The PIE News team

Hawaii-based private English language school, the Institute of Intensive English, has launched an international scholarship targeting students from under-represented countries.

In Australia, cricketing legend Brian Lara attended the opening of Swinburne's new location in Sydney and spoke to students at the event.

Reflecting on 2019, a number of headlines stick out – from acquisition shakeups across the ESL industry to visa issues stretching over various destination countries. Here are some of the stories which have grabbed our attention, and yours, over the last 12 months.

UNSW Sydney has signed a five-year, AUD$100 million joint venture with the Qingdao International Academician Park in Shandong, China.

Dublin's Alpha College of English has been acquired by UK-based Twin Group, in a deal which allows the company to expand its operations in Ireland.

Student marketing agency Natives has announced a partnership with TikTok China (Douyin) to help UK universities recruit Chinese students.

Universities in the UK have taken widespread precautions to prepare a no-deal Brexit, but more than three quarters are "very" or "extremely" concerned about the prospect, a survey has revealed.

The UK will be "more popular than ever" after the re-introduction of the PSW visa, according to the organiser of EuroAsia Agent Workshop in October.

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed this week that graduates of 2021 are likely to benefit from the new post-study work route that was unveiled.

Global international educators have congratulated the UK sector for helping reintroduce post-study work rights, but note the UK is now on a level playing field in terms of PSW settings; successful job outcomes are the ultimate influencer.