North America

UK-based INTO University Partnerships has announced its latest partnership with a US university - this time, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virgina. This is the fourth university in the US to sign up with INTO, which also announced this week that it is bringing one of the largest delegations of education agencies to the UK for a fam tour of partner institutions.

The top five most attractive study destinations according to education agents have not changed since last year, according to the i-graduate ICEF Agent Barometer 2012, however Canada has significantly gained ground on its competitors. 64% rated it "very attractive" – up 5% on 2011 and 15% on 2008.

Foreign enrolments at US universities grew 6% to 764,495 this year, according to the latest Open Doors report, bringing an estimated $21.81 billion to the economy. It was driven by a big rise in interest from China and Saudi Arabia, as well as in English programmes as a route to university. The number of Americans studying abroad was also up.

International students interested in studying in the US have a new source of information on immigration rules and visa processes – a video produced by the Student Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) and posted on its recently launched Study in the States website. Student to Student: Studying in the States is the first video of its kind from the Department of Homeland Security.

The agency behind the websites All About Languages and Idiomas Fuera has launched two new websites promoting high schools, boarding schools and vocational institutions to English and Spanish speaking markets across Europe and the Americas.

US universities should refocus their attention on “emerging” recruitment markets to avoid over reliance on traditional sources, the education think tank World Educational Services (WES) has claimed in a new report. It points to Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Vietnam and Turkey as top targets, warning dependence on the likes of India, Korea and China means less campus diversity and more financial risk.

During an advocacy day held for English USA members, US government agency, SEVP, informed universities that that they would no longer be able to issue I-20 visas for degree-seeking students on condition of a student improving their English level. They will have to reapply for a new I-20 upon completion of their English level; this is one of several policy adjustments..

Canada is the latest country to mandate a training programme for education agencies interested in gaining certification relating to their Canadian counselling skills. The Canadian embassy in Germany officially launched the Canada course for Education Agents at the weekend on the fringes of ICEF Berlin.

US firm peerTransfer says it has become the first money transfer service to allow Chinese students to make direct educational payments overseas in their home currency. The system is open to those studying in the US, Europe, Australia and Canada, who peerTransfer claims could save $100m per year.

Canadian universities have reported a 12% increase in international student enrolment numbers for the fall semester, in a further sign that Canada is growing as a study destination. International education already contributes CAN$8 billion in spending to the economy.

Rejections of visa applications to study English in the US have soared in Turkey in recent months, causing panic among agents and US ELT providers for whom Turkey is a key source market. The rejections are linked to a Turkish visa fraud case in the US. Agency association UED cites up to 80% refusal rates.

American students have named study abroad programmes in France, Italy and China among the best, according to rankings compiled by the portal Abroad101.com. The rankings also provide niche category winners, such as best budget-friendly, top foodie cites and top non-traditional destinations.

Languages Canada, which represents French and English language schools in the country, was awarded CAN$80,000 in funding last week by the government. This reflects the government support for the sector - as evidenced by a recent successful trade mission to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

NAFSA, Association of International Educators in the USA, has unveiled a new President, Fanta Aw, who will take over the position from January 2013. Ms Aw currently works at American University in Washington, DC, focusing on international student services.

Canada has been chosen as the country with the best reputation in the world for the second year, according to a major online poll from the Reputation Institute. It also knocked the UK off the top spot in the education category.