Malta

Maltese education provider EC has unveiled its digital learning platform, Fusion, which allows students to combine self-paced online learning with immersive classroom teaching.

The latest ICEF i-graduate Agent Barometer reveals a drop in attractiveness for both the UK and the US as study destinations among education agents in the last year.

A national body has been established in Malta to promote the internationalisation of education and entice foreign institutions to set up a presence in the country. Education Malta was officially launched last week by the Minister for Education and Employment.

LTC UK, an independent chain of language schools with three locations around the UK, has announced it will merge its school in Brighton and close its London centre.

We are lobbying NZQA and the Ministry of Education for recognition as a separate sort of entity. We believe we have the rights to be heard as another group of institutions involved in international education

"When you tell your story, start the story in Malta," said Andrew Mangion, explaining his motivation to inspire young Maltese while celebrating EC's 25 year milestone.

LAL Language Centres has announced two strategic partnerships that will add locations to the group’s global school network and a novel course to its portfolio.

A short-term impact of the Brexit vote in the UK is a likely uplift in study travel to the UK for English language study because of the value of the pound sterling falling.

Fifteen language course scholarships are on offer to Turkish students who compete in a social media competition organised by Edumag, a new study abroad social content platform.

A new web portal for language schools to fill leftover places on their courses outside of normal enrolment windows has been launched by Canadian firm islBooking.

According to a recent survey, commissioned by BELTA, of education agencies and students, the economic crisis, decreased purchasing power, unemployment and currency depreciation all hindered language travel sales for Brazilian agents in 2015.

The UK’s ELT sector has shrunk for the second year in a row as both adult and junior enrolments dropped for the first time and lengths of stay diminished. English UK figures show the country hosted 42,000 fewer students in 2015, 8% less than the previous year.

Germany’s study travel sector maintained its performance of previous years with bookings declining by only 1.29%, according to agency association FDSV. But, agents reported a rise in later bookings because of security concerns.

The number of students studying English in Malta decreased by almost 3% last year, according to recent statistics, with a drop in students aged 16-25 quelling growth seen in the previous year.

NCUK, has established a partnership with sixth form college, Mander Portman Woodward, to provide a pathway programme for international students.