UK

Business and English school the London Institute of Technology and English (LITE), UK, has been restructured, after government curbs to student visa issuance pushed it towards insolvency. Both the school’s Notting Hill English language branch and Bayswater business school have shut. The English language arm has been taken over...

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair has stressed the importance of international education to the British economy in a recent interview sponsored by LSBF. “The truth is that we’re up there now with the best in the world at attracting students from all over the world," said Blair.

A landmark statement on ethical recruitment by education agencies has been issued by four countries: the UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. While the Statement of Principles will largely be used for informing best practice and has no actual policy ramifications, the fact that four countries have agreed on quality principles for education agencies is in itself quite a milestone.

Universities and Science minister David Willetts has said that British universities are only “scratching the surface” in exploiting the opportunities available in offshore delivery and encouraged them to engage further with “business and foreign markets”. The comments were made in a speech yesterday in which the minister addressed the funding reforms affecting UK HE.

A group of MPs has warned that the British Council risks losing its “soft power” abroad and becoming predominantly an “international language school”, due to government cuts forcing the organisation to boost its commercial activity. Subject to the 2010 Spending Review, the Council's FCO funding will fall from £185 million to £154 million by 2014-15, a 26% reduction.

Education agents from around the globe recently toured four cities in the UK on the first ever fam trip to the newly formed ELC group of language schools (owned by TUI Education). 14 agents visited the four ELC centres in London, Manchester, York and Edinburgh...

All Pakistani students applying for UK visas will face a compulsory interview according to news reports. A pilot study is said to have revealed that up to 40% of Pakistani students could be ineligible based on poor English skills, despite rules requiring proof of English ability. UKBA is reported to be considering rolling out the requirement for other nationals also...

The UK Home Affairs Select Committee has produced its third report of the year into the work of UKBA and there was more criticism of UKBA operations. MPs called on UKBA to recognise the term Bogus Colleges and ensure that inspections to Tier 4 sponsors (education establishments) must be unannounced.

A recent study has shown that international students studying at the University of Exeter contribute over £88 million a year to Exeter’s economy and support 2,880 jobs; 2.8% of all employment in the city...

Ten students from Brazil came to London to learn English through football as part of the British Council’s Premier Skills programme. The trip served to highlight the community outreach work that...

Six English language schools in Northern Ireland, all of which are members of English UK, have formed a geographical sub-group of the association with an aim of putting Northern Ireland more firmly on the map in terms of tourism and study travel opportunities. The group cites benefits such as low density of international students...

Foreign students are not permanent migrants - this was the message delivered yesterday at a debate organised by UniversitiesUK. Panellists and delegates claimed that the UK's economic gains and soft power leveraged by international students were at risk by the government's pledge to cut immigration.

The British Council has signed an agreement formalising its delivery of University of London (UOL) exams in 75 of its overseas centres, taken as part of UOL's International Programmes which are taken by students in 190 countries. Standardised pricing will also be introduced.

ELT supremo Jeremy Harmer has added his voice to concerns over current UK visa policy harming the UK's international education industry...

In Plymouth, UK, proposals to curb international students’ use of local shops after a reported rise in shoplifting have been thrown out by police and business leaders, who say they were unfairly singled out. Local language schools have complained that they weren't consulted in original local council plans.