Jon Aizlewood

The British Council's director of education and society, Jo Beall, has added her clout to the argument against current UK visa rules, suggesting that "this legislation could be damaging to the UK" and highlighting work rights as influential for international students.

British Study Study Centres (BSC) has become an international brand by acquiring American operator, Access to Language Studies, which has operations in New York, Boston and San Diego. This is a new development for the British group and means a new BSC America brand.

Non-EU applications to British universities increased healthily this year – however, the growth was most apparent in Scotland, according to figures released last week by UCAS, with applications there up by almost 25%..

Canadian immigration services have promised to improve students visa processing times in another major student market, Nigeria, after complaints about lengthy delays. In December, CIC opened six new visa applications centres in Africa before launching a major drive to improve processing efficiency worldwide.

The UK has announced a new visa route for 2013 to encourage entrepreneurs to stay on in the country – focusing on a "quality over quantity" approach to immigration. Immigration Minister Damian Green gave a speech last week and spoke about a "principle of selectivity".

Global private education provider Study Group has appointed former Oxford University Vice Chancellor John Hood as chairman, replacing Arvid Petersen who remains on the board and a significant shareholder. Hood was also Vice Chancellor at Auckland University...

AILS has launched a new website to promote its homestay language classes because of the increasing popularity of language lessons in a teacher's home. AILS, which has offices in six European cities, has launched the site in French.

The recession has had a detrimental effect in many language schools in Europe, but some are now using it to their advantage. EF is launching four new language schools in Europe, highlighting the need for multilingualism in a tough job market.

Travel and education giant TUI will launch a series of juniors camps with language and activities in the French Alps this summer through its new brand Peak Horizons...

Any school has got the right to begin direct recruitment in any country; that’s their choice. But it is our choice with whom we want to work with.