Universities “ignore at their peril” calls by a group of Conservative MPs to cut international student numbers in the UK and bar some institutions from recruiting them, although a Tory former minister warned that such plans would undermine the UK economy. The New Conservatives, a group of newer backbench MPs on the right of the party, often from “Red Wall” constituencies, attracted headlines by setting out a policy agenda to slash net migration aimed at putting pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak. Their agenda included the complete axeing of post-study work visas and blocking the “poorest performing” universities outside the Russell Group from recruiting any overseas students. Tom Hunt, the…

Useful and informative polling. Money quote:…leaders need to demonstrate there’s a coordinated, well-resourced plan to respond to the pressures created by growth. In my view, that has been sourly lacking from all levels of government. This should also be a wake-up call to leaders from all three levels of government that if investments in infrastructure – like housing, healthcare services, and transportation – are not expediated to meet the growing population, opposition to immigration could increase thereby creating conditions for the rise of a more nationalist/populist political response. —- I can’t remember the last time immigration featured prominently in national…

The IIE’s Spring 2023 Snapshot on International Educational Exchange highlights that for the 2023/24 academic year, US higher education institutions are looking towards India. According to IIE data, in 2021-22, the top 10 senders of students to US higher education institutions were: ChinaIndiaSouth KoreaCanadaVietnamTaiwanSaudi ArabiaBrazilMexicoNigeria In 2021-22, Chinese enrolments fell by -8.6%, in contrast to an 18.9% year-over-year leap in Indian enrolments.  – Advertisement – Experts believe that the increasing focus on India is due to the “unpredictable Chinese student market”. Dr Esther D. Brimmer, NAFSA executive director and CEO, told ICEF Monitor: “The US is in a global competition for talent…

While much of this information is publicly available through directories like Crunchbase, many HE professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders will be unaware of the investment links in the industry. These articles aim to signposting our readers to find out more. They do not include a timeline for investments and we would encourage interested parties to further research the wider factors behind patterns of investment. ETS  ETS Strategic Capital is the corporate development unit of ETS, the world’s largest private educational testing and assessment company. As a not-for-profit organisation it uses excess capital to invest in and partner with innovative companies to…

Short on time? Here are the highlights: New IIE research indicates that US universities and colleges are prioritising India more than China now as a source of students Other growth markets are also very much on the radar for 2023/24 A strong majority of US higher education institutions report that international applications for the 2023/24 academic year have increased (for the second year in a row) The IIE’s Spring 2023 Snapshot on International Educational Exchange suggests that, in preparing for the 2023/24 academic year, US higher education institutions are adjusting to the increasingly unpredictable Chinese student market by focusing more…

Two days back, the Koala looked at March numbers nationwide; two states stood out. As reported yesterday, WA achieved 47.1 per cent growth across all sub-sectors, SA achieving 25.2 per cent. The high-level stats are: SA is up 25.2 per cent overall, up 21.6 per cent in High Ed, up 113.8 per cent in VET, down 25.1 per cent in Schools, up 26.1 per cent in ELICOS ad down 41.7 per cent in Non-award.   What is underpinning SA’s growth in commencements? When looking at the level of study of students choosing SA two stood out. These are Masters by Coursework…

Indian visa agent who scammed international students faces criminal charges dating back to 2016 – New Canadian Media Source

Parul Yadav saw Canada as a pathway to her future. The 23-year-old, who arrived in Toronto alone but bright-eyed in late 2021, had pored over post-secondary programs around the world from her home in Delhi, India, carefully selecting a public relations course at Humber College for its hands-on learning opportunities. Toronto, she was told, was a multicultural city — one where newcomers like her would be welcomed. What she didn’t expect was a housing crisis, one that would become an ever-present stressor as she began her studies. She struggled, during those first days in a Mississauga hotel, to even book…

Australia’s second-most populous city has released its new framework for international engagement, which sets out seven priority areas for global relationships and recognises the role that the international education sector plays in Melbourne’s economic development.  In particular, Melbourne plans to facilitate foreign investment by leveraging diaspora and alumni communities, including international students in Melbourne.  This includes “nurturing international student talent, entrepreneurship and leadership skills” as well as improving pathways to employment and establishing life-long relationships with graduates and alumni. The city has yet to provide details of what this entails.  Earlier this year, Melbourne ran an Open Innovation Competition among…