South America

University students in Paraguay with outstanding academic records but limited financial resources are being offered three-year scholarships to study English in their country to help prepare them for the Fulbright scholarship programme. The US Embassy works with the private sector on the programme.

With a new website, a new board (in May) and an important 20th birthday reached, agency association BELTA in Brazil held a cocktail party this week to celebrate its success. It was hosted by Spain, keen to tap into Brazil's booming market...

Less than half of language schools worldwide said their enrolments grew in the second quarter of 2012 compared with last year, according to the latest language travel survey from the Association of Language Travel Organisations (ALTO). Inversely, business was up for agents with 45% reporting growth over 41%.

Ecuador's Ministry of Science and Innovation is accepting applications from professionals looking to study a PG degree on scholarship, with generous stipends available if applicants return and work...

Brazil sent 25% more foreign students to the USA last year, its second favourite study destination. Agency association BELTA is repositioning to help boost interest in study abroad in all regions of the country...

Ireland is the latest country to gain access to Brazil's Science without Borders scholarship programme. Minister Phil Hogan signed agreements with two Brazilian State agencies this week...

While issues of academic quality remain top priority for students when choosing where to study abroad, safety has become a growing concern, according to new research from the British Council. The report found that safety concerns had risen across all destinations surveyed over the last five years and blamed the media for driving the trend.

Pearson, one of the world’s biggest education companies, is to pay US$90 million for GlobalEnglish – an online English for business service with significant reach in the developing world. US company GlobalEnglish provides ELT for corporate clients such as HSBC, General Electric and Tata.

Universities in Argentina are reporting significant increases in international students since the last government report in 2007. Industry players estimate the number has now reached 25,000, with most coming from Latin America...

Fifty per cent of language schools and 41% of educational agencies saw growth in the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest language travel survey from ALTO. France, Malta, Germany and Ireland were particularly upbeat in terms of language teaching destinations.

A new law announced by the Venezuelan Ministry of Higher Education last month will restrict the ability of students wanting to study undergraduate and graduate degrees abroad to apply for foreign currency. Only students studying specific degree paths will be granted US dollars and euros.

The British Council is to help thousands of lower income Brazilians learn English so they can access the major government study abroad scheme, Science Without Borders...

Eighteen educators from US institutions had the opportunity to meet with potential partner campuses in Brazil last month as the culmination of the IIE's International Academic Partnership Programme (IAPP). Delegates insist closer relations will now foster greater opportunity, with institutions mindful that language programmes are an integral bridge to greater academic exchange.

A landmark trip to Brazil by the Governor-General and a record 30 university presidents has proved fruitful as Canadian institutions announce 59 new scholarships, partnerships and student mobility programmes yesterday. The long-term collaborations established will increase Canada's number of foreign students and strengthen research programmes.

Brazilian travel giant STB is testing a new app that helps students manage their trips abroad which it plans to roll out across the company by 2013. TripBox will allow students to keep important personal documents close at hand and access travel tips as part of the TripBox user community.