ILSC Education Group has announced its new school in Perth will open in June.

The location in Western Australia will offer general English classes initially to students on Working Holiday, Visitor and other non-study visa holders from June 12. ILSC Perth will later cater to student visa holders once it attains CRICOS registration.

“In discussions with our students and our agents, ILSC Perth was the next logical expansion of our Australian presence,” Christopher Mediratta, ILSC’s president and chief operating officer, said.

The provider also has locations in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, along with schools in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, and New Delhi, India. It will be the company’s ninth globally, bringing it level with the number in 2016.

“Perth offers numerous benefits to students including amazing landscapes, budget and student-friendly living, and a strong economy that can support students’ off-campus work,” Mediratta continued.

The school, in the heart of Perth’s CBD, offers 17 classrooms and will feature ILSC’s unique English classes such as English through Yoga, English through Perth, and Café Work Skills, the provider added.

“Perth’s status as a designated regional area for skilled migration offers students the possibility to create long-term learning and working pathways in the region – a win-win for regional economic growth, and for future students who may discover they want make a long-term home in Western Australia,” Mediratta highlighted.

“We’ve taken all of the successful elements of previous builds and pushed the envelope a little further”

An outdoor café will also be used for students taking the ILSC Café Work Skills class.

“With the ILSC Perth campus, we’ve taken all of the successful elements of previous builds and pushed the envelope a little further – we believe we’ve set a new benchmark for ourselves and for the industry,” Jason Flaming, ILSC Australia’s national director, Campus Operations said.

Greystone College is planned to follow in 2024 and will offer a selection of vocational business qualifications, ILSC added.

In early 2022, ILSC merged with ELS Education Services to create one of the world’s largest language learning and study abroad platforms.

Australia’s ELICOS figures are recovering following a drastic drop during the pandemic when borders were closed.

Overall enrolments fell to 41,850 and commencements to 28,749 in 2021, while in 2022 there rose to 79,362 and 73,429, respectively. However, enrolments were at 51% and commencements at 63% of pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.

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Digital marketing platform Sinorbis, a solution that bridges the communications gap with students in China and wider Asia, has announced a new partnership with Shorelight.

The partnership also includes the appointment of CEO Tom Dretler to a newly created Sinorbis global advisory board.

US universities and colleges have seen international student enrolments from China in steady decline for more than seven consecutive years and Shorelight is seeking to stimulate growth through technical integration with the Sinorbis platform.

Private sector partners are equally looking to the US for potential market growth as institutions are starting to see the potential in third party marketing and recruitment support amid global inflation and admissions pressures.

Sinorbis technology enables higher education marketing teams to easily translate their website and channel communications for China including dominant social media and instant messaging platforms, a problem that has hampered western institutions penetrating the market without local support.

The AI tools allow English-speaking marketing teams to retain control of their assets with the reassurance it will be repurposed effectively for maximum timing, translation and impact for the local target market.

Widely used by UK institutions, Sinorbis recently held a breakfast briefing with partners during The PIE Live Europe conference to inform them of an expansion of the platform to cover all Asian countries, social media and languages due for roll out in summer 2023.

Nicolas Chu, CEO of Sinorbis commented, saying, “I’m really excited to be working with Shorelight, given their capabilities and values when it comes to international student success.

“I’m equally inspired to work with Tom. His entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in higher education will positively impact our clients and our growth in North America.”

“I see great potential in Sinorbis’s technology platform”

Shorelight is partnered with approximately 67 institutions worldwide with the majority in the US. Those institutions will be set to benefit from Sinorbis technology and marketing initiatives through their promotion through Shorelight.

The PIE also recently reported that Shorelight has entered the UK market for the first time with a partnership with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Commenting on the partnership with Sinorbis, Shorelight CEO, Tom Dretler said, “We are thrilled to join forces with Sinorbis, and I’m honoured to be joining their global advisory board. I see great potential in Sinorbis’s technology platform, and I look forward to partnering to support their North American growth.”

Are you a higher education institution that works with the Sinorbis platform? How have you applied it in your marketing strategy in China? Tell us in the comments below or email editorial @thepienews.com 

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Keystone Education Group has acquired German study search platform studddy for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition of the platform, formerly known as TarGroup Media, will help Keystone to expand its reach within Europe.

“We are excited to boost our offering to German students and strengthen our footprint in the European market with studddy joining the Keystone family,” said Fredrik Högemark, CEO of Keystone Education Group.

Since 2010, together with the studddy team, founder Milan Klesper has built the market leader for domestic student recruitment within Germany and Austria, attracting over 12 million visitors each year to its 30 portals.

“We are very pleased to have found a partner in Keystone whose founding story is almost identical to ours. We have both grown from a single study portal to a multinational company focused on helping millions of young people make the right study choice every year,” Klesper added.

Co-founder Joachim Feger agreed, saying that with Keystone’s worldwide network, studddy can “now introduce prospective students to even more study options”, whether that is in Germany and Austria, abroad or with a sports scholarship at an American university.

Keystone previously acquired postgrad experts FindAUniversity and UniQuest in the UK. Its US sports placement agency, formed in October 2021, also acquired German student-athlete placement agency uniexperts in early 2022. It also operates SONOR and Blueberry agencies in the Nordics, and merged with Educations Media Group in 2021.

“For our customers – our partner universities and education providers – it means we can offer even more support so that they can reach potential students across all channels and geographies,” Feger added.

The German higher education market comprises over three million students, including 350,000 international students, the companies noted.

Högemark pointed to shared values between studddy and Keystone, backed by Nordic venture firms Viking Venture and Verdane.

“Their drive for supporting students through the recruitment process and for ensuring university classrooms are filled with the best-fit students, aligns perfectly with our vision at Keystone, making this the perfect match,” he said of Studddy.

Högemark, who took over as CEO in November 2022, recently told The PIE that Keystone is open to potential acquisitions in regions that would strengthen the company’s position in the market.

“This new partnership will improve our service as a provider of end-to-end enrolment generation solutions”

“Coupled with Keystone’s powerful global reach across student search, and through our European student recruitment agencies, this new partnership will not only strengthen our position in Europe but also improve our service as a provider of end-to-end enrolment generation solutions for the global market,” Högemark added.

“Ultimately, a highly valuable offering for institutions wanting to recruit students from within the region, both domestically and internationally.”

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Australia’s migration system is “not fit for purpose” when it comes to encouraging international students to stay and work in the country, Universities Australia has warned. 

In a submission to the Universities Accord, a government review of the country’s higher education system, the body said that Australia’s retention of international students has fallen behind competing study destinations, with 16% of international students going on to become permanent residents. 

“We need more of them to remain in Australia after they graduate to complement the skills and talents of our homegrown workforce,” the group wrote. 

Universities Australia blamed the migration system for this “brain drain”, describing the current system as “overly complex” and a deterrent to skilled workers and researchers.  

Among the organisation’s recommendations to the government was the suggestion to remove the genuine temporary entrant visa requirement, which asks prospective international students to prove they intend to return home after their studies. 

The group also said all international students should automatically be granted temporary graduate visas if they meet the course requirements for graduation and relevant character conditions.

Other sector bodies have echoed calls for changes to the migration system, with Independent Higher Education Australia asking for more pathways to permanent residence and suggesting that visa fees should be abolished to drive competitiveness with other countries.

“At the very least Australia could adopt common international practice and only charge fees once an application has been approved,” the group wrote. 

IHEA also recommended that an international agent registration system be introduced to provide protections and “ensure agents are acting in the student interest”. 

The Accords look at the Australian higher education system broadly, including reviewing funding, access, and partnerships with the vocational training sector.

“Each university should also have its own accord” 

Several bodies have called for individual agreements to be made between universities and the government. 

“Each university should also have its own accord, negotiated with an independent expert authority, which would agree targets for its own community and allocate government funding – we call this an Accord of accords,” said Luke Sheehy, executive director of the Australian Technology Network of Universities. 

“These five-year accords will bring purpose, certainty and accountability to universities, ensuring they have the funding they need to deliver for their community.”

The submissions also focused on research, with the Group of Eight calling for more investment and a national research strategy. 

“The current research system, which relies on international student fee revenue to survive, is unsustainable,” said Vicki Thomson, chief executive of the Go8. 

“This is a problem for every Australian. Research is fundamental to our prosperity and national well-being. Most people do not realise how much research drives higher living standards.”

Sheehy said, “The research capability of our universities and their global reach are significant national assets which should be retained and enhanced.”  

Universities have also recently inputted into the government’s ongoing migration system review and a parliamentary inquiry into the international education sector. 

An interim report is expected to be submitted by the Accords panel to Australia’s education minister in June.

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Some 90% of Unite Students accommodation in the UK has been sold for the 2023/24 academic year, the company’s most recent lettings performance has revealed.

The student housing provider acknowledged in its current trading and quarterly property valuations that the supply of UK “purpose-built student accommodation cannot keep pace with growing student demand at the same time as HMO landlords are leaving the sector”.

“We continue to make strong progress with bookings for the 2023/24 academic year with 90% of rooms already sold, demonstrating the strength of student demand and the attractiveness of our fixed-priced all-inclusive offer,” chief executive officer, Richard Smith, said.

“Reservations are significantly ahead of recent sales cycles, reflecting strong demand from both new and existing students as well as new nomination agreements with universities.

“Reservations are significantly ahead of recent sales cycles”

“This progress reinforces our confidence in delivering rental growth of 6-7% for the 2023/24 academic year. Rental growth also continues to support our property valuations as the market adjusts to a higher funding cost environment.”

Shortages of housing in the UK have caused issues in many cities, leading to calls to cap student numbers in Glasgow, while students at Russell Group universities have been paid to defer. The shortages have also resulted in housing scams for international students.

According to Unite’s 2022 Annual Report, universities own around 300,000 beds and new investment “tends to be prioritised towards their academic estate and investment in research capabilities”.

However, it noted that institutions “recognise that high-quality student accommodation is a major differentiator in their ability to attract and retain students”. Additionally, they typically seek to guarantee accommodation for their domestic first year and international students.

Universities have relied on PBSA operators to deliver new accommodation to support growing student numbers, Unite added.

As supply cannot keep pace with growing demand as landlords leave the sector, Smith added that Unite is “tracking a number of new development opportunities at attractive returns”.

It is committed to four development schemes, costing £339 million, but its total development pipeline includes 4,863 beds, costing £850 million. The most recent valuation of the Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund portfolio stands at £2,888 million.

The PBSA provider also noted that as it focuses on single-occupancy bedrooms, it sees “relatively limited risk” if the UK introduces more restrictive visa rules for dependents – something the current home secretary Suella Braverman has suggested.

However, the UK has not made an official announcement on any amendments to its rules for dependents accompanying students completing courses at masters level or above.

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Testing provider ETS will shorten its TOEFL iBT test to two hours from the current three, it has said, as it revealed a range of changes to the exam.

From July 26, the test will be an hour shorter, with “streamlined instructions and navigation”, a shorter reading section, the removal of unscored test questions and a new “Writing for an Academic Discussion” task.

As well as shortening the test, ETS says a “simplified registration process” will allow test takers to register for available test date “quicker and easier than ever before”.

“ETS is driving the future of assessment through product innovations across education and learning, and TOEFL is core to that effort,” said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS.

“These enhancements were developed through the lens of our customers and stakeholders”

“TOEFL has been an industry standard for nearly six decades, and these enhancements further underscore its position. Most importantly, these enhancements were developed through the lens of our customers and stakeholders — because they are our highest priority to serve.”

In 2019, ETS shortened the TOEFL test by 30 minutes to three hours, while Pearson reduced its PTE Academic test to two hours in 2021.

A number of test providers – including ETS, Pearson, IELTS and Michigan Language Assessment – launched online options during or following the pandemic in an increasingly competitive field with players such as iTEP, Duolingo English Test, CAEL, Password among others.

The TOEFL iBT test is used by more than 11,500 institutions in 160+ countries to make high-stakes decisions.

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Aged 24, Alya Hafidza Aldrin is youngest of three Indonesians to have been accepted to the British Council’s Women in STEM scholarship program. She spoke to The PIE about the opportunities the scholarship has afforded her, as well as what life is truly like for an international student in London.

“It’s a big change,” says Aldrin, originally from Jakarta, who is studying towards a master’s in water engineering at Brunel University. “It’s interesting, it’s terrifying, it’s changing.

“I can feel that I’m gradually changing as a person. I feel more liberated,” she tells The PIE.

“I never imagined that I would study here. I always thought maybe I’d go to Japan or Germany or the Netherlands because it’s more achievable for me.”

In its third year, the fully-funded scholarship program allows women with an undergraduate degree in a STEM or STEM-related subject to carry out a master’s degree in the UK, without financial barriers. The complete financial support covers tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees.

“I never imagined that I would study here”

Aldrin, who holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Indonesia, had originally been accepted for a different scholarship program, offering her a place at Tokyo University, but was forced to decline due to it only being half-funded.

In the “spur of the moment”, she applied to the British Council program, in a decision that would change the course of her life.

“I’m not going to say it was easy because obviously it requires a lot of preparation… but the British Council doesn’t make it too complicated for us.”

Three months on from submitting her essays responses, she was shortlisted and after a final interview, was accepted.

“I was so happy,” says Aldrin, who describes the scholarship program as beyond her expectations.

According to data from UNESCO, fewer than 30% of researchers worldwide are women and only a third of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.

“It’s relatable. STEM is a pretty challenging major. As a woman, coming from a country like mine, they tend to make us choose between becoming a stay-at-home mother and focusing on your career. It’s almost impossible to choose both.

“I think for my age right now – I see a lot of it – if I stayed back in Jakarta people would ask me, ‘Why aren’t you married?’

“My environment is actually very supportive, especially about studying and knowledge,” Aldrin tells The PIE, noting that both her parents have benefitted from travel abroad, either for study or work.

“But I know some have environments that don’t support women at all because we still have a lot of traditional values. It’s good to hold some values but you have to change some perspectives.”

As global attitudes change, and women are presented more opportunities like hers, Aldrin hopes to see those numbers rise in the near future.

Aldrin, currently working on her dissertation on flood predictions using machine learning, describes her course as “demanding” – with her weekends spent studying, alongside her part-time retail job – but admires the UK’s commitment to “hands on learning”.

She appreciates the mentor she has been assigned via the university who she is now working with to achieve her next goal of studying a PhD in the UK – with her end goal being to “give back” to Indonesia in whatever way she can, she tells The PIE.

She feels supported by the British Council and appreciates the organisation’s willingness to let her get on with her studies rather than asking for updates on her grade.

Aldrin is pleasantly surprised by the diversity she has seen, and heard, in the UK and is enjoying socialising with a global group of friends.

“I never expected that in the UK I would hear a lot of languages”

“I never expected that in the UK I would hear a lot of languages. Every time I’m in a tube or something, I rarely hear someone speak in English.

“What’s the point of moving far away if you just want to be in the same pool?

“I’ve changed a lot, my mum even compliments me on how mature I am right now. I live alone and I can’t really rely on family and friends anymore.

“Essentially the friend culture here is very different than in Indonesia. In Indonesia we’re prepared to drop everything just to aid our friends… but here we have our own priorities.”

Indonesians “prioritise politeness”, says Aldrin, and this is another cultural difference she is getting used to.

“I’ve learned a lot not to do that here, because now I can actually be straightforward and just talk to people about what I think and if I do disagree with them.”

Her advice to other women in STEM considering applying to the program?

“Just do it! Don’t think about it too much, because if you think about it too much, then you’re going to be scared… if you really want it, you have to fight for it.”

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The US Department of Education has clarified guidance it released earlier this year on third-party service providers will not have the impact on study abroad and international student recruitment that the sector had feared.

On April 11, authorities issued a new statement detailing that the Dear Colleague Letter, released in February, exempts study abroad programs and international recruitment.

The department highlighted that it does not consider contracts with a number of third-party servicers to be relationships that the guidance would impact.

These include those in study abroad programs, recruitment of foreign students not eligible for Title IV aid, certain clinical or externship opportunities, high school and local education agency dual or concurrent enrolment programs and local police departments.

It also added that it will identify any other services that fall into the category as it reviews comments it has received. In a call for public comment, the department received some 1,100 responses, which it described as “significant and helpful feedback”.

The department also said it intends to remove the provision on foreign ownership of a third-party servicer.

Based on the comments received, it said the “number and breadth of servicers with at least some level of foreign ownership has expanded in the context of a changing higher education marketplace where institutions are adopting increasing numbers of technology-based solutions”.

“We believe the issue is more appropriately considered through negotiated rulemaking,” the department said in its updated statement.

“We believe the issue is more appropriately considered through negotiated rulemaking”

It added that it will “carefully review public comments on areas of confusion or concern and consider clarifying and narrowing the scope of the guidance in several areas, including software and computer services, student retention, and instructional content”.

The September 1 effective date for the guidance will also be delayed, it added. Institutions and companies will have at least six months to make any changes required once the revised final guidance letter is published.

NASFA said it is reviewing the changes included in the updated guidance and it “will continue to work with partners to advocate for clarity and policies that support international education”.

The organisation’s executive director and CEO Fanta Aw is also taking part in a three-day virtual public hearing. On April 12 she will “commend the changes and urge the department to continue to engage with partners in the higher education and international education sectors as is works to revise and finalize TPS guidance”.

NAFSA was one of a handful of organisations leading the charge against the new guidance, which it said created “great uncertainty” for US higher education.

“Our advocacy efforts yield a positive result”

There were fears that the guidance would “end nearly all current study abroad programming”, as well as damage US institutions which stakeholders feared would not be permitted to use international recruiters to enrol international students.

While stakeholders responded with relief, vice provost for Global Affairs at University of Massachusetts Amherst, Kalpen Trivedi, wrote online, “I’m glad we prevailed but what a colossal waste of time and resources across the field”.

“Good News!” chairman of AIFS, William Gertz, added. “Our advocacy efforts yield a positive result.”

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