Two companies teaching international students and preparing them for further studies in the UK have been honoured in the UK's annual Queen's Award for Enterprise.

A focus on pathways with a TNE twist, delivered in-country; better student integration on campus; and increasing sector-wide support for transparency of data around student progression and success were trends to be picked out of a panel discussion on pathway providers that happened this week. Beckie Smith reports.

INTO University Partnerships has entered into a joint venture with Saint Louis University to develop academic pathway programmes for international students intending to study at the university.

Education partnering organisation INTO’s annual agent survey reveals agencies worldwide are optimistic about future outbound numbers. Responses also expose country-specific drivers for overseas study and a growing demand for high school qualifications.

Results from pathway provider INTO’s survey shown exclusively to The PIE News reveal a growing interest in China for study over traditional non-English speaking destinations France and Germany. The company surveyed over 800 education agencies.

The latest on-campus partnership for INTO has been announced, with INTO New York soon to be rolled out at small, liberal-arts university Drew University in Madison, NJ less than an hour from central New York. INTO's first intake will be welcomed for 2014/15.

INTO has announced its fifth partnership in the USA with George Mason University (GMU) in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC. The company plans to attract 1,000 more international students to INTO Mason over five years. It has also teamed up with UEA to offer a introductory MOOC via FutureLearn.

The University of East Anglia's London Study Centre- a joint venture with INTO University Partnerships- will stop offering degree courses in September just four years after opening. The university says the move will allow it to focus on delivery standards for its Norwich students and raising its international profile.