Jon Aizlewood

In positive news for Australia's international education sector, year-end 2013 data reveals an almost double-digit rise in course commencements in 2013 compared with the previous year. This upturn was across all sectors except VET, which remained stable with negligible -0.1% negative growth.

New regulations have been published in Canada confirming language teaching institutions will no longer be able to offer "co-op" programmes. Other key changes are more positive, including automatic work rights for many international students.

British Columbia in Canada is to tighten its quality requirements for post-secondary institutions and language schools. As of June 2014, all eligible institutions will be required to sign up to its Education Quality Assurance scheme (EQA), in light of upcoming changes to the International Student Programme.

The number of international students studying UK qualifications abroad rose by 4.9% last year. The findings come soon after QAA and the UK Higher Education International Unit have launched a consultation into strengthening the quality of transnational education.

The second big hiring news of the week is that major ELT player Embassy English, part of Study Group, has announced the appointment of Santuza Bicalho, former CEO of major agency chain STB in Brazil, to head up its global sales division.

Pearson Test of English Academic is continuing its rapid global expansion with new test centres in Nigeria and Iraq, and has plans to open centres in 20 markets this year including Malaysia, Vietnam, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. It will be working with a UK university in partnership overseas too.

UK universities have experienced a surge of 150% in Chinese students coming to study creative arts and design, and London is leveraging its location as education and fashion hub to highlight that many Chinese fashion graduates are forging successful careers in the industry.

Cambridge English Language Assessment will welcome BBC alumnus and digital expert Saul Nassé as its new Chief Executive on 31 March. “We are delighted to appoint Saul, who has a strong background in education and digital innovation," said Simon Lebus.

Both the UK and Germany are calling on the creative photography skills of international students to promote study opportunities in competitions with prizes worth £250 and €500 respectively. FDSV in Germany and the British Council in the UK are behind the promotions.

Leaders of UK sector associations have called for the government to focus on existing fraud challenges in light of a recent TV documentary instead of increasing regulation for compliant schools. Accreditation UK has confirmed its remit does not include delivery of external examinations.