Jon Aizlewood

The UK-based international student market remains vital to UK universities despite the country’s tightened visa policies, The PIE News has learnt. At the UK University International Student Fair last month in London, institutions said an important proportion of overseas enrolments originated within the country – and that onshore marketing led to better students.

Colombia has signed two mutual degree recognition agreements in as many weeks following Memorandums of Understanding reached with Portugal and Chile. The agreements are part of a campaign to increase internationalisation in Colombia's higher education sector and recognition of its graduates in the global workforce.

Launched in March by the Irish immigration authorities and sector body, MEI, the fast-track visa programme for Chinese students is so far underwhelming the sector for its impact on enrolment figures. Despite an initial quota set at 400 students, only about 200 hundred are expected to enrol by the end of the year.

Marketing at LSBF is much more central to the operation. We are truly global and we don’t view agents in the margin. We also have a different approach to students – counselling them rather than just trying to sell them something...

Developers from GoAbroad.com, one of the leading international education and experiential travel resources in the US, have launched a fundraising site to help students raise money for courses abroad. FundMyTravel allows students to start a campaign on the site and then share it with family and friends who can make donations.

Education New Zealand, the official agency for international education in New Zealand, has held its first pan-industry conference since it was established last year. 450 delegates from education institutions, businesses and organisations attended.

Philippine education secretary Armin Luistro has called for Filipinos to return home after studying abroad, warning the country is losing its "best and brightest" students but praised the country's new K+12 curriculum in raising standards to meet global needs. He also said he wanted to bring more overseas students to the Philippines, which has seen interest treble in the last four years.

A new documentary has criticised the lack of work opportunities for Indians in Australia after they graduate from Australian universities—raising questions over whether a recent extension to post-study work rights has gone far enough. The film follows a student who applies for more than 60 jobs without being asked to an interview.

Compelling presentations delivered at last week's IPSEF event cemented the rampant opportunity presented by the growth in the international schools market, which is expected to double by 2020 and struggling to meet demand, delegates heard.

UK universities expect their revenue from international students to grow by 24.5% in the next three years, according to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, however there is a "significant risk" demand could fall due to UK visa policy. In cash terms, the sector is expecting overseas fee income to rise from £2,513 million to £3,459 million by 2014-15.