Jon Aizlewood

In a bid to protect the growing number of international students coming to Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has unveiled proposals to limit student visas to those attending institutions designated by provinces and territories from 2014. The HE, language and college sectors have welcomed the move, but career colleges warn the policies could be damaging.

Ireland’s universities saw a considerable 8% rise in overseas enrolments in 2011/12. However, growth is not being enjoyed evenly across the tertiary sector, which grew just 2%, with considerable falls at private colleges and institutes of technology.

Over time IDP has developed into the world’s largest student placement organisation, and led the world in developing the business of being an agent effectively

The last few years have presented the international education sector with significant challenges, but the continuing demand has kept most businesses buoyant and growth on the agenda. The PIE takes a look at a selection of the key players in language, pathways and higher education that are navigating through somewhat turbulent times.

I-graduate, the market research firm most famous for its surveys on international student experience, has been sold to the major education outsourcer Tribal Group plc for up to £7.5million. Both companies say the deal will increase their data-analytics capabilities; Will Archer will continue as CEO.

A Nobel-prize winning scientist credited with a discovery that could spur economic growth in the UK has lambasted the government's student immigration policies, saying they deter foreign talent. Russian-born physicist Professor Sir Andre Geim isolated the "super material" graphene in the UK but said new salary thresholds on non-EU students were "stupid".

A raft of far-reaching proposals to overhaul K-12 level international education programmes in British Columbia, Canada – including a levy on foreign students – is being mooted by the provincial government. It says the reforms will protect the reputation of BC education abroad, but many in the sector complain they have not been consulted.

The Indian government has rolled out a system to track the activities and academic performance of all foreign students entering the country from April 2013. Similar to regulations in the UK and US, universities will be required to register with the Foreign Student Information System...

Browns English Language School in Australia has won the top export award in the Education & Training division, beating fierce competition and earning itself widespread recognition.

Foreign education providers will be allowed to expand into Malaysia's vocational education sector, the government has announced, as it aims to increase economic growth by 2020 and alleviate major skills shortages. However, international institutions will face challenges to recruit students in the country, given only around 10% of secondary schools age students go into vo­cational and technical streams.