Ontario’s Colleges Sign Partnership with Ireland

Ontario college students will get a unique opportunity to complete degree programs overseas.

Ontario’s college students now have the flexibility to finish their degree in Ireland. Colleges Ontario and Institutes of Technology Ireland (IOTI) have signed a unique agreement that creates unique opportunities for students who want to travel.

“This offers tremendous mobility and flexibility to our students,” said Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario.

“Ontario college students will get a unique opportunity to complete degree programs overseas.”

At the same time, Irish college students will be able to finish their degrees at Canada’s colleges.

“What makes this so unique is that it’s a ‘system-to-system’ agreement, rather than just an agreement between individual institutions,” said Gerry Murray, the CEO of IOTI.

“We are starting with three programs: hospitality, business and electronics engineering, but we will build from there.”

The new agreement gives graduates of two-year college programs in Ontario a chance to secure a degree, with two more years of study in Ireland. Graduates of three-year programs will be able to secure a degree with one further year of study.

Students are also eligible to receive financial support to study abroad. For example, Ontario students going to Ireland would see their tuition fees reduced by more than 15 per cent.