Donal O'Connor, Head of International Office

Donal’s primary responsibility is to manage the recruitment of international students to Swansea University. He manages a team of recruitment and support staff, including an overseas recruitment office based in Malaysia, and is involved in formulating, developing, managing and driving the University’s overseas recruitment and development strategy, inclusive of all academic schools and non-academic sections.

A bit of background

Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Donal studied for his Degree in International Politics and International History at the University of Wales Aberystwyth, where he also obtained his MBA.

Donal’s first academic related appointment was at Swansea University, where he worked as Administrator in the Institute of Health Care Studies. It was in this role that he first got involved with overseas education, managing a number of Taught Masters Degrees that were running on an outreach basis in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Mauritius.

Subsequently, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Director of International Development in the University International Office, with the remit of recruitment and development on an institution wide basis.

More recently, he was appointed Head of the International Office. Donal sits on the Management Board of the Welsh International Consortium and holds full professional Membership of the Chartered Institute of Marketing