Ireland looks to attract more Indonesian students to pursue higher education in the country, which is why Irish Education and Skills Minister Richard Bruton arrived in Jakarta on Monday.

Speaking at a networking event between Irish universities and local education agents in Jakarta on Monday, Bruton highlighted Ireland's rapid growth in the education sector in recent years, saying the country had developed the sector into an area of competitive advantage and was creating strong potential in the studying experience.

Bruton noted his country’s developments in agriscience, the new economy and high-tech research. 

According to embassy data, Ireland is currently home to 60 Indonesian students pursuing further studies across the country, including in the capital of Dublin and in smaller cities, such as Cork, Limerick and Galway.

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To add to the education experience, said Bruton, international students pursuing tertiary education in Ireland could opt to remain in the country upon graduating to work for one or two years, depending on the level of education achieved.

"One of the things we offer is the opportunity for students who study in Ireland to stay back and perhaps get a work experience with many of the both multinational and Irish companies that are leaders in their field," he said. 

Ireland, a country with a population of approximately 4.5 million, boasts 33 universities, many of which are strong in sciences and innovation. Meanwhile, its capital Dublin is home to the headquarters of several multinational companies, such as Google and Facebook, which create ample opportunities for internships and work experience.

Also speaking at the event, Isobel Walton, Education in Ireland's ASEAN manager, emphasized the country's strength in research, noting that Ireland ranked second globally in nanotechnology. 
 
"Ireland is also one of the safest countries in the world," Walton added, a factor that she said students also considered important when choosing a destination to study abroad.

According to Global Peace Index 2017, Ireland sits at number 10 of the safest countries on Earth. The list, compiled by Institute for Economics and Peace, ranks 163 nations according to their "levels of peacefulness".