Africa

Education giant Pearson has launched the Global Scale of English – a numeric measurement of English language proficiency. The company will begin introducing the GSE into its product lines worldwide over the next 18-24 months and aims to establish it as a universal benchmark for businesses, governments and academic institutions.

Booming Chinese investment in Africa could prove to be beneficial for France. With historical and lingual ties to several countries on the continent, France has seen an increase in Chinese students keen to learn French and establish ties with French industry. As a result, the French government has initiated a series of programmes to attract Chinese students to France.

Findings from research conducted by the British Council and the German Academic Exchange Service show that transnational education (TNE) is often an affordable alternative to traditional student mobility and is seen to better prepare students for the job market than local providers.

International House World Organisation has expanded its network of schools to include centres in Italy, Angola, Russia and Germany, bringing its total number of affiliate schools to 158. IHWO’s Chief Operating Officer Lucy Horsefield said: “Our organization is growing steadily at the moment".

After seeing "dramatic" growth in Angolan students travelling to South Africa to study, International House Cape Town has opened a new English Language school in Angola's capital city Luanda. The school also signed three memorandum of understandings to open language schools at private local universities.

A group of 11 education agents from BELTA, the Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association, has just returned from a familiarisation trip of South Africa that will likely boost bookings from Brazilians keen to learn English and study in the country, say organisers.

Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have struck a deal that will mean students moving to study between the three countries will pay local tuition fees, as part of a move to harmonise education in the East African Community (EAC). Previously, incoming students have paid international fees priced in US dollars.

UK-focused global education agency, SI-UK, with numerous offices spanning Japan, the UK, India and Turkey, is increasing its global footprint with new operations in China, Thailand and Nigeria. Its growth plans follow an investment into the company that helped achieve a 25% rise in student applications year on year.

Pearson Test of English Academic is continuing its rapid global expansion with new test centres in Nigeria and Iraq, and has plans to open centres in 20 markets this year including Malaysia, Vietnam, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. It will be working with a UK university in partnership overseas too.

As the Mauritius government aims to turn the island into an education hub, the Medine Educaiton Village is expanding its facilities to accommodate more international education providers that will cater for up to 4,000 students. The developer also has plans to break ground on a second campus that will have the capacity for 11,700 students.

The British Council has signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to work with the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) to improve the country's English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) programming and delivery. The signing of the DOI follows last week’s Education World Forum.

The UK government completed another roll-out of requirements for TB screenings for immigrants from more than 50 countries including Nigeria, South Korea, Russia and the Ukraine last month. Students and other migrants travelling to the UK from the 52 countries countries will have to be tested for tuberculosis before applying for a visa the home office announced last month.

One of the world’s most prominent league table for universities – QS World University Rankings – has been chosen by intelligence analyst firm Interfax group to rank universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and publish findings as QS University Rankings: BRICS.

Global English test IELTS has rolled out a new biometric identity authentication system that will incorporate a finger scan and high resolution photo of all test takers in jurisdictions where it is permitted. The company said that governments had welcomed the security upgrade and test-takers appreciated the swifter process.

Peace building and conflict resolution were the centre of a unique summer programme jointly hosted by education giant EF and the United Nations Alliance of Civiliations (UNAOC) last month. One hundred youth from 92 countries convened for a week of roundtable discussions, workshops and direct mentorship from UNAOC and EF officials.