JEDDAH: A new scholarship program that will see Saudi students transfer to Irish Technology colleges will “create jobs and boost the regional economy”. Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe TD made the announcement Wednesday that an agreement has been made between the Irish and Saudi Arabian governments to train Saudi students in vocational skills in three Irish colleges. Carlow Institute of Technology, Cork Institute of Technology and Blanchardstown Institute of Technology have been chosen to host hundreds of students transferring from Saudi Arabia who will avail of their facilities. The announcement was made during O'Keeffe's trade mission, where he hopes to promote bonds and develop exports between Ireland and the Middle East. In developing these educational links, O'Keeffe said they would “build on our strong relationship with Saudi Arabia, which considers Ireland among a small number of strategic partners in education”. Athlone Institute of Technology, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology already have working arrangements with Saudi authorities for vocational training and education and have around 150 students taking degree programs there. “The new agreements with the three institutes of technology will draw hundreds more Saudi students to Ireland under the well-funded scholarship program, where they will spend money in the local economy and help to create jobs. Saudi students could become new ambassadors for Ireland and choose the country for key investments originating in the Middle-East North
