Relations between Chinese and Irish third-level institutions have expanded in recent years, with more than 200 partnerships in 10 out of 12 of Ireland’s public universities, including 110 joint undergraduate programmes involving Irish academic staff teaching on Chinese campuses. Currently, Trinity has reported links to 26 Chinese education institutions, while University of Cork features 66 such links and University College Dublin has 35.
A recent report by the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) and the Central European Institute of Asian Studies warns that links with Chinese universities closely connected to the People’s Liberation Army of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and which have been linked to cyberattacks can pose a “significant risk” to the academic freedom of Irish universities and the welfare of staff and students. A similar study in 2025 on joint education institutions in the UK found that Chinese students on both UK and Chinese campuses were subject to ideological surveillance by the CCP, and that the CCP discourages academics from criticising the Chinese government. Similarly, a draft report circulated at UCD (involved in three joint campuses in China) in 2020, later retracted, described academic freedom as an “obstacle” to the university’s internationalisation.
Moreover, a 2020 report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission noted that Chinese students benefiting from the state-funded scholarship of the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) — including a full scholarship for a 4-year PhD at Trinity College Dublin covering all fees, living and traveling costs — are required to take a “loyalty pledge” to the ideology and leadership of the CCP. Similarly, Swedish and British media have reported that Chinese students studying abroad have been forced to repay CSC grants after breaking the pledge, and are required to undergo ideological training.
In addition, a senior official in the Irish Military Intelligence Service voiced concerns about national security in December 2025, warning against the increased espionage targeting in Ireland in recent years, and making particular note of the risks associated with Chinese research connections at Irish universities: “It can be hugely detrimental to the West if you empower [China] by educating them simply because they come to a university with funds.”
Currently, 11 joint research projects between Irish and Chinese universities are underway. Notably, the Sino-Irish Research and Innovation Institute for Novel and Emerging Sciences and Technologies focusing on artificial intelligence based in Technological University Dublin (TUD) has been described as “very high risk” as the Chinese institution involved in the project has close links to the Chinese army, so that the research produced could be made to serve military purposes. Such links, as pointed out by the CSRI, may also damage the reputation of Irish universities, a concern presumably of particular importance for Trinity as Ireland’s leading university and among the top 100 universities globally.
By contrast, Taoiseach Micheál Martin downplayed fears about security risks during a meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing in January this year, asserting that joint research projects did not cover any security sensitive areas, while stressing the financial benefits to Irish institutions.
In 2018, Trinity researchers received nearly €13 million in joint aid from the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) to support research “in areas of strategic importance to the People’s Republic of China and Ireland” within artificial intelligence and telecommunications. Moreover, the college announced a new Chinese partnership agreement with Renmin University last month that aims to facilitate the exchange of staff and students, and promote joint research.
In a recent comment to The Times, Trinity College stated that “Like many Irish universities, and like universities all over the world, Trinity has developed connections with Chinese institutions over many years and has welcomed many Chinese students to its campus, as well as facilitated Irish students to study there. These connections have opened up a valuable window for our students and academics.”
