Since 2009, the Irish Development Experience Sharing (IDEAS) Programme has offered suitably qualified individuals from Vietnam the opportunity to come to Ireland to study on business courses at UCD’s Michael Smurfit Business School. In 2013, this programme was expanded to allow a limited number of fellows to study in other areas at other institutions around Ireland. In all, 160 fellows have come to Ireland on the IDEAS programme since 2009.

In 2016, a decision was made to reorient the programme towards courses in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This marks a significant shift in the programme and, as a result, 2017 will see IDEAS fellows spread throughout Ireland. Fellows will still be studying on courses at Michael Smurfit Business School and other institutions in Dublin, but a majority will now study at institutions outside Dublin.

The Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) scholarships were first awarded in 2013.  These scholarships are intended to contribute to the development of LANITH as a regional centre of excellence in hospitality management and tourism education.  Scholarships are awarded for study in hotel management and kitchen operations/chef.

Unfortunately, no LANITH scholars have come to study in Ireland since the last group graduated in 2015, but we are delighted that there will be two students travelling from Laos to study at Dublin Institute of Technology in 2017/18.