Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

Lobbying Organisation Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

Date published 20 May, 2022

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2022 to 30 Apr, 2022

Specific Details Request on humanitarian grounds, to not exclude or discriminate against Ukrainian students studying in HECA member HEIs, from any supports that their fellow Ukrainian students may be able to avail of if studying in a public higher education institution.

Intended results Inclusion of students studying in HECA member HEIs in national/EU supports for Ukrainian students in Ireland. No discrimination for students from Ukraine and Russia studying in private HEIs. Inclusion of HECA member HEIs in the national effort to support Ukraine citizens/students in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Patricia O Sullivan

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (6-10)

Identification of concerns, (urgent and longer term) (financial, visa, mental health etc) experienced by Ukraine and Russian students. Provision of numbers of Ukraine, Russian and Belarus students in HECA member HEIs. The offer to DFHERIS-Inclusion of the provision of voluntary expert quality mental health/counselling provision from HECA member HEIs to support Ukraine citizens arriving into Ireland. Inclusion of State supports for Ukraine students studying in HECA member HEIs. Highlight the capacity of HECA member HEIs to facilitate the increased demand for HEI places for the 2022-23 academic year

Meeting (1)

Meeting with DFHERIs and Assistant Secretary, Keith Moynes on immediate issues for Ukraine and Russian students studying in HECA member HEIs and the identification of possible supports required/available. How HECA member HEIs can be part of the national effort to support Ukraine students. Request no discrimination for State supports for Ukrainian students studying in HECA member HEIs in comparison to Ukrainian students studying in publicly funded HEIs. Highlight the capacity of HECA member HEIs to facilitate the increased demand for HEI places for the 2022-23 academic year

Phone call (2-5)

Identification of concerns, (urgent and longer term) (financial, visa, mental health etc) experienced by Ukraine and Russian students. Provision of State supports to Ukraine students. The offer to DFHERIS of the provision of voluntary expert quality mental health provision from HECA member HEIs to support Ukraine citizens arriving into Ireland. Visa entry support/guidance for family members of Ukraine students who were to travel to Ireland. Highlight the capacity of HECA member HEIs to facilitate the increased demand for HEI places for the 2022-23 academic year

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Keith Moynes Assistant Secretary (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science)