The Emerald Isles’ English language education (ELE) sector has continued to grow between 2022 and 2023, according to a report from Marketing English in Ireland (MEI).
Last year, Ireland saw a 23% increase in student numbers and 20% increase in student weeks from 2022, totalling over 128,000 students. This includes an increase in mini-stay groups, from around 23,000 to almost 40,000 students.
The number of adult students choosing to study in Ireland has also gone up by almost 10,000 to 62,509 in 2023. MEI note this number includes increases from both EU and non-EU countries, ‘reflecting the sector’s appeal to a diverse international audience’. One emerging market for Ireland comes from East Asia, with significant increases in students from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia and Mongolia.
Alongside positive trends in student recruitment, employment within the sector has also grown. In 2023, the number of people employed across teaching, admin and support staff increased by 11.4%.
‘MEI is delighted to see such impressive growth in Ireland’s English Language Education sector,’ said CEO of MEI, Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd.
‘The increase in student numbers, across all programmes and a diverse network of source markets, demonstrates the sector’s resilience and appeal. We are committed to providing exceptional education experiences and look forward to continuing to contribute to the growth and success of Ireland’s international education sector.’
