The acquisition of PIER from Australia-based International Education Services for an undisclosed sum will create the industry’s largest professional development network, the company said.

“PIER’s well-respected Education Agent Training Course, dedicated to Australia as a study destination, is an ideal complement to ICEF’s suite of five agent training courses, three of which are focused on destinations such as Canada, the US, and Ireland,” ICEF CEO, Markus Badde, said

“This acquisition further enhances ICEF’s sector leading agent reach.”

Together, PIER and ICEF have trained over 100,000 agent counsellors.

Launched in 2003, PIER has specialised in training solutions for education agents, educators and students around the world. ICEF has worked closely with PIER since it began delivering professional agent training since 2010.

“Our brand and market position has always been focused on providing agents with quality training outcomes”

With the EATC – which IES developed in collaboration with Australian Education International and the Department of Home Affairs almost 20 years ago – PIER is a “natural partner”, ICEF noted.

“With over 15 years of collaborating with key stakeholders in the international education sector, our brand and market position has always been focused on providing agents with quality training outcomes,” Luke Latimer, director at IES Digital, said.

“ICEF aligns perfectly with these values and through our working relationship we have developed a shared commitment to supporting better outcomes for students, via better trained agents. We look forward to continuing that relationship as part of this new chapter.”

More acquisitions are expected in the pipeline as ICEF looks to further invest in professional development across the international education industry, the company added.