Credential evaluations organisation World Education Services has launched a $30m WES Mariam Assefa Fund to help immigrants and refugees access work in the US and Canada.

One in five students using a commission-based agent to apply to a US higher education institution pays more than $1,000 for their services, according to a survey by World Education Services.

Syrian refugees in Canada will soon be able to obtain recognition for their academic credentials in a pilot phase of a new initiative from US-based World Education Services.

Career prospects are the most important factor for international master’s students applying to US graduate schools, according to a recent report by World Education Services.

Universities in the US are missing out on increasing overseas students by not taking a campus-wide approach to their recruitment strategies, according to World Education Services. The organisation also claims that digital marketing campaigns are five years behind the user habits of target student groups.

Industry experts predict that the free falling value of the rupee will not dent India’s demand for foreign education this year despite concerns documented. But they indicate that long-term impacts could be seen. "People will enroll this year, but things look shaky for next year," commented Dr. Rahul Choudaha.

British students increasingly want to study at US universities as they face higher fees and graduate unemployment at home, the research organisation World Education Services claims. It found a 22% rise in applications in 2008-2010 and 13% in 2010-2012 – and says numbers will climb again next year.

The King Abdullah Scholarship Programme is one of the largest national scholarship schemes in history: Saudi Arabia has invested US$5 billion sending hundreds of thousands of students to study a language and targeted degree programmes overseas. The programme is not without its trials, but its benefits – both social and cultural, as well as to the bottom line of institutions – are evident. Dan Thomas reports.