Leinster College has become the latest English language school to close, announcing that is to cease trading in a note posted on its website this morning.
The English language school informed students and staff last week that it was closing on a temporary basis.
However, a note posted on its website at 1am this morning said that “Due to change (sic) in trading conditions Leinster College has ceased to trade with immediate effect. We apologised for inconvenience caused to all our clients and staff members.”
Leinster College is the ninth English language school to close to date this year.
It follows a clampdown on abuses of the student visa system, whereby students from outside the European Economic Area are registering with colleges with the main aim of working rather than studying in Ireland.
The college had offices in Harcourt Street and in Dolphin’s Barn.
Dave Moore, communications officer for the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) said that, unfortunately, the closure had come as no surprise to the organisation.
“We are really seeing this as perhaps the first of a series of closures linked to a tightening of regulations which will take full effect from January 1st but which is already having repercussions,” he said.
Changes to requirements for colleges seeking to recruit non-EAA students are being brought about in the New Year.
As part of the criteria being introduced, English language courses will have to be accredited by Irish awarding bodies while a much more restrictive list of education programmes will be eligible for student immigration purposes.
Calls made to Leinster College managing director Khan M Salehin this afternoon went unanswered.