As its 25th anniversary year draws to a close, NCUK has added two major international collaborations to its portfolio of academic preparation programmes: a £1m scholarship scheme for Nigerian students and an in-country pathway programme in Malta.

While MOOCs and e-learning have increased access to education, problems around completion rates, and quality of learning outcomes are still rife. At the Online Educa Berlin conference this month, stakeholders said more needs to be done to ensure online education produces good academic results.

After 10 years of negotiations, a bilateral trade agreement between China and Australia will extend the number of Australia's private HE institutions featured on the Chinese government’s JSJ (Jiaoyu Shewai Jianguan Xinxi Wang) or "white list" of quasi-approved institutions.

With the general election fast approaching, lively debates from the HE and FE sectors at Study UK's annual conference threw out the choices ahead for 2015, with most speakers agreeing that balanced regulation surrounding immigration and funding would support the longer-term prosperity of the sector.

In more exciting acquisitional activity in the education agency space, Canada's Loyalist Group has reported it is set to acquire Uhak.com (Uhak), South Korea’s largest education agency, for CAN$8.1m, of which $5.3m will be paid in cash. Loyalist's CEO said the deal meant "a new dimension to Loyalist's vertical integration strategy".

As study-work policies fluctuate in key study destinations, internships are becoming an effective and popular way for students to gain valuable on-the-job experience. To varying degrees, countries and private providers are developing strategies to enhance the role of internships within study abroad and as a stand-alone international experience. Katie Duncan reports.

Australian language training group, Lexis, is expanding its portfolio to Kobe, Japan, where it will offer Japanese language programmes to international students and test preparation English programmes to local students.

Canada-based ILSC Education Group has entered into a strategic, financial and advisory partnership with private strategic investment firm Quad Partners. The deal will enable the education company to expand its global footprint.