



Remembering Che

Aleida Guevara March spoke a b o u t t h e b o o k "Remembering Che" at

Dublin's Liberty Hall in October. Aleida, the eldest daughter of E r n e s t o C h e G u e v a r a , t h e i n f a m o u s A r g e n t i n e a n revolutionary, presented the book written by her Mother Aleida M a r c h w h o s e f u l l t i t l e i s “Remembering Che: My life with Che Guevara” “I'm from this small Caribbean country", says Aleida at the start of her presentation to the large expectent crowd. A new insight into the life of the man, this time as a father and a husband, and in

Aleida's words: "the story of a romant ic man with a great capacity for love". Her mother tells a story in her book, of a great legend and a great love, a story which recounts various moments when it was necessary to say goodbye and at the same time, when life gave them moments to reunite again. By briefly recounting the life of her mother and father, and through questions from the almost exclusively Irish audience, Aleida Guevara March talked about the connections which bring Ireland and Che together, by means of genealogical research made on the Guevara Lynch's; her grandmother's family name, and of Ernesto Che Guevara's father. "Much later we began to discover more of the Lynch legacy", she added and smiling and said: "you are not going to like what I'm about to tell you, but it is what I have been told, this famous Lynch arr ived to Argentina and Chi le as a mercenary in the Spanish army, this is how the Lynch's came into our lives, later as a good I r i s h m a n h e h a d e l e v e n descendants and of these eleven children came the father of the mother of my grandmother and her father was the Argentine consul in San Francisco, there she met Roberto Guevara who is of Basque descent; they married

and returned to Buenos Aires and Ana Lynch had ten children too and from them came my grandmother, who had eight children, the eldest being my father". Che's life is still full of mystery, however, Aleida March's book shows a more human side of this man who became a legend and the inspiration for many people, not j u s t i n L a t i n A m e r i c a , b u t worldwide. Aleida Guevara March, took time to sign her mother’s book, for those who had bought it, after the talk in Liberty Hall. In one of the dedications, Aleida wrote: "A hug for Sofia with the people's warmth", a short and simple phrase, but one with great strength, that same strength which she carries with her as the daughter of a great revolutionary legend.

The story of a great revolutionary legend and a great love

Aleida Guevara March presents the story of her father El Ché, told from the point of view of her Mother Aleida March

Aleida Guevara

book launch !

By Silvia Bernal Translated by Tony Phillips

Photos by Ciaran H.A

Aleida Guevara and Silvia Bernal

Students Events

Dublin Business School's Castle House will on November 23 host the second Dublin international s t u d e n t s ' w e l c o m e a n d networking event.

The event, organised by the Africa Students Association of Ireland ( A S A I ) , i s t o w e l c o m e international students and help with their integration into the Irish community.

A SA I coordination team, in c o l l a b o ra t i o n w i t h D u b l i n Business School, expect the event to bring together about 150 international students.

It will provide a forum for new international students to mix with others as well as discuss social and academic matters.

ASAI was set up to address issues pertaining to African students in Ireland. They aim to cultivate a v i b r a n t A f r i c a n s t u d e n t community as well as promoting a strong bond with students from other continents.

I t i s represented in seven universities and colleges in Dublin.

The organization was set up in 2 0 1 0 f o l l o w i n g a m a j o r c o n f e r e n c e o f A f r i c a n international students held in Trinity college.

This year Afr ican Students Association has opened up A F R I C A S O C I E T I E S i n 7 universities and colleges in Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Dublin Institute of Technology, Blanche town IT Dublin Business School, Griffith College, and Tallaght IT.

AFRICA societies are geared towards giving the college and university community a taste of Africa cultural achievements, be it music, art, l iterature, food, African films etc.

in focus

Innovative Strategies for Higher Education in Latin America and Europe: International Collaboration and Regional Development � An Alfa Puentes Bi-regional Conference On 12-14 November, São Paulo will host the first bi-regional conference on regional development in Latin America, giving European and Latin American university associations and individual institutions an opportunity to discuss the challenges they face. The pre-programme also includes an information session on the Science Without Borders programme.This conference is one element of the three year Alfa Puentes programme, designed to enhance the capacity of Latin American university associations to engage regionally and internationally and support institutional modernisation and internationalisation. Specifically, it will support three subregional initiatives (Mercosur, Andean Community, Central America/ Mexico) as building blocks for wider regional convergence more info http://alfapuentes.org/portal/node/166

MUBI � Nigerian soldiers have been carrying out raids on houses in Mubi, in the country's north-east, following the killing of at least 40 students.The victims � reported to be both Christians and Moslems � were shot or had their throats cut while in student accommodation near the polytechnic school at which they were studying. The attack, according to the BBC, happened in a volatile area of the country where Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has carried out scores of previous attacks.Motives for the latest attack are still unclear, with some officials suggesting the massacre may have been linked to a recent student election.Police have given an official death toll of 25, saying at least 22 of the victims were students but a school official said the death toll was higher. «Based on accounts from locals, at least 40 people were killed in the attack," the unnamed official from the polytechnic school said. "Twenty-five were the ones taken to the mortuary. At least 15 of the victims whose families are in Mubi were taken away by relatives."

Near-fatal four-day Xbox marathonCOLUMBUS � An Ohio woman has confiscated the Xbox of her teenage high school student son who was hospitalised for dehydration after spending at least four days in his bedroom playing the Modern Warfare 3 video game, WCMH TV has said.Jesse Rawlins tells the NBC affiliate in Columbus that her son, Tyler Rigsby, 15, emerged from his bedroom in the morning after a marathon round of game-playing, and collapsed three times.She says he became very pale and his lips turned blue.«I was very scared. I thought he was going to die," she told WCMH. "He just fell over three times."

UK

NIGERIA

UNITED STATES

David Nyaluke‐ Secretary General And Richard Njoku Coordination Secretary.

Reviewed by Ishmael Mwenda

New Yeah! links with

African Students

Association of Ireland



Samantha Nicole (18 - Filipino-Irish)

“The EU could explore social media as a means of communicating with young people. They need to reform the agricultural sector, because farmers have gone on strikes. My uncle is a farmer [in Ireland] and he is affected. They obviously need to reform the economy and strengthen the euro. If you look at the Philippine peso, it has strengthened considerably against the euro. There were sixty‐five pesos to the euro, and it's now about fifty‐five or even fifty. The difference is considerable when people travel to the Philippines.”

Jesus Garcia (Spanish)

“The economy should be the main focus. Unemployment is very high in Spain at about 25 percent. But there are many things that the European Union deals with that feed into the European economy, such as the Common Agricultural Policy. For example, farmers are provided with subsidies and this affects the European economy. So if this is reformed, the economy will improve too.”

Shannon Lambe (18 - Irish)“Although it's important that stabilising the euro is important, the focus should be on jobs creation. If jobs aren't created, there are major issues like homelessness and defaulting on mortgages that will only get worse and worse.”

Kelly Hayden (18 - Irish) “Although I wouldn't be aware of the EU's internal issues, I think one of the major issues is the Syrian uprising. People have had to flee because of the recent revolutions in North Africa. That's not right. The economy is an issue too, as I am personally affected with allowances that have been cut. With regards to the European Union looking at social media to communicate their messages, I don't think the EU would regard Facebookers or Tweeters as their target audience!”

By Richard Gibney

One day tripOne day trip

Belfast & Giant’s CausewayBelfast & Giant’s Causeway

Reserve your seat:Raffael : 086 [email protected]

Departure: 8.00am from St. Stephens Green Park

Price includes:

Qualified Driver/Guide on coaches·

Information pack including itinerary·

Return: About 9.00pm in Dublin

-Free tshirt for the 10 first reservations

·Free professional photos with trip highlights

16th

Nov

Dunluce CastleThe Giant’s Causeway The Rope BridgeBelfast city

Highlights:

Meet students from other countries on this amazing tour

35 only�

TripsTrips

Carol‐Ann Flanagan, who spent most of her life in Germany, is the founder of a brand new showcase event, known as 'The Jam Club'. She wants audiences who come to the club to leave their troubles behind and experience some wonderful entertainment and music in a warm spirit of fun, including all genres of music.

Some of those who have featured at the Jam club in the past include a comedian who used to be a banker (Aidan Killian), an Irish dancer from England (Tom Conroy) and a folk‐rock band from Dublin (The Ragmen). More artists and entertainers are planned for future Jam club nights.

The first night of 'The Jam' was held in Dublin's Odessa Club in August and a very enthusiastic crowd turned up. Explaining the motivation behind, 'The Jam', Carol‐Ann says, it is to “give everybody the opportunity” to get up and show audiences what they can do. Moreover the blonde‐haired diva hopes that “in the long run, we'll be able to do it on a regular basis.” 'The Jam' will be “open to all nationalities, all age groups”, she points out.

By Ian Callagy


Doing Business in IrelandDoing Business in IrelandDoing Business in Ireland


he recent announcement Tby the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

(INIS) that long‐term third‐level students from outside the EEA will be allowed to stay on in Ireland for two years on a trial basis has opened the door to increased numbers of graduating international students entering the Irish workforce. While the timing, with the country immersed in a harsh recession, may not appeal to all, an old saying asserts that with every crisis comes opportunity. And some would say that international students have more opportunity than most: Eibhlin Curley, Assistant CEO of the Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB), believes they can bring different skills – an “extra” – to the local workplace that can help them stand out. B u t w h at c a n t h e s e students expect on entering a workplace or establishing their own business; and what are the m a i n c h a l l e n ge s o f d o i n g business in Ireland?Distinguishing Features Ireland is a European country and long‐t ime E U member but also has close historic and cultural ties with other (particularly English‐speaking) countries, chief among t h e m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Furthermore, over the past two decades Ireland has embraced t h e n o t i o n o f a n “o p e n ” economy and globalisation, attracting many multi‐national corporations to its shores. All of this has of course impacted on the business culture

here, and many aspects of working life will be fairly familiar to internat ional students. Nevertheless a combination of g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n a n d historical factors (including colonisation) mean that aspects of working and doing business in Ireland are unique and may surprise some foreign nationals. P o s s i b l y t h e m o s t shocking feature would be the size of the workplaces. The much‐trumpeted presence of global brands like Google and Facebook may lead some to expect this as the norm. Not true, says Curley; the reality is that most businesses in Ireland are small and medium‐sized enterprises (SME's), defined as up to ten employees. DCEB alone works with almost 10,000 such undertakings. F a r f r o m b e i n g a disadvantage, however, Curley believes this is a wonderful opportunity for those seeking to enter the workplace. “Students shouldn' t get hung up on working for big companies,” she says, “As many of the entry‐level roles are of a very administrative nature.” However an SME is not only more typical, it also gives employees a chance to do “a bit of everything”.Hand in hand with the relatively small size of the workforce comes another distinguishing feature of businesses in Ireland: t h a t t h e y a r e n o t v e r y hierarchical and are reasonably informal . Th is ega l i tar ian attitude is deeply ingrained and can manifest itself in various ways, such as the dress code

(“smart casual” is typical) and the ready use of first names. These peculiarities could not only surprise a non‐Irish national, but also present p o t e n t i a l p i t fa l l s fo r t h e unaware. A 2011 report by international business advisors the Communicaid Group places emphasis on the need for s incerity when conducting business in Ireland, and warns against showy behaviour (“Don't show off your wealth”), noting that the use of titles – so central to business etiquette in many cultures – here can be seen as “a form of boasting”.

N o t o n l y a r e t h e businesses smaller in scale than some may be used to, but so is the country. The famous “Six Degrees of Separation” seem more like three in Ireland. Curley l ikens it to a “vil lage‐type culture” where people know each other, and this can impact on business dealings in a number of ways. For one thing, it means t h a t r e p u t a t i o n i s v e r y important, she says, as people are so inter‐connected.It can however present a barrier to entry into business circles for those not established here; indeed e‐Diplomat, a website aimed at the diplomatic corps, recommends initiating dealings through “a well‐connected third party”. Nonetheless as Ireland grows ever‐more multi‐cultural and globalised this is becoming less of an issue. But vestiges of the village mentality remain. As Curley notes, the Irish want to get to

Doing Business in IrelandBy Chris O'Connell

Doing Business in Ireland


know their business contacts “as people”. This can lead to a curiosity that at times can border on prying in the eyes of some cultures, but also a well‐earned reputation for being friendly and sociable. For good or bad, you are rarely just a number in the Irish workplace. Perhaps another aspect of this small island culture is a desire not to offend. While this may appear a pleasant facet of business here, it often manifests itself as an inability to be direct that can in turn cause confusion. “ T h e I r i s h c a n b e q u i t e roundabout in how they deal with things,” says Curley. “This can be difficult for some cultures that are more direct, like where I worked in Scandinavia. Irish people don't like to say “no”, but this can just serve to draw things out.” A n o t h e r p o te nt i a l l y surprising aspect of business life in Ireland – and one that may speak to its long history as an outpost of the centrally planned British Empire – is a relative lack of structure and a weakness where it comes to long‐term planning. But while decisions may be made – as Curley says – “on the fly”, it also means according to e‐Diplomat that the I r i s h h a v e a t a l e n t f o r improvisation and “tend to be creative in a crisis”. Last but certainly not least for many non‐Irish doing business here is a certain laxness with regard to time‐keeping. While this lack of punctuality has the capacity to offend those from other cultures, it is not meant as such, but rather has its roots in the less‐stressful, rural lifestyle of our forebears that – while mainly gone on the surface – still exerts a historical pull on the psyches of the Irish.

Some of the key skills required to succeed according to Curley are: “Organisation, prioritisation, communication and initiative”. But there is one thing that matters even more than these; a factor if not unique then certainly distinctive to business culture in Ireland: personality. As Curley says: “Be it an employee or someone to do business with, in the end, you are looking for a person, not a robot.”

Don't be afraid to insist on clarity: the Irish tend not to be very prescriptive or structured, and it may not always be entirely clear what your supervisor or colleague is trying to tell you.

Do speak up: if you are unable or unwilling to take on a task, you should tell someone.

Do remember the importance of reputation in Ireland: quality customer service is vital.

Do show a willingness to help: in the current economic situation, attitude is the key trait. “Skills are important, but can be acquired,” says Curley, “Character cannot.”

Don't be afraid to stand out: but for the right reasons. “If you notice that others turn up to work late, rather than follow suit, distinguish yourself as the person who is always on time,” Curley advises.

Do show a desire to learn: qualifications are an advantage but there is “no point in being an A‐student if you aren't prepared to do what is needed,” says Curley.

Further Information:On small businesses in Ireland: Visit the Dublin City Enterprise Board website (www.dceb.ie) for information including events, t ra in ing courses , and network ing opportun i t ies .On Irish business culture: Visit the Ireland page on the e‐Diplomat website (www.ediplomat.com) for business and cultural tips.

Some Tips for SuccessTaking into account the peculiarities of business practices in Ireland, Eibhlin Curley has the following words of wisdom for foreign students hoping to work here:


This documentary looks at the validity of Pablo Neruda's work and thought, one of the most universal characters of Chilean culture, and it is the first and so far only one to include completely the life and work of this foundation of Chilean identity. The camera travels around Chile and the various countries of the world

where Neruda took his art, and with it the voice of Chile and of the most genuine of its people. In addition to studying in depth the artistic values, the documentary approaches some of Neruda's unknown aspects as a

creator, thinker, lover, social fighter and cultural ambassador, which makes this film a valuable contemporary document not only for the Chilean, but also as an important heritage to the archive that world culture must

have about Chile.

Neruda, el Hombre y su ObraNeruda, el Hombre y su Obra

T h e L a d b r o k e s . c o m Winter Festival is a pre‐Christmas racing highlight taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2011.

The quality of racing is first class with the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle of €80,000 taking place on Sunday 20th November. This race often attracts champion hurdle contenders. The past winners include Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Solwhit and Moscow Flyer

FESTIVAL SPECIAL COURSE NETWORKING

Italian Wine Course In association

with the Italian Institute of Culture,

Dublin we would like to share our

love and knowledge of the Italian

wine world with you. We are

Honest2Goodness,wine importers

with a special passion for all things

Italian especially wine! We import

from some of the best small to

medium family‐owned producers in

Italy from North to South and have a

intimate knowledge of the Italian

wine scene. November 12/ 19

26 / December 3, Pavilion Hall

Time: 7.30‐9.30 pm, information

Venue: Italian Institute of Culture ‐

Pavilion Hall.

NOVEMBER‐ 2012AFRICA AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NETWORKING EVENT

ASAI is to continue the tradition of welcoming international students to Dublin especially given that the 2011 welcome and networking event in col laborat ion with the Dubl in Business School was a huge success. To welcome new students starting the 2012‐2013 academic year ,ASAI will h o s t a m a j o r w e l c o m e a n d networking event within the month of November.

To participate in the event or volunteer to help send email to:Elizabeth Oke, Richard Njoku and Kerry John at: [email protected]

Cervantes Institute in Dublin


Erasmus Top Challenger Student mobility in Pacific Rim tops APEC agenda

With 21 member nations in APEC, any unilateral student exchange deal could lead to a strong student mobility programme akin to Europe's Erasmus exchange programme.Leaders endorsed a declaration, “ P r o m o t i n g C r o s s B o r d e r Education Cooperation“, which s u g g e s t e d i n c r e a s i n g transparency of student visa requirements to increase study m o b i l i t y, d e ve l o p i n g j o i nt research activities between universities in APEC economies a n d m a k i n g i t e a s i e r f o r universities to set up branch campuses abroad.Before leaving the summit early due to her father's sudden death, Gillard told APEC that Australia partnered “with the countries around the region in aid and development work which is focused on education, but we also are big exchangers both at research and at the student level”.“I think the statistic is 175,000

students from the APEC countries a re st u d y i n g i n A u st ra l i a n univers it ies and vocational education training today,” she said.“We would be looking to increase that number and we think the focus . . . on the mobility of students, staff and institutions setting up in each other's country is really a very important vision of the future.”Commentators welcomed the Vladivostok declaration but are caut ious of i ts general ised ambitions. “I hope that this declaration signals that regional leaders are looking to emulate the types of measures that have worked well in Europe,” Christopher Ziguras, deputy dean of learning, teaching and international at RMIT's school of global studies, social science and planning told The Australian. ¨There is no such d e t a i l i n t h e V l a d i v o s t o k declaration, which is a shame.”Outward mobility expert, Rob Malicki, said it would be a “dream come true” if the region could develop a student exchange p ro g ra m m e s i m i l a r to t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o n ' s ERASMUS, which has an annual budget of more than $550 million.“There is a huge amount of work

governments could do to forge an E R A S M U S ‐ s t y l e r e g i o n a l collaboration,” Malicki said. “On a smaller and more practical scale, i n s t i t u t i o n s n e e d t o b e encouraged to forge deeper, outcomes‐based relationships with partners across the region.”Meanwhile, Australian trade minister, Craig Emerson, said, ”This is right up our alley..“By investing with our regional partners in the talents of our young people, we can help them better appreciate each other's cultures while preparing them for the opportunities of the Asian Century.”Establishing a benchmark and identifying best practice was proposed to ensure quality a s s u r a n c e s y s t e m s w h i c h Australia argues would help large exporters of education services because it should help strengthen their regulatory regimes. The international education sector accounted for AUS$10billion in exports for Australia last year.APEC is currently made up of 21 member economies including major exporters of education, the USA and Australia, as well as i m p o r t a n t s t u d e n t s o u r c e markets such as Indonesia, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Boosting student exchange and mobility in the Pacific Rim region was high on the agenda at the recent Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Vladivostok, Russia, as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard prioritised a deal to open up the region's higher education market.

by Sara Custer Posted in Government, News


As a student money is always going to be tight and this is especially true for international students. The easiest

way to budget and keep an eye on your money is to open a student bank account after you arrive in Ireland. If you

plan on transferring money between accounts in your home country this will also be the cheapest and most

convenient way to do it. Most university campuses have a bank branch on site, but you should check out the main

banks websites to see which account suits you best. All of the banks offer fee free accounts and online banking.

The main banks offering student accounts are: Bank of Ireland http://roi.mystudentbank.com/, AIB www.aib.ie,

Ulster Bank http://www.ulsterbank.ie, and Permanent TSB www.permanenttsb.ie.

Full time students can get excellent discounts on tickets for public transport.

If you are studying in Dublin, the city's new integrated transport card the Leap Card does not yet allow you to put

weekly or monthly student cards on then. Until this feature is introduced, it is cheaper to buy weekly or monthly

discounted student travel tickets. These tickets can be bought in most newsagents or online at

www.dublinbus.ie. To be able to buy the discounted student tickets you need to apply for a separate Student

Travel Card. This allows you to purchase discounted Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, DART, LUAS, and Bus Éireann tickets as

well as providing discounts for over 200 retail outlets around the country. For more information visit:

www.studenttravelcard.ie.

It's a good idea to get an ISIC card (International Student Identity Card). This is the most widely recognized

student card for getting discounts in retail stores, restaurant, clubs, and on services (although many will also

accept you college's student ID as proof). If you plan on doing some travelling around Europe or further afield

while studying here the ISIC is also globally recognized. Most businesses will advertise that they offer student

discounts, but even if they don't, don't be afraid to ask for one. You should be able to save yourself at least 10% off

the regular price. www.isiccard.ie

Open a student bank account

You will want your friends and family to be able to contact you easily while here and the best way to do this is to

get an Irish mobile number. If you are only visiting for one or two semesters it will probably be cheaper and easier

to use a 'Pay as you Go' sim card in your existing mobile phone. Check if your phone needs to be unlocked to use a

different sim, and if you are coming from the USA or Asia, your phone will need to be tri or quad band to work in

Ireland. If your phone can't be unlocked or will only work in your home country, you can pick up basic mobile

phone handset cheaply in any of the phone shops. The main mobile phone providers in Ireland are: www.o2.ie,

www.vodafone.ie, www.meteor.ie, www.three.ie, and www.emobile.ie. O2 and Vodafone are the two longest

established providers in Ireland and provide good coverage throughout the country. However other providers

may offer cheaper options that suit your needs better so make sure you do your research before deciding which

one to go with. Supermarket chain Tesco also provides a mobile phone service and has very good rates for

international calls. Check out www.tescomobile.ie for more information.

Sort yourself out with the best mobile phone deal

Get the best deals on public transport

Don't be afraid to ask for student discounts

Welcome to Ireland! Congratulations, you've made the decision to study abroad and will have some fantastic

experiences along the way. Below are some tips to help you make the most of your time in here.

by Lydia Bigley

Top Tips for International Students in Ireland


The Ecuadorian Government, through the National Secretariat for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT by its Spanish acronym) has developed three specific programs through which it is possible to develop cooperation:

1. Prometheus Old Wise Man ProgramA national initiative to invite researchers from around the world to Ecuador to promote the development of science, education and technology. The potential areas of research are within the life sciences, natural resource sciences, production sciences and innovation.

2. Open Call for Scholarships 2012Scholarships provided to Ecuadorian citizens living in Ecuador and abroad who want to study post‐graduate programs in universities of quality around the world. For this program Senescyt has created a list of Universities to which Ecuadorian citizens can apply in order to be able to apply to this program. 150 British Universities are included in the list.

3. Universities of Academic Excellence Scholarship Program Scholarships provided to Ecuadorian citizens living in Ecuador and abroad that are accepted in undergraduate and post‐graduate programs in the top universities around the world. For this program, SENESCYT has identified the best renowned universities at the international level which includes the first 50 universities of the ranking and the best 25 universities by field of study to which Ecuadorian citizens can apply in order to be able to apply for this program.

By Ministry of Culture Ecuador

ECUADOR MOBILITY SCHOLARSHIPS WORLD WIDE

photo by Andres Gomez


Belgium

Spain

Yeah! student photo-snap!

Cintia Tanno

Born in Brazil

Graduated Universidad e Norte do Parana Unopar

Her birthday, 21 January

Study photography

Lives in Dublin


Photo

by

Pio

tr K

adzi

olk

a.

Cintia TannoPhoto by Piotr Kadziolka.

33

Programme starts on January 14th 2013. For more information or to make an enquiry,visit www.tcd.ie/isc or call a Student Enrolment Advisors on +44 (0) 1273 339333.

Trinity University Dublin International Study Centre 19-20 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

420 years old, Ireland's oldest and most prestigious university.Ranked 67th in the QS World University Rankings 2012. Beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin.

Now accepting applications for January 2013

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