About ICOS
ICOS was founded in 1970 and its offices are based in Dublin on the Morehampton Road.
We collaborate with our members, student organisations and government agencies to ensure that international education policy and practice in Ireland is quality-driven and remains firmly focused on the educational and social needs of all students.
We promote the rights and welfare of international students who choose Ireland as a study destination, and support staff in colleges who work with them.
Our Vision
All international students in Ireland achieve their educational goals, are treated equitably by the education providers that host them and are valued by wider society.
Our Mission
Protect and enhance the rights of international students in Ireland while championing their contribution in the places they study and in the communities in which they live.
Our Values
- Student-centre
- Inclusive
- Supportive
- Collaborative
- Solutions-focused
- Dependable
What we do
We continually strive to ensure that the benefits brought about by international education are recognised, the barriers faced by international students in Ireland are minimised, and that these students are integrated into Irish academic life and wider society. We apply a determined diversity, equity and inclusion approach to all of our activities.
Throughout its history, ICOS has also been invited to provide practical and administrative support to a number of study fellowship programmes bringing international students to Ireland. In particular, we have played a long-standing role in managing aspects of the Ireland's Fellows Programme on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
How we're governed
ICOS has 26 institutional members, including all of the universities and technological universities in the Republic of Ireland, many of the Institutes of Technology and all the major independent third level colleges. Our membership also includes the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
Members decide on broad strategy, policy and membership issues, but delegate day-to-day management to a professional staff based in Dublin, overseen by an elected Board of Directors.
Key objectives are developed in our 2022-2024 Strategic Framework. Out activities are reflected in our annual reports and policy publications, all of which are available on our Publications page.
ICOS subscribes to the principles and standards of the Charities Regulator's Governance Code
Our Members
See a full list of our members here.
Our Board
Aoife Hynes, Union of Students in Ireland
Adam Crowther, Dublin Business School
Harriet Le Good, National College of Ireland
Holly Cowman, Mary Immaculate College
John Joe Farrell, Atlantic Technological University
Karen McAvinue, Technological University of the Shannon
Kevin Geoghegan, Griffith College
Louise Kelly, National University of Ireland Galway
Michelle Hogan, Trinity College Dublin
Natalie O'Byrne, University College Cork
Shamiso Chigorimbo, University College Dublin
Suzi Breslin, University of Limerick
Our Team
Laura Harmon
Executive Director
Niamh Keely
Finance and Operations Manager
Brian Hearne
Policy & Communications Manager
Laura Pohjolainen
Programme Manager
David Redmond
Senior Programme Officer
Marjorie Laville-Pain
Programme Officer
Chi Mai Nguyen
Programme Officer
Linh Hue Duong
Communications and Alumni Officer
Luis Dias
Training and Activities Officer
Rodrigo Domingues
Finance and Administration Officer
Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages
ICOS has signed the Dóchas code of conduct on images and messages - the purpose of the code is to provide a framework through which organisations can ethically design and implement their public communications strategy.