Dr Holly Cowman
Ed.D., Director of International Engagement, Mary Immaculate College
International partnerships are helping educators exchange ideas, expand access and strengthen learning communities.
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has earned two major national honours at the Education Awards 2026: the International Engagement Award and the Best International Collaboration Project Award, recognising its expanding global partnerships and commitment to international education.
MIC’s International Office has strengthened collaborations across Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States, including teacher‑education projects in Malawi and Uganda, literacy‑policy work in Argentina and engagement with Cambodian educators through the EPIC Connections symposium.
International mobility also grew significantly, with MIC student participation in short‑term programmes rising by 60% in 2025 and new opportunities emerging across Europe, the USA, Latin America and Asia. MIC received the highest allocation of non‑EU Erasmus+ mobility funding in 2025 and was the only institution awarded 100% of its requested funding.
Brazil partnership
An example is MIC’s collaboration with CAPES, the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education, which received the Best International Collaboration Project Award.
The MIC/CAPES Programme supports the professional development of Brazilian public-school educators through English-language development, leadership training and international educational exchange. To date, 76 Brazilian education professionals have completed the programme in Ireland, while hundreds more participated in online professional development.
initiatives like these demonstrate the growing importance of global partnerships in supporting innovation, professional development and shared learning across borders
Participants engaged with Irish schools, educational leaders and policymakers, while sharing their own experiences and expertise with the MIC community, creating a strong two-way exchange of knowledge and practice.
Global learning community
Dr Holly Cowman, Director of International Engagement, MIC, said, “We’re delighted to see the work of the International Office recognised in this way. The award for Best International Collaboration reflects the strength of our partnership with CAPES and the hard work and dedication of the programme team, contributors and participants, leading to the programme’s success. The award for International Engagement also acknowledges the wider efforts of colleagues across the College in creating opportunities for students and building global connections.”
As international collaboration continues to shape higher education, initiatives like these demonstrate the growing importance of global partnerships in supporting innovation, professional development and shared learning across borders.
