ICOS Statement on Closure of Limerick International Study Centre (LISC) also trading as Lanlearn

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ICOS regrets to hear that the Limerick-based English Language study provider, LISC, has closed leaving students and teachers uncertain about their future. The school closure was announced on Tuesday, March 20. In response to news of the closure ICOS' Director, Sheila Power, said "this will be a stressful time for all international students who are currently enrolled in the school or have paid money towards future courses. ICOS' priority at this point will be to work with the authorities to support students who are affected".

We want to ensure that the learner protection arrangements, which are in place through insurance provider O'Driscoll O'Neil (ODON), work effectively to ensure that there is minimum disruption of study for students. These arrangements should allow for students to move to other providers in the Limerick area to complete their courses, or to be otherwise compensated for their losses.

ICOS is also in touch with the immigration authorities and are reassured that all genuine visa-required students currently at LISC should not be concerned about their immigration permission despite the school closure. LISC courses were removed from the Interim List of Approved Programmes (ILEP) in January 2018.

We expect that all enrolled students at LISC will be contacted directly by ODON. The contact details for support are Chris Anako - CAnako@odon.com.

ICOS will monitor the situation closely and provide updates on the situation as it evolves. ICOS will also continue to offer advice and support to students who are uncertain about their entitlements. Our advice line is support@icosirl.ie and our telephone number is (01) 6605233.

 

Note:

ICOS has put together a brief information sheet for affected learners.

 

This is what the Irish immigration service (INIS) says about learner protection:

"All [private] colleges must provide enrolled learner protection. Your letter of acceptance must clearly demonstrate that you are covered by learner protection arrangements.

NB. Where the college's enrolled learner protection arrangements are through an insurance scheme, each student must have a certificate of proof of enrolled learner protection in their own name demonstrating that they are covered." - INIS - Student FAQ

 

Update 04/04/2018:

ICOS can confirm that students registered at LISC/Lanlearn prior to its removal from the ILEP on February 9 have been offered cover under learner protection by being relocated to Limerick City College. This includes students not requiring a visa to come to Ireland who had paid money to the school, but had not yet travelled to Ireland.

Unfortunately, the situations of a number of visa-required students who had paid money to LISC, but had their visa applications refused, are still to be resolved. While the insurance provider, ODON, has stated that it will cover its obligations to visa-required students as well, this is on the basis that they will be able to travel to Ireland to take up an alternative course; the insurance policy does not provide for refunds. ICOS will continue to provide support to these affected students to seek a fair solution.

ENDS

 

For further information contact:

Sheila Power

Director

Irish Council for International Students

Email: sheila@icosirl.ie

 

News type
ICOS Press Release