Trinity’s new Global Relations Strategy – a step change in internationalisation

Posted on: 14 February 2019

Trinity College Dublin launched an ambitious Global Relations Strategy (GRS 3) today that will see a step change in internationalisation for the University and higher education in Ireland.  Building on Trinity’s global reputation for education and research, the strategy’s headline actions over the next five years are:

• Further diversification and growth in the student body;
• Expanding strategic partnerships with targeted universities around the world;
• Providing more opportunities for our students to spend time studying overseas.

 

Trinity’s overall student population will increase by 3,000 students, from 18,000 to 21,000 in 2024 and will include students from Ireland, the EU and non-EU countries.

Diversification and growth in the student body

A diverse student body is core to a global university, providing students with an opportunity to study with students from all over the world. This strategy introduces new areas of engagement in addition to the expansion of current areas.

Trinity has growth plans for the Trinity Business School, the E3-Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative and the expansion of undergraduate medicine.

Trinity is also expanding undergraduate diversity through its International Foundation Programme delivered in conjunction with the Marino Institute of Education. This is a

one year full time pre-undergraduate programme which equips future undergraduates with the appropriate English language, Mathematics and academic skills specific to their subject of choice,  to prepare them to undertake full-time undergraduate studies at Trinity. Applicants from 53 countries applied this academic year.

Partnerships

Trinity aims to replicate the model of its current highly successful dual degree programme with one of the US’s top universities, Columbia University. This strategic partnership gives students from all over the world the opportunity to study in two globally renowned universities on both sides of the Atlantic.

The aspects of this relationship span education, research, public engagement and beyond.

Europe will play a big part in this strategy, strengthening relations with leading European universities. Last month, Trinity joined a European Universities Network Initiative with four other prestigious universities, including the University of Barcelona, Utrecht University, the University of Montpellier and Eötvös Loránd University, establishing the Charm European University (Charm-EU). It is the first of many more to come.

These European university networks enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries.  As a member of the prestigious League of European Research Universities (LERU) which counts the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Copenhagen among its members, Trinity will continue to work with universities in the group on all aspects of education and research.

Mobility

Trinity aims to increase the number of undergraduate students engaging in mobility from 30% to 50% over the duration of their study.  This will mean a significant increase in the number of Student Exchange Agreements (SEAs) and the number of students participating in the main SEAs.

The benefits of mobility for students are enormous and extend to the wider university and society. Personal development, enhancing competencies in languages and intercultural development are not just important for employability in an increasingly international labour market, students are also enabled to be open and inclusive.

Trinity prepares students to become global citizens, working together across cultures and boundaries to address questions of global relevance.

Commenting on the new Global Relations Strategy, Provost & President of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast said:

“For Trinity, being a global university is about pursuing strategies that engage Trinity with the world. Our global engagement in this strategy is holistic. While there is a focus on recruitment, there is also a focus on further developing partnerships with universities around the world, particularly in Europe and increasing opportunities for student mobility and enrichening their education. A great example of this is the European Universities Initiative where we are leading the way for the benefit of our students.”

Vice-President for Global Relations, Professor Juliette Hussey said:

“The focus of the next five years will be to deepen relationships with universities worldwide and secure further opportunities for our students to go overseas.  We want to support our undergraduate students to spend time in study, research or clinical placements abroad. In a world where our graduates will need to address many global challenges it is important that their university education equips them with the ability to work with other cultures and countries.”“The focus of the next five years will be to deepen relationships with universities worldwide and secure further opportunities for our students to go overseas.  We want to support our undergraduate students to spend time in study, research or clinical placements abroad. In a world where our graduates will need to address many global challenges it is important that their university education equips them with the ability to work with other cultures and countries.”

Notes to Editor:

The Global Relations Strategy (GRS 3) for 2019/20?2024/25 follows the success of the last Global Relations Strategy 2014-19.

Trinity’s current global research collaborations Europe (44%) Asia Pacific (25%)  North America (19%)

About the European Universities initiative: In December 2017, the European Council created the initiative of creating a network of European universities aiming to improve the international competitiveness of higher education institutions and to strengthen the feeling of European membership, an idea that was previously mentioned by the President of France Emmanuel Macron.

This initiative was launched and the first grant aid of the European Commission, within the Erasmus+ program but aimed at the creation of European universities, has a funding of thirty million euros and will be published in July 2019. The Charm European University (Charm-EU) which will focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) providing an interdisciplinary, challenge-based education.