A private Polish-based third-level college which flies in lecturers from that country every second weekend and which teaches all of its courses in Polish, has started offering classes from Dublin City University (DCU) in recent weeks.
Prof Witold Rakowski of the Local Government College says that the decision to provide the course at DCU is a response to an "increasing demand, voiced by Polish migrants in Ireland, for an opportunity to commence or continue academic education while in Ireland".
A total of 45 students have so far enrolled on its part-time weekend course, where students are taught a range of economics-related subjects over a total of three years or six semesters.
The cost of the course is €2,000 per academic year, which is the equivalent to two semesters.
"The lectures and classes are delivered in the Polish language. The curriculum also includes a course in English, 120 teaching hours, scheduled to commence from the second [spring] semester," he said.
"Polish professors live in Poland and they fly in every [other] weekend.
"I think that it is a great opportunity for Polish migrants to continue academic education while in Ireland. The other advantage is that the lectures and classes are delivered in [the] Polish language," he added.
Prof Rakowski said that the diplomas for the course are awarded by the Local Government College, not DCU.
The Local Government College is based in the town of Zyrardow, in the Polish province of Masovia.
A spokesman for DCU confirmed that it rents space to the college, but he said it has no input into the course that the Local Government College provides.
Classes are held every second weekend on Saturdays and Sundays, with Saturday classes starting at 10am and running until 7.45pm, while Sunday classes start at 10am and finish 4.30pm.
Once they have completed two years (four semesters), students choose a major or field of specialisation. Eventually, they graduate with a bachelor of arts diploma issued either in English or Polish on request, which allows them to continue their education to master's degree level at any higher education institution in Europe.
According to Prof Rakowski, this is allowed for because Poland signed the Bologna agreement, which promotes student mobility in Europe.
The course offers specialisations in finance and commercial banking, local government and administration, environmental economics and international economics. Among the subjects offered in the first semester are the history and economy of Ireland, economic geography, microeconomics, philosophy, mathematics and law.
The new course officially started on October 6th last, after which the first classes took place at DCU.
Prof Rakowski said the programme aims to meet the "educational expectations and needs of the Polish commmunity in your country". The college was established by the Masovian Scientific society in Poland, he added.