Katie Duncan

Ireland’s Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has informed The PIE News of his plans for an “approved list” of ELT schools following the closure of a number of language schools in recent weeks. He added that he hopes to see the launch of a new ELT accreditation scheme from January 2015.

From this September, students studying at International House Manchester will be able to carry on their education at 25 universities across the UK, USA and Canada. The school has recently signed an agreement with pathway provider NCC Education to offer the International Foundation Year programme.

Figures from DAAD show that the number of international students in Germany increased by 7% last year to 300,000. DAAD says its goal of hosting 350,000 students by 2020 is "more than achievable"; getting half of all German students studying abroad in six years might be more challenging.

This year's NUS Internationalisation Awards were hosted at The Warwick Integration Summit, a unique event that examines how universities and students' unions can best work together to promote integration between domestic and international students. There were winners in eight categories, including a new Careers Advising award.

Hundreds of dollars of adventure activities are available to Japanese students as part of a new marketing campaign from Education New Zealand (ENZ) and Tourism New Zealand to attract Japanese ESL students to the country. Activities ranging from a bungee jump in Queenstown to a jet boat ride on Auckland’s harbour are available.

For the first time, representative body English UK has ventured into direct student contact after 11 of its members took part in BMI’s Expo-Estudiante in Bogota following the EUK Fair in Cartagena in Colombia this month. The move marks a new direction for the organisation under incoming CEO Eddie Byers.

Following its strong start to 2014 for international education, the Australian government has announced plans to extend Streamlined Visa Processing (SVP) to students applying to enrol in Advanced Diploma level courses at low immigration risk providers.

UK-based Education Travel Group has rebranded as Inspiring Learning in a bid to increase its global footprint and become the go-to “experiential learning” choice for juniors worldwide. The company aims to transform its junior study travel market by combining British Council accredited English language classes with adventure activities alongside native students.

I have cousins in the USA, UK and one in Canada, and nobody had studied in Australia, which is a good thing. Every time we have a family dinner I can talk about my experience in Australia and I’m not compared with the others, it’s my own experience.

Ireland’s English language sector has been hit once again by the closure of a further two schools bringing total school closures to five in recent weeks and leaving hundreds of students displaced. Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has set a joint task force to meet on Friday to answer concerns from student protests held this week.