On Friday, 19 April student ambassadors from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) were acknowledged for their work on the International Student Ambassador Programme by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, before attending a reception at Áras an Úachtaráin hosted by President Michael D. Higgins.

The students are part of a collaborative International Student Ambassador Programme managed by Enterprise Ireland and Education in Ireland. In partnering with colleges and universities, the programme aims to promote Ireland as an education destination. The RCSI Student Ambassadors were appointed in September 2012 and have spent months tweeting, blogging and podcasting articles and information to peers and prospective students around the world. They are part of a larger community of ambassadors in other Irish colleges and universities with a range of countries represented, including USA, Canada, Kuwait, Brazil, India and China. 

In addition to providing potential students with an insight into studying in Ireland, the ambassadors also highlight their own institutions and help market their own colleges overseas. This is RCSI's first year participating in the programme and its three inaugural ambassadors are Hadeel Al Jazzaf (Kuwait), Bryce Lowry (Canada) and Sami Backley (USA and Saudi Arabia), all of whom are currently studying Medicine at RCSI.

In addition to juggling their busy academic schedules over the past number of months, each student played a key role in answering the many and varied questions, queries and requests from potential students (and their parents) around the world. They have provided advice and information on student supports, services and student life in addition to highlighting many unique features that Ireland offers the international student. 

The Ambassador Programme at RCSI is managed by the Student Services Office. Commenting on the programme, Corriena Brien, Student Services Manager said, "Ambassador programmes are an excellent way of communicating with potential students around the world and who better to give an account of the Irish education offering than students themselves. We are delighted to work with Enterprise Ireland and Education in Ireland in promoting Ireland as an education destination in addition to encouraging potential students to choose RCSI."

She went on to add, "I am so pleased for our students to receive this recognition and meeting President Michael D. Higgins really added to the sense of occasion. Our ambassadors have given up precious time to participate in the programme and it is wonderful to see their efforts recognised and rewarded. Next year we plan to expand the programme and will include Pharmacy and Physiotherapy student representation in addition to ambassadors from other regions. This is an exciting programme offering many benefits to students, the college and Ireland as a whole."