The New Zeland Ministry of Education has allocated a fund of NZ$10m to support teaching of Asian languages in secondary schools across the country in order to increase ties with key trade partners.

North Consortium UK which provides pathway programmes to a group of 16 UK universities, has launched a £1m scholarship fund to for Korean students to mark its 25th anniversary year.

With a US$4bn deficit caused by the high proportion of university students opting to pursue studies abroad, South Korea’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has announced plans to open up the market further to international providers by easing restrictions on foreign investors and creating an international education hub in Songdo, Incheon.

The three-day K conference in Korea succeeded in putting Asian education in the spotlight, by hosting Asian educators, Western educators and education agencies from the region. An online social forum to build up networks for Asian professionals was unveiled too.

Universities in Scotland and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding to foster closer academic ties. The agreement between Universities Scotland and the Korean Council for University Education could lead to collaboration over student mobility, dual degrees and joint research.

ICEF staged its first ever roadshow last month enabling educators to meet agencies at events in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea. It has also announced its 10th charitable partner as part of its Education Fund, a commitment to education-related projects.

Koreans and Chinese who study at Australian universities have a strong chance of finding work when they return home and are highly valued by their employers. However, employers from both countries say Australian universities should provide more practical work experience.

A discounting war is underway in Korea’s competitive agency market which is threatening to squeeze out medium-size agencies and damage foreign educators’ brands, according to sources in market. Driving the trend, say sources, is an increase in “sub agents” – one or two-man outfits which place students through the large “wholesaler” chains.