Australia

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that international education exports have reached AUS$18.1bn, a 14.2% increase on AUS$15.9bn in 2013-2014. The sector remains Australia’s fourth largest export after iron ore, coal, and natural gas.

Education agents have spoken out against Australia's Streamlined Visa Processing system, saying it is neither faster nor dependable for visa issuance. They have cautiously welcomed the recent announcement that the system will be scrapped starting next year but say it's too early to tell if it will be an improvement.

The Australian government has expanded the New Colombo Plan, its programme to promote student mobility into Asia, and announced three new initiatives to increase opportunities for students in business.

English Language Company, an ELT business operating in Asia and Australia, has won an award for its enterprise in Malaysia and commitment to helping build up an English skills infrastructure in the region, scooping the ARFF ASEAN Outstanding Business Award for international education.

The company's ELT, HE and vocational division has also seen a 17% EBITDA increase, mostly due to enrolment growth in North America.

Four in five overseas students who study in Australia return home immediately after graduating, a Hobsons survey has revealed. The company has argued that the findings show international students do not pose a threat to Australians' employment opportunities.

Australia’s government has announced a raft of changes to the ESOS Act, that promise to reduce red tape, change tuition payment requirements, and give teeth to ELICOS standards.

English Australia and English USA, the representative bodies for the English language teaching sectors in each country, have both appointed new executive leaders. Cheryl Delk Le-Good and Brett Blacker spoke with The PIE News about their new roles.

The Council of International Students Australia, which represents the country's 460,000 overseas students, has said it will focus on student-led advocacy in the coming year as it welcomes a new team of national officers.

Chinese agency, EduGlobal says it is "deeply shocked" following Australian TV channel ABC’s Four Corners: Degrees of Deception programme, aired earlier this year, which accused them of misconduct when sending students abroad.

Insufficient and costly purpose-built student accommodation may be putting Australia at a competitive disadvantage when recruiting internationally, research commissioned by the International Education Association of Australia has suggested.

The planned Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between Australia and India will allow Australian universities to help in the upskilling of India's youth population.

The South Australian government has announced that it will funnel AUS$5.7m over four years into attracting overseas students, as part of a major budget package to increase international travel to the state.

Australia’s government has announced a new Simplified Student Visa Framework that will cut red tape and extend streamlined processing to all sectors and all courses.

The Australian government has announced the membership of a new council to oversee the finalisation and implementation of a national strategy for international education.