Some 200 people gathered in Athlone Institute of Technology last week to celebrate Chinese new year with music and dumplings. The IT is host to more than 80 students from China, most of them doing a foundation certificate programme that prepares them for further third-level study.

Athlone IT's international officer, Mary Simpson, explains that the college recruits in China. "We're going to China next month with Enterprise Ireland to recruit more students." The one-year foundation programme gives students a grounding in English, maths and technical areas. As a result of the programme, seven students have already moved on to the IT's undergrad courses.

"There is a great interest among the Chinese students in hotel and catering management, as they prepare for the Beijing Olympics." Simpson says the college keeps tabs on students' attendance and has had no problems in that area.

Meanwhile, Athlone IT is breaking ground on a new centre for the school of humanities and hospitality this Thursday. The school will offer a BA for the first time from next September - the first humanities BA ever offered in the midlands.