Asia

Pearson has announced it will partner with JJL agency in China to promote its secure Pearson PTE Academic test. The company said JJL was the largest and most prestigious student recruitment agent in China, and the partnership will allow its 30,000 clients across 21 centres to have on-demand access to PTE Academic testing.

A discounting war is underway in Korea’s competitive agency market which is threatening to squeeze out medium-size agencies and damage foreign educators’ brands, according to sources in market. Driving the trend, say sources, is an increase in “sub agents” – one or two-man outfits which place students through the large “wholesaler” chains.

After the shooting death of two Chinese students at the University of Southern California (USC) last week, campus officials are mourning the victims and hoping the tragedy won't deter others thinking of studying at the university.

Singapore's Ministry of Education is to issue new advertising rules for private education institutions prohibiting them from using promises of employment to attract international students. Private operators that promise salaries or allowances for work placements will face challenges under the new rules as only students at selected universities can work.

In significant news for the education agency industry, a major Japan-based agency, BEO Ltd has announced its merger with Hands On Education Consultants in Thailand and investment from Kaplan as part of the deal. The news means a second investment into the distribution side of the business for Kaplan, following its acquisition of Pro Lingus in Switzerland in 2008.

The UK Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated his commitment to UK transnational education in Malaysia last week, as part of a trade mission to South East Asia. Cameron joined the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on a tour of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus...

Teach and Travel Vietnam (TTV) is launching in August, following the successful model of Teach and Travel China (TTC), set up in 2005, which has become the biggest TEFL training programme in China catering to more than 500 students each year...

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...

We want to develop a system to help students get internships while they are studying overseas, not after they’ve finished, to help them come back for short-term training during holidays so they can get to know the Chinese job market.

Canadian providers have dominated a ranking of the world's best EFL schools by Ryugaku Journal, the influential Japanese EFL magazine and agency, with five schools making the top 10. CISS at the University of Toronto was ranked first and Global Village in Victoria second, joining schools from the UK, Australasia and one from the USA.

ELS Language Centers, which has a global network of schools but is predominantly based on-campus across the USA, has unveiled its first on-campus language centre in Malaysia and partnership agreement.

Beijing Overseas Study Service Association (BOSSA) in China is to launch an online application form for clients applying to Korean institutions to circumvent fraudulent Chinese agents. The move was one of many Asia-centric topics discussed at K Conference in Korea, with key agency associations aiming to leverage student traffic to and within Asia.

Sixty UK scholarships will be awarded in India this year to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the British Prime Minister David Cameron announced earlier this month. The scholars will receive full funding for a one-year Master’s course in the UK, starting September 2012. Over 1,000 applicants are expected...

The number of Chinese who return to China after studying abroad rose significantly last year, with government incentives, China's buoyant economy and the effects of tougher job markets abroad driving the trend. A total of 186,200 Chinese returned home by the end of 2011, up from 135,000 in 2010.

Languages Canada member schools have helped raise more than CAN$1million for a scholarship scheme commemorating the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The Hope for Youth programme offers Japanese students affected by the disaster full scholarships for English and French language education...