UNITED KINGDOM Higher education stakeholders desperate to prevent the Conservative government from clamping down on international students and their dependants have been bolstered by new data claiming the economic benefit of foreign students to the United Kingdom soared from £31.3 billion (US$39 billion) to £41.9 billion between 2018-19 and 2021-22.The move comes as speculation mounts that net migration figures to the United Kingdom due out next week will rise from half a million to over 700,000.The last few years have seen massive growth in international students, spurred by the British government’s own international education strategy, which aimed to grow foreign…

Poor-quality courses taught by universities overseas are “bad for business”, the English higher education regulator has warned as it outlined its powers to investigate increasingly popular transnational education degrees. In a new report, the Office for Students said students living overseas now account for 16 per cent of all those registered at English universities and colleges. As such, it said transnational education (TNE) courses make an “important contribution” to the sector’s reputation – but only if their quality is high. “If the education or student experience offered on a particular course is seen as substandard, this potentially affects perceptions of all…

Short on time? Here are the highlights: More than six in ten US colleges are now working with education agents Education agents, meanwhile, say that student preference and US career opportunities are among their top reasons for recruiting for the US Agents also note that costs of study in the US and visa issues remain major challenges this year A 2016 survey of US colleges and universities found that about four in ten (37%) were working with commission-based education agencies at the time. A similar survey from 2021 put the proportion at just under half (49%). And now, a little…

This special episode was recorded live at ICEF Vancouver, and features a special panel discussion with Keith Monrose, Executive Director at Seneca College; Sandeep Singh, Marketing Director of Brampton Immigration Consultancy; Rahul Paitka, the Managing Director of Charms Education & Immigration Services; and Kayla Briel, Associate Director, Business & Innovation with Global University Systems. The panel explores a number of important themes and issues pertaining to quality assurance in student recruitment, including the prospect of expanded regulation in the sector, the shared responsibilities of agents and educators, strategies for promoting student welfare, and more. You can listen right now in…

Short on time? Here are the highlights: The UK government will prevent international students from bringing dependants with them beginning January 2024 – unless students are in postgraduate programmes with a research focus The move is intended to help curb net migration The Graduate Route will not be affected in new immigration restrictions – eligible students will still be allowed 2-3 years to remain in the UK under this route Students will not be permitted to switch to the Skilled Worker Route until they complete their programme Strategies to deter “unscrupulous” agents from sending students are being developed The government…

Finalists from 26 countries have been shortlisted and winners will be announced at the lavish PIEoneer Awards ceremony on September 22 in London. An organisation specialising in promoting study abroad opportunities to black college students in the US, a public-private partnership aiming to promote Women in STEM Entrepreneurship in Latin America and a scholarship program for refugees from Myanmar to study with Western Sydney University are just some of the outstanding entries that made the 2023 shortlist. Six finalists for the Outstanding contribution to the industry from five countries include heavy hitters and influencers from the sector including Studyportals’ Edwin van Rest, Global University Systems Canada’s Cyndi…

The Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement was announced as Indian prime minister Narendra Modi met his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, on a visit to Sydney. The deal will “promote the two-way mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers and business people, while also enhancing cooperation to prevent irregular migration and people smuggling”, the partners said. A Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme has been created specifically for India, the governments revealed. A new Centre for Australia-India Relations, that will act as national platform to bring government together with industry, academia and the community, will be head-quartered in Parramatta in Greater Western Sydney. The meeting is…

Please note that PRISMS helpdesk will be unattended on 29th May 2023 due to Reconciliation Day. PRISMS Helpdesk business hours resume on 30th May 2023. Webinar invitation: consultation on proposed ESOS legislative changes  – 24/05/2023The Department of Education is pleased to invite all international education providers and peak body representatives to attend a webinar on reforms to the ESOS Legislative Framework.   Following the large-scale consultation with the sector in 2022, and the previous webinars conducted in March, the Department is seeking further views on potential changes to the ESOS Framework. Please find attached a discussion guide, which will inform the conversations…

The following Answer to an Urgent Question was given in the House of Commons on Wednesday 24 May.“Net migration is too high, and the Government are committed to bringing it down to sustainable levels. The most recent official statistics estimated net migration in the year to June 2022 at 504,000. This is partly due to temporary and exceptional factors such as the UK’s Ukraine and Hong Kong schemes. Last year, more than 200,000 Ukrainians and 150,000 Hong Kong British national overseas citizens made use of the routes to life or time in the United Kingdom. Those schemes command broad support…