Migrants and Higher Education in Ireland

The aim of this project is to assemble and collate information on migrant workers and their experiences in accessing or attempting to access higher education in Ireland. The report, focusing on the educational needs of migrants in the workforce, is based on an extensive series of focus group studies and interviews, led by Cork Institute of Technology. Staff from collaborating third-level colleges conducted research into barriers of access to higher education that are faced by migrants who are in employment and by migrants who are trying to gain employment in Ireland. The study identified four main barriers to third-level education, barriers which were similar in all regions of Ireland where focus group interviews were conducted. It is intended that the findings and conclusions presented here will inform national policy as well as facilitating higher education institutions to more effectively address the needs of this diverse group of learners, and to raise the levels of staff awareness and sensitivity to the issues involved in doing so.