Policy

Canadian public schools voiced their concerns about bill C-35 at this year’s CAPS-I conference in Toronto, complaining that the reform was making them “jump through hoops” to recruit international K-12 students. The bill, enacted in March 2011, makes it an offence for anyone other than an “authorised representative” of the government to advise on a students’ visa application for a fee.

Border agents in the US have been ordered to verify the validity of international student visas when they arrive in the country under new security procedures made effective immediately following the Boston bombings last month, reports the AP. Access to the SEVIS system is being made available now to all airport border staff.

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.

FutureLearn, the UK’s first massive open online course (MOOC) platform has announced a further five partners. The project, launched by the Open University in December 2012 from 24 UK universities and other organisations, is backed by the government which believes it could leverage British university brands around the world.

France's position as a top study destination for international students is "fragile" and the government must improve internationalisation in universities and the student experience to remain competitive, Higher Education Minister Geneviève Fioraso has claimed. She proposes improving Campus France and post-study work rights among other reforms.

Perth in Western Australia has launched a new campaign to promote its many attributes as an study destination on the back of rapid growth in international student enrolment in the state. WA believes its tangible benefits such as access to a buoyant jobs market can lead to larger enrolment numbers.

Politicians in Cyprus have called on the government to streamline entry requirements to private higher education institutions, which cater to up to 90% of all non-EU students. They say current student visa obligations are onerous and get in the way of the island's ambitions to become an education hub in the region.

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.

China and Italy pledged to strengthen cooperation in education last week in Milan, at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Higher Education Day. There are currently 13,000 Chinese students in Italy and around 4,130 Italian students in China. Officials called for more student exchange and Chinese language teaching.

Ireland has launched a scholarship scheme for students from emerging markets in a bid to increase trade ties. Promoting Ireland as a study destination is "a priority area in the government's Action Plan for Jobs 2013," said Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn.

The European Commission is considering a fifteen per cent cut to its budget for the Erasmus exchange programme from 2014 to 2020, in the face of demands for austerity cuts among member states—although in real terms it would still represent an increase. At the same time it is pushing for a student loan guarantee scheme to encourage more students to fund their own studies.

Dubai’s stature as an international education hub was reinforced this month, after data showed overall growth of 24% at its Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) education business parks. In 2012, a further 80 partners signed up to the parks – although the number that were actual educators is unclear.

A new study from the European Migrant Network has underlined the positive economic impact international students make on countries across the European Union in the form of direct fees, taxes or employment. It also notes the growing prevalence of national recruitment strategies.

A new company backed by the Malaysian government has been set up to act as a "gateway to studying in Malaysia" by processing all student visa applications, ensuring insurance coverage is purchased and providing information on government approved courses.

US universities say that Education USA, the state body tasked with promoting US education abroad, is failing to support them fully because it refuses to work with education agents, or to attend agent-backed fairs. The add that it is not coordinating properly with government departments that do tolerate agents.