Page 42 - ELG2102 Feb Issue 474
P. 42

THOUGHT LEADER                        .


        Laura Harmon:mon:
        Laura Har




        Advocating for ing for the rights  the rights
        Advocat


        of international students  international students
        of


        in Ireland means valuingeland means valuing
        in Ir


        teachers too
        teachers too




        Ron Ragsdale in conversation with Laura Harmon


        You’ve led a very politically charged   and there are many hurdles in relation to   I’ve also done some translation work
        life, twice running for a seat in the   this in the higher education sector.  in the past when I was a student. I
        Seanad, as well as holding critical                                     considered travelling abroad to teach
        roles in the Labour party and the   You have an MA in Applied           English, but my career took me elsewhere
        Union of Students in Ireland. What   Linguistics, which is often a      and I’m really pleased to be working in
        led you to take such a public career   professional route into English   the education sector with a fantastic team.
        path and what motivates you now?    language teaching. In fact, in this
        Will you run again for the Seanad?   issue of the Gazette, we will be   Your political activism has focused
        I got involved in political activism and   publishing our annual listing of    on the rights of groups marginalised
        campaigning when I was a student at   ELT-related MA programmes across   by mainstream society or politics,
        University College Cork. Through the   the UK and Ireland – which of course   but you are now in a role focusing
        students’ union there, I got involved in a   includes University College Cork.   on students, many of whom are
        range of campaigns, including education   Have you ever taught English or   international students in Ireland –
        equality, student mental health and   Gaelic? And if not, what was your   do you see this as a group needing
        human rights. This led me to become   intent when doing the MA?         advocacy? How are international
        politically active.                 I’ve always been interested in languages,   students treated in Ireland and what
          I have no intention currently to   and I received my primary and secondary   do you feel should change?
        run for election any time soon and   education through the Irish language.   Overall, international students are treated
        I am really enjoying my new role as   I’ve tutored secondary school students in   well in Ireland and I know that colleges
        executive director of the Irish Council   Irish and English, but I have never taught   have been working hard to support
        for International Students (ICOS). I’m   English to anyone who was learning it for   them during Covid-19. However, mental
        motivated by campaigning for equality   the !rst time.                  health supports, insurance costs and
                                                                                accommodation are all issues affecting
                                                                                international students.
                                                                                 We need to ensure that Ireland
                                                                                implements the International Education
                                                                                Mark to guarantee course quality.
                                                                                ICOS also campaigns on the regulation
                                                                                of online classes, and ICOS regularly
                                                                                consults with international students
                                                                                so that our campaigns are re"ective of
                                                                                their needs.

                                                                                Ireland has the biggest EFL industry
                                                                                per capita in the English-speaking
                                                                                world, but the smallest number
                                                                                of international students in its
                                                                                universities. Why? Irish schools
                                                                                often tell me it’s because they
                                                                                are so small, but Scotland is only
                                                                                about 10% bigger and 20% of
                                                                                all its university students are
                                                                                international. Do you think there
                                                                                are problems with racism that puts
        Ireland’s spectacular coastline is just one more reason to study here   international students off from
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