ICOS Seminar 2016
Supporting International Students in Times of Crisis: Where Does the Duty of Care Begin and End?
Event held Thursday 9 June 2016, Central Dublin
In our increasingly globalised world, the work done by higher education institutions is impacted by the risk of crises and emergencies at home and internationally. In recent times, there have been several crises affecting students - international and home students on mobility programmes - that have prompted HEIs to examine the kind of preparation needed when crises arise. Speakers at this seminar outlined some of the key aspects - protocols, precautions, preparations that should be considered when setting up relevant crisis management plans to tackle a range of acute crises.
Chair: Mr Gerry OSullivan, Head of International Progammes, Higher Education Authority
2-2.05 pm Welcome and Introduction
Ms Sheila Power, Director, ICOS
2.05-2.25 pm Institutional Perspectives on Managing Crises and Challenges for Student Services
Mr Brian Gormley, Manager of Campus Life, DIT
2.25-2.45 pm US Viewpoints and Different Perspectives on Duty of Care
Dr Stephen Robinson, Director, Dublin Programme, Champlain College
2.45-3.05 pm Legal Perspectives on Duty of Care
Margaret Gorman, Partner and Head of Education, Eversheds Ireland
3.05-3.30 pm Panel discussion and questions
Speaker profiles:
Ms Margaret Gorman
Margaret Gorman is Partner and Head of Education at Eversheds Ireland and has unrivalled experience in education law and acts for many of Ireland's leading universities and colleges. Margaret also acts for colleges, patrons, trustees, insurers, management bodies and a host of other education providers. Margaret has substantial experience in advisory and contentious matters. She has many years' experience of complex court proceedings and appearing before tribunals. Margaret regularly speaks at national conferences as well as delivering in house training to education institutions.
Mr Brian Gormley
Brian Gormley has worked for 25 years in Student Services in the United States and in Ireland, and was a coordinator on the group that developed the 'National Guidelines of Good Practice in the Organisation of Student Support Services'. He was previously Chairperson of the Confederation of Student Services in Ireland (CSSI), the national organization for Student Affairs professionals in Ireland, and served on the Board of CSSI for seven years. Brian is Head of Campus Life in the Dublin Institute of Technology. In that role he is responsible for student support services including Counselling, Student Health, Careers, Chaplaincy, Sports, Accommodation, Volunteering, Student Financial Aid, and student organizations.
Mr Gerry O'Sullivan
Gerry O'Sullivan is Head of International Education at the Higher Education Authority in Dublin - the statutory planning and policy development body for higher education and research in Ireland. He has addressed many international fora and conferences including the Education and Culture Committee of the European Parliament; the FAUBAI Conference in Brazil and many meetings in Brussels, the UK, Jordan, Germany, Russia and Austria. He is currently the Chair of the Erasmus+ Working Group on Special Needs and has been a member of the Bologna Working Group on Internationalisation and Mobility.
Dr Stephen Robinson
Dr Stephen Robinson is Director and Associate Professor with Champlain College Dublin, the Irish study abroad campus of Champlain College of Burlington, Vermont, USA. British born and Canadian raised and educated, he holds a PhD from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and previously held the Chapin Chair in Geology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, with a research emphasis on arctic geomorphology. He is co-founder and board member for the Association of Study Abroad Providers in Ireland (ASAPI) and also for the European Association for Study Abroad (EUASA). He is board chair of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).