English UK has issued a call for applications to the second round of scholarships in memory of its late chief executive Eddie Byers.

English UK members have been asked to step up their lobbying efforts and join a campaign to spread awareness of the value of the ELT industry to the country.

A total of 497,028 English language students chose an English UK member centre last year, with the industry celebrating a 14% rise in numbers.

A successful 2017 for UK ELT made for widespread optimism at the English UK Academic Conference, with the industry now looking positively to the future after the 2015-2016 slump. "It’s been a much better year for UK ELT, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic," said Sarah Cooper of English UK.

The first growth in ELT student weeks since 2013 has been recorded by a cohort of English UK schools taking part in a quarterly reporting exercise.

A recent tragic case of a South Korean student who fell from a clifftop to her death in the UK is a reminder of the responsibilities that schools, tourism authorities and even local councils have in advocating for responsible behaviour. As Viggo Stacey explores, international students can be more vulnerable, but it is imperative that they are counselled on how to protect themselves from harm while enjoying an adventure overseas.

EF has released its English Proficiency Index, with the Netherlands coming out on top for the second year in a row. Scandinavian nations dominated the top end of the index.

English UK’s chief executive is bullish about a wind of change in parliament that might bolster the English language teaching sector after speaking at a fringe meeting during political party annual conferences.