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Colombia aims to boost Spanish language teaching

Making good on the claim that Colombians speak "the best" Spanish in the world, the government has launched a campaign to double Spanish language learners in the country by 2014 and become the leading Spanish language destination in Latin America. The initiative is part of president Juan Manuel Santos's Government Plan for Democratic Prosperity.

Ideal Education Group acquires Academia Columbus

Madrid-based Ideal Education Group (IEG), which runs Spanish language teaching brands Enforex and Don Quijote among others, has announced its acquisition of Academia Columbus, which is a three-strong brand of South American language schools, previously owned by the Thebing Travel Group.

NZ and Colombia strengthen education ties

New Zealand’s minister of education, Steven Joyce, said Colombia could become a “significant” student market after the countries signed a statement of intent to increase educational exchange. Plans to help more Colombian PhD students study in New Zealand were discussed – so too how New Zealand could support Colombia in its goal to make English an official language.

UK seeks to boost Latin American exchange

Two British ministers are visiting Brazil, Mexico and Colombia this week in a bid to increase the low levels of academic exchange with these countries. Despite its vast population Brazil sent just 1,340 students to the UK in 2011-12. Colombia and Mexico sent 925 (45th) and 1,555 (32nd), again relatively low.

ALTO survey – outbound boom; Olympics bite

The latest survey of business trends among language schools and education agencies by ALTO has revealed mixed business fortunes among those canvassed about their Q3 results. UK-based language schools cited a drop in business; agencies in Colombia, Turkey, Nigeria and Russia were very upbeat about Q4 (although 42% of Spanish companies took a dim view).

Colombia expands mutual accreditation

Colombia has signed two mutual degree recognition agreements in as many weeks following Memorandums of Understanding reached with Portugal and Chile. The agreements are part of a campaign to increase internationalisation in Colombia's higher education sector and recognition of its graduates in the global workforce.

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