Recruitment & agents

The Chief Executive of English UK encouraged members to remain positive in the face of another year of declining sales, immigration upheaval and encroachment from competitors abroad. Despite less than ideal conditions and the Olympics the main culprit for a 7.8% decline, he outlined reasons for optimism. Expert speakers also spoke on global and regional trends and potential.

The strengthening of economic ties between Russia and other emerging markets has created a boon for the country's language sector, according to stakeholders. Demand for Russian has increased mostly due to student's seeking to benefit professionally from the country's growth.

The Turkish government has intervened in the country's booming study abroad market to even out irregularities in service and quality from education agents after complaints from parents and students, The PIE News has learned. A new cohesive body to represent the sector is being formed.

ICEF’s ANZA Workshop, which connects local providers with agents from around the world, grew by 13% this year despite the challenges facing the region's international education sector. 155 operators and 176 agents gathered in Brisbane, Australia, for three days of networking.

Nine thousand two hundred Indians studied at Chinese universities this year, up by 15% on 2012, a report by India's Ministry of External Affairs has claimed. The report claims Indians are increasingly drawn by China's admission system, affordable fees, facilities and international branch campuses.

The British Council has honoured the vital contribution East Asian education agents make to British education with a major conference and awards ceremony in Guangzhou, China last month. The Council said The East Asia Education Agent Conference 2013 was the first event of its kind and vital to lending "credence and exposure to an often-misunderstood industry".

Recruitment efforts during the the European Association of Quality Agencies's first two years have paid off with the addition of nine new members from agencies across Western, Central and Eastern Europe. Education agencies from Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, Malta and the Czech Republic have joined.

An innovative video interview company based in China is expecting "tremendous growth" for 2013-2014 since it has seen strong take-up among prospective international students keen to demonstrate their English language capabilities on film. Its emergence taps into global concerns with fraud in the high-stakes admissions process.

The three-day K conference in Korea succeeded in putting Asian education in the spotlight, by hosting Asian educators, Western educators and education agencies from the region. An online social forum to build up networks for Asian professionals was unveiled too.

The most recent China International Education Exhibition Tour staged in various cities in China attracted tens of thousands of Chinese students interested in studying abroad, and was a great platform for BOSSA, the Beijing-based agency association.

Bending to austerity measures, the Spanish Ministry of Education this month announced it would slash scholarships for language students studying summer immersion courses abroad. Funding will be cut from €22 million in 2012 to just €450,000 to fund studying French in France, and a yet-to-be disclosed sum to study language within Spain.

English language study has lost ground to the French language learning market, according to the Swiss agency association, SALTA. English study, however, still dominates demand but clients' needs are evolving as instruction in schools improves levels of proficiency. Meanwhile, online bookings are also up.

English Australia, a peak body for English language providers, is looking to ramp up engagement with education agents worldwide after a survey revealed that 37% of respondents were unaware of the organisation.

In order to capture the huge ELT market in Brazil, schools and agencies must be prepared to offer bespoke, innovative programmes for two distinct groups of clientele, says Marcia Mattos, head of international education at STB. She delivered market insight at the recent ALTO Seminar in Dubai.

Public schools from across Canada will participate in their first ever trade mission to Turkey. Led by the Canadian Association of Public Schools-International (CAPS-I), the trip aims to attract high school students from Turkey and expand Canada's ties with the country. High school fees average around CAN$12,000 a year per international student.