Colleges nurture Chinese students

Ireland shares a great cultural affinity with China, and links between the two countries have grown rapidly over recent years, especially in education.

The relationship Dublin's Trinity College has with China dates back to the 19th century, when it opened a branch in the southern city of Fuzhou.

Founded in 1592, Trinity is Ireland's oldest college and was one of the first in Europe to welcome Chinese, with students from Beijing and Nanjing arriving in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"Today, engagement with China forms a core part of our international strategy," says Professor Juliette Hussey, vice-president of global relations at Trinity College Dublin. "Fourteen partnerships have been formed with key Chinese higher-education institutions in the past few years, and a Trinity office in Shanghai has been opened."

She adds that the number of Chinese students at Trinity is rising, bolstered by a diverse and rewarding student experience. Academics across a number of disciplines are also collaborating with Chinese counterparts on teaching and research practices, and are facilitating student and researcher exchanges.

Last year, Trinity announced the launch of a master's program in Chinese studies and the opening of the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies.

Jan O'Sullivan, the Irish minister for education and skills, says the move is an "important development in promoting partnerships with China".

Another Irish educational institution that enjoys considerable success in China is Shannon College of Hotel Management. Founded in 1951, the college now has a total student body of 450.

"Switzerland is the home of hotel management. Our college replicates the Swiss model of education, which includes business studies, practical training and the heavy influence of internships," says Phillip Smyth, the college's director.

The college offers a bachelor's in business studies in international hotel management, a five-year program during which students study at Shannon and are offered two work placements, nationally and internationally.

"We're fortunate that over the past five to eight years our brand has become very strong in China. We attract a lot of students from there every year. The country is our most important overseas market," Smyth says.

He says because the college is small, it offers students a family feel. Every student knows every lecturer, and vice versa, which appeals to parents in China, he says.

At Shannon College, the opportunity to travel is seen as important. Students are offered placements across 16 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, United States, Thailand, Seychelles, the Maldives and China, spending three months at luxury five-star resorts such as those operated by Four Seasons, Hilton and Ritz Carlton.

"For Chinese students, when they return to their homeland their CV will look impressive, as they've been to these resorts and seen how they work," Smyth says. "China will become a major resort destination so having experience in international brands means you can compete for management positions when you get back."

Zeng Siwei, a third-year student at Shannon, says: "There are only limited competitive hotel-management universities in China to choose from. Studying at Shannon is a good choice because we're able to get a great deal of practical experience."