Policy

In a combative exchange of views this week at the Association of Colleges (AoC) International Conference, Minister for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock MP, challenged the FE colleges present not to use difficulties with the visa system as an excuse for not being able to invest in delivery of education and training in-country.

Expanding broadband infrastructure is the key to improving education in Africa a roundtable of ministers from across the continent concluded last month. The gathering was part of the 9th eLearning Africa conference in Kampala Uganda attended by over 1,500 education and technology stakeholders.

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.

English UK welcomed education agents from across Europe to Scotland on its recent spring inward mission, soon after Scotland's External Affairs Minister spoke out in favour of plans to re-introduce the two-year Post-Study Work visa should Scotland gain independence. Six Scottish centres were showcased to the visiting agencies.

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) giant Coursera has lifted restrictions to students in Iran put in place earlier this year in compliance with US export control regulations. The restrictions on provision in Iran, Cuba, Syria and Sudan came into force when the US government released "a clearer interpretation" of how export control regulations relate to MOOCs.

The Indian embassy has begun an emergency evacuation of its citizens from Ukraine's conflict-stricken Eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk. It has issued a particular warning to students not to delay their departure to a later date. Some 1000 Indian nationals have already travelled to the capital of Kiev, en route back to their home country.

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.

A report by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS) has found that global HE enrolments increased from 32.6 million in 1970 to 182.2 million in 2011; 46% in the East and South East Asia. It brings together data on expansion strategies from different sources in 26 Asian countries for policy makers.

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.

Plans to remove English language testing from China's highly competitive university entrance exam will come into force a year earlier than originally planned. Students will now sit an external English exam that can be taken multiple times throughout the year as part of the university admissions process.

Two US states are working on legislation that they hope will protect the interests of students who study abroad. In New York, proposed legislation would force colleges to fully disclose the costs of their study abroad programmes, while a new Minnesota bill would require institutions to file annual reports on student deaths, accidents and illnesses that occur during study abroad.

Australia’s Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey announced last week “once-in-a-generation” reforms to the university funding system that will cut the commonwealth’s contribution toward course fees by on average 20%, saving the country AUS$1.9 billion, and fully deregulating student fees from January 2016.

Findings from research conducted by the British Council and the German Academic Exchange Service show that transnational education (TNE) is often an affordable alternative to traditional student mobility and is seen to better prepare students for the job market than local providers.

The USA's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that it was proposing new rules that would "attract and retain" highly skilled immigrants and Chile, Singapore and Australia are likely to benefit. The White House also underlined its commitment to the 100,000 Strong in the Americas programme.

The 3,000 assistant teachers will be sent to Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries by 2020 through a new ¥30 billion (US$296 million) 'Asia Centre' initiative, in a bid to deepen ties with the region. The centre will promote Japanese language, culture and sports, particularly in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics.