On Friday 18 December 2009 in Dublin’s Mansion House the City of Dublin acknowledged the importance of international students to the future of Dublin society and economy.  University students, including DCU students, from countries including China, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States and Zimbabwe who are studying and doing research in Dublin’s third level institutions attended a Welcome Gathering. The gathering is an initiative taken through the Lord Mayor of Dublin’s International Student Scholarship and the Dublin Regional Higher Education Alliance.

The students, who represent thousands of young people from countries throughout the world, have made Dublin their destination of choice for education. Lord Mayor Emer Costello thanked them for having made Dublin their city of choice and reminded them that they are now citizens of Dublin.  “You come from different lands, different cultures and different experiences. You bring difference into the life of our city and we treasure that difference because it enriches the cultural, social and economic life of Dublin. I encourage you to participate in the democratic life of your city. We need your ideas, your passion, your views and your commitment to enrich and deepen our civil and political society.”

The Lord Mayor stressed the importance of international students to the economy of Dublin and job creation. Referring to the work of the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment she remarked: “. I believe that attracting international students has to be an important element in the development of our economy and the creation of jobs. Your presence here has a direct economic benefit to this city and this has been proven by studies in other lands. International students from countries outside of the EU contribute over €500 million annually to the Irish economy” It’s a growing and important market and Dublin needs to get its share. Melbourne, a similar sized city to Dublin, earns over €2 billion annually from the same market.”

In her address to over 100 students attending, the Lord Mayor stressed: “The importance of international students to our future cannot be overstated. Economically you will provide much of the talent, ideas and opportunities which will develop our economy. Culturally and socially we have much to learn from you, and in that learning we can ensure that our society becomes more global in colour and understanding, more tolerant of diversity in all its forms and more open to the richness of the world.”