The Irish Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan led delegations from seven Irish universities, as well as a number of institutes of technology and private colleges, on a four-day education mission to the Boston last week.

Ms. O’Sullivan travelled to Boston last Monday where she attended the annual NAFSA conference (Association of International Educators) and gave the opening address. She met with Allan Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education, and visited local academic institutes including MIT, Boston College and Northeastern University.

On Tuesday she attended a roundtable hosted by The Irish American Partnership. The breakfast, co-hosted by the Irish Consulate in Boston, was attended by leaders in business, education, and government from Ireland and America. Minister O’Sullivan endorsed the Partnership’s programs in Ireland, reiterating the importance of supporting schools directly and the impact of early intervention.

As a former pre-school teacher, the Minister appreciated the Partnership’s emphasis on primary education and involvement in the promotion of STEM subjects. A child’s early years in school are some of the most formative for math and literacy skills, and she said that the best way to make a university education available to all students is to ensure that they have a solid understanding of the fundamentals in primary school. The Minister was particularly interested in the Partnership’s work around science education and the Royal Dublin Society Primary Science Fair. The Partnership has been involved with the RDS Primary Science Fair since its inception, providing travel grants for rural schools to attend the Fair in Dublin.

Further information on the Irish American Partnership can be found by visiting irishap.org