With participants arriving at their first stop in Ireland, the virtual “Magallanes World Study Tour” kick-started on 20 May 2021, via Zoom. It was organised by the Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) and co-organised with seven partner universities, namely University of Limerick, Ireland, Jiangsu Normal University, China, Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenya, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, North Bangkok, Guizhou Normal University, China, University of West Attica, Greece, and Hungkuang University, Taiwan.

The virtual international study tour aimed to offer participants the opportunity to experience various economies worldwide through a virtual platform, while learning about each destination’s culture, traditions and languages.

Present to officiate the launching of the virtual international study tour was UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat, who expressed his gratitude to the seven partner universities for making this virtual international study tour possible. Also present were, DCInterNet Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Deputy Director Dr Chen, I-Chi and staff.

“Although the pandemic has stopped physical international travel and study tour, this has not dampened our initiatives to promote international cultural, language and knowledge exchanges among our staff and students including the public. Technology has made it possible to have virtual tours and online communication and exchanges including video meetings across continents from our own living room. Therefore, this event is planned to bring together all eight universities including UTAR across seven economies from around the globe for an inter-connected virtual study tour that will engage all participants to learn more about the university, its community, its culture, and the city of location, with just a click of the computer mouse. These international exchanges will also enhance participants’ cultural intelligence and adaptability to diversified cultures, which are important elements for cross-cultural understanding as well as cultural intelligence,” said Prof Ewe.

He added, “More interestingly, this event promotes the concept of ‘Internationalisation at Home’ via the virtual platform, whereby we get to experience faraway places in a safe and cost-friendly manner from home. Internationalisation and inter-cultural understanding are also ways to train students to embrace differences and diversity for a more holistic educational experience. This event is also a key part of UTAR’s Student Mobility Programme that promotes international study tours and exchanges, which is now conducted virtually due to the pandemic. Since the pandemic started last year, more than 2,000 international students participated in our virtual inbound study tour programme and another 2,000 students participated in our virtual outbound study tour programme.”

Leading the virtual tour of Ireland was International Officer of University of Limerick (UL) Liam Ryan, who enlightened participants on the history of Ireland, its culture, its landscape and insights on modern Ireland, with the title “The Land of Shamrocks, Leprechauns, Dancing and Guinness”. Participants learnt that Ireland was settled by humans since 10,500 BC, and by 500 BC, due to Romanization, Celtic culture had mostly become restricted to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany. Between the fifth and sixth centuries, the Celtic-speaking communities emerged as a reasonably cohesive cultural entity, and had a common linguistic, religious and artistic heritage that distinguished them from surrounding cultures.

“When we speak about Gaelic Ireland, it is understood that it was a political and social order, and associated culture that existed in Ireland from the prehistoric era until the early 17th century. Before the Norman invasion of 1169, Gaelic Ireland was comprised of the whole island. For most of its history, Gaelic Ireland was a patchwork hierarchy of territories ruled by a hierarchy of kings or chiefs, who were elected through tanistry. Warfare between these two territories was common. Occasionally, a powerful ruler was acknowledged as the High King of Ireland. Society was made up of clans and was structured hierarchically according to class. Throughout this period, the economy was mainly pastoral and money was generally not used. The Gaelic Irish style of dress, music, dance, sport, architecture and art can be identified even to this day,” explained Ryan.

He then spoke about some of the known Irish myths, namely the Leprechaun and Halloween. It was explained that the Leprechaun was one of the most famous and enduring ancient Irish myths, and the earliest mention of the Leprechaun was in the eighth century. The leprechaun was depicted as a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy. Others depict leprechaun as a little bearded man wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief. In later times, the leprechaun was depicted as shoe-makers, who have a hidden pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

“Halloween, on the other hand, was dated back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead becomes blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Thus, this became All Hallows Eve and eventually, Halloween as we understand it,” explained Ryan.

“The Shamrock, as many would know, is the three-leaf clover that has been considered the unofficial national flower of Ireland for many centuries. Irish legend says that Saint Patrick used the shamrock as an educational symbol to explain the Holy Trinity as he converted the Irish to Christianity in the fourth century. Ireland became a strong Catholic country, an event becoming known as the Island of Saints and Scholars in the early medieval ages with Irish missionaries and teachers a common sight throughout Europe at that time. Shamrocks can be seen all over the world on St Patrick’s Day, as a celebration of Irish culture, and is known as a lucky symbol,” said Ryan.

Participants also learnt that Northern Ireland remained in the United Kingdom (UK), primarily because of a policy called plantation. This was the process of moving Scottish and English citizens over to locations in Ireland to settle areas taken from defeated Irish noble families. Many native Irish were also based in Northern Ireland and wanted independence, which led to a period of conflict, known as “The Troubles”. It was later resolved by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

It was understood that for more than 400 years, migration has played a huge role in Irish life. The population of Ireland is 4.9 million people, yet 20 million people worldwide claim Irish descent. A huge catalyst for migration after this was the Great Famine of 1845, which resulted in the reduction of the population of Ireland from 8.8 million people to approximately 4 million due to death and emigration. The number of Irish who emigrated during the famine reached 2 million people. Between 1841 and 1850, 49 per cent of the total immigrants to the United States were Irish.

“On migration and Modern Ireland, since the 1990s, the overall balance of migration has been inward migration into Ireland. In the past decade, we have had net immigration of more than 100,000 graduates and skilled workers. Many multinational companies have based themselves in Ireland as their EU base and it is a very diverse and welcoming country, probably as a result of its difficult history with migration,” said Ryan.

“Now on to the Irish Pub Culture, we know that Ireland is well known for its pubs, and Guinness, and this culture is known all over the world. The culture is one of a friendly banter, open and friendly to strangers, music, chat and good food with pints.”

“What about the Irish language? It is still taught in school and forms a key part of our culture. Irish is a compulsory language for students to take up at the end of their High School and around five per cent of Irish people use Irish daily. Road signs and official documents are bilingual. It has also affected how we speak English-Irish accents and sayings are called Hiberno-English. “Craic” is a good example of this, a word that has transitioned from Irish to every use of English,” explained Ryan.

He further elucidated that, “Craic is a term commonly used in Ireland. In the simplest form, the word is slang for fun and enjoyment, but the true meaning embraces the Irish culture and means something far greater than just having a good time. True craic requires great company and lively conversation where everyone is involved. This culture of craic is what makes student life in Ireland so special, and in 2019, UL was rated #1 in the world for International Student Experience.” Other favourite Irish phrases also include Uisce Beatha, Cead Mile Falite, and Go n-eiri bother leat.

On the aspect of music, Ryan explained that Ireland is the only country in the world to have a musical instrument as their national symbol, which is the harp. “Music plays a huge part of everyday life in Ireland. There is traditional Irish music but also a strong scene in Rock, Pop, and newly emerging hip hop scene like Denise Chaila from Limerick with “Anseo”, meaning here in English,” said Ryan.

He went on, “Irish dancing is unique and the best one known is called the Riverdance. It involves percussive step dancing in unison with a group and in time with accompanying music. Riverdance has been selling out shows around the world for the last 25 years; it showcases traditional Irish dance. The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in UL is the only Faculty of its kind in the world; teaching and developing Irish dancers and musicians but also performers from traditions all over the world.”

Speaking of sports, participants learnt that Hurling is one of Ireland’s Gaelic Games, and is known as the fastest field sport in the world. It is played on a huge pitch with 15 players on a side with sticks or hurleys. Gaelic Games are the biggest sports in Ireland by far, and students coming to UL get the chance to try it.
“Today, Ireland has developed into a rapidly growing, knowledge-based economy. It is a hum in the EY for multinational companies, particularly in the areas of Computer Science/Technology, Pharma, Medical Devices, and Financial Services. Celtic Tiger economy has seen the fastest growth in the EU for the last 10 years or so of five per cent or more per year. Ireland’s GDP per capita is now #3 in the world. Ireland is also one of the most diverse countries in the EU with approximately 17 per cent of its resident population born in another country. The research, conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, found that non-Irish nationals living in Ireland are at least as likely to be employed and highly educated as Irish people,” said Ryan.

He added, “Ireland has emerged as an unlikely diplomatic power in global politics, and its dedication to neutrality, charity and development policies has led it to be considered a reliable and independent voice in discussion and negotiations. Irish Diplomacy has grown to be a global self-power with a seat on the UN Security Council, and on a per head basis, Ireland has a good claim to be the world’s most diplomatically powerful country.

A total of eight stations were scheduled in this virtual study tour. Following after the stop in Ireland, participants were brought to tour Station 2 - Jiangsu Normal University, China; Station 3 - Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenya; Station 4 - King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand; Station 5 - Guizhou Normal University, China; Station 6 - University of West Attica, Greece; Station 7 - Hungkuang University, Taiwan and the final stop at Station 8 - Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. Click here to read about the other stations.