Higher education providers in Myanmar and Hong Kong have received a boost after both countries’ governments agreed to increase cooperation in teaching, learning and research.

Virtual Reality is being embraced across international. One firm has taken this new tool to disrupt the traditional methods of teacher training.

A government-regulated private education system in Burma, well educated Iranians able to articulate smoothly overseas and an appetite for English language training in Cuba: Sara Custer considers opportunities in some of the lesser travelled countries on the international education beat.

We’ve moved in the last 10 years from working with predominantly language and some pathway providers, especially in Australia, to working with universities and pathway. English is the enabling course now rather than the primary course.

The launch of new Burmese government-funded scholarships for its outstanding students to study at overseas universities for the academic year 2014-15 has been met with mixed reviews as a result of the strict conditions and criteria that may ultimately limit its applicant numbers.

Last week representatives from Burmese universities and the US and Burmese governments met in Yangon for a training workshop in international engagement. Organised by the Institute of International Education the event is one of many international partnerships in higher education that Burma - officially the Republic of Myanmar - is seeking to provide key funding and training opportunities.

IIE in the USA has launched a pilot course, Connecting with the World: International Relations at Higher Education Institutions, offering training in international engagement to ministry officials and higher education representatives in Myanmar.

A symposium of higher education institutions and agencies from Britain and Myanmar – including British Council, the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the Quality Assurance Agency – met in the city of Yangon, Myanmar earlier this week to discuss ways of building academic partnerships between both countries.