DCU President calls for review of case of Zimbabwean student under deportation order

In December 2016, Dublin City University became Ireland’s first ‘University of Sanctuary’. Among a range of initiatives associated with this designation, DCU, with the aid of significant philanthropic support, established a number of ‘University of Sanctuary’ academic scholarships, with a particular focus on those seeking Asylum in Reception Centres in Ireland.

One of the scholarship recipients, Mr Shepherd Machaya (originally from Zimbabwe), a second year student on a degree programme in Management of Information Technology and Information Systems, has recently been served with a deportation order. Shepherd has been a model student at DCU and has passed all his examinations to date,

The issuing of a deportation order to Shepherd has created much disquiet across the University community, as Shepherd is not only an able student in the academic context, but he has contributed in many ways as an active and respected member of the University community.

The President of DCU, Prof Brian MacCraith, has voiced his support for Shepherd’s case, stating, “I am calling on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, to review Shepherd’s case with a view to allowing him to remain in Ireland in order that he may complete his course of studies at DCU.”