Associations

Fifty per cent of language schools and 41% of educational agencies saw growth in the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest language travel survey from ALTO. France, Malta, Germany and Ireland were particularly upbeat in terms of language teaching destinations.

IALC has unveiled bold new membership rules to ensure it can maintain a strong membership core in the years ahead, as consolidation and expansion impact on what is an independent operators' club...

Top education agents from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have said they will more aggressively promote Canada and Canadian language teaching institutions according to an Agent Satisfaction Survey, part of a six month follow-up to Languages Canada’s trade mission to three target markets...

The number of suspect private schools or colleges in the UK has plummeted by almost 95 per cent in the past four years, according to sector association, English UK.. The findings are based on a recent survey of 560 non-accredited language schools, which have been monitored by the association since 2002.

Over half of education agents attending the IALC Workshop this year were new to the event (55%), enabling the association to showcase independent schools and gain a wider exposure in the international education industry.

A record number of delegates (800) attended APAIE at Thailand's first institution of higher education, Mahidol University. Attendance continued to rise year on year, said organisers.

Eighteen educators from US institutions had the opportunity to meet with potential partner campuses in Brazil last month as the culmination of the IIE's International Academic Partnership Programme (IAPP). Delegates insist closer relations will now foster greater opportunity, with institutions mindful that language programmes are an integral bridge to greater academic exchange.

Educators and agents have praised the networking opportunities at English UK’s latest fair in Panama, which also provided intelligence on the Latin American market

English Australia has launched a new programme which unites two major export industries, education and tourism, in confronting the challenges of the strong Australian dollar. Tourism suppliers will be able to promote services to international students.

Russian agency association, Association of Russian Educational Advisors (AREA), which comprises 20 members from across Russia, is giving its members access to specialist CRM software to manage their work in a deal with AMS...

Feltom in Malta has heralded its third annual workshop a huge success, helping to affirm Malta's reputation as a quality English language teaching destination among education agencies...

Beijing Overseas Study Service Association (BOSSA) in China is to launch an online application form for clients applying to Korean institutions to circumvent fraudulent Chinese agents. The move was one of many Asia-centric topics discussed at K Conference in Korea, with key agency associations aiming to leverage student traffic to and within Asia.

The Extended Student Visitor Visa (ESVV), a short-term student visa which can be used by English language students in the UK for up to 11 months, has been declared a success in its first year by English UK. It has called on the UK government to mandate the visa category permanently.

Study abroad scholarships, language courses and test preparation programmes were all in high demand at a recent education fair in Spain. This is the prognosis of ASEPROCE, the country's agency association which has more than 70 members. It estimates an additional 30,000 will leave home to learn a language this year.

English Australia, which represents the interests of English language teaching operations in the country, has unveiled a new brand identity which marks a new direction for the dynamic association. EA represents the majority of educators in the country and is engaged with consumers and government.