Hearing the different experiences of the other students at the conference make me realise how lucky I have been.
My experience as a student from a minority group in higher education is related to a degree in Arts (Politics and Arabic) which I did in University College Dublin.
I arrived in Ireland in March 1993 as a Bosnian Programme refugee, coming from the war-town city of Sarajevo. My settlement here was confusing in some ways and was difficult at times, but this was mainly due to the terrifying situation from which I was coming.
For the first few months I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with my future: whether to pursue further education or to look for a job. However, once I had decided what I wanted to do, that I wanted to study at a university, everyone was very helpful and supportive. The Refugee Agency and the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) were particularly helpful and they actually did everything for me. ICOS, especially Deirdre Murray, provided me with a wide range of information in relation to courses and colleges. After I had decided what and where to study, they did all the work (contacting University College Dublin, finding a place for me, etc.) On the other hand, the Refugee Agency did all the administrative and financial work on my behalf, without which I would not have been able to continue with my plans.
So, as you can see, everything was done for me; all I had to do was to decide what I wanted to do, and to study hard once I got to college. Throughout my college days, wherever I went, I found support and assistance, and in general, I felt no different than any other student.
There was, however, one instance when I felt that I was treated unfairly. During my second year at college, I found out that I was marked down in Arabic because of my English. All my written translations from Arabic into English were marked down. However, my other subject was Politics, which is based on one's knowledge of English and ability to convey one's argument to a reader. It seemed that in Politics my English was quite good, as I graduated with honours in Politics.
After I found out about this I did not know what to do as, no matter what, I cannot change the fact that I am a foreigner and that English is my second language. So, I went to the Dean of Arts, who was not available and I talked to his assistant. She informed me that there was nothing she could do as the rules of the university are the same for all students, regardless of their background. I took that as final and it seemed that there was nothing I could do except to work even harder on my English.
I cannot describe this incident as discriminatory to minor groups in higher education in Ireland, but rather as unfair to all foreign students. Apart from this, I did not feel any different than any other Irish student, and altogether I felt welcomed.
Maybe I have been lucky or maybe I am not willing to see the discrimination which others have talked about at the conference. I am very thankful to the Irish people and their government for bringing me here and giving me my life back.
I can conclude that, as a student, and in Ireland in general, I have met with Irish kindness and support, but not discrimination.