The Glion Institute of Higher Education and the ESSEC Business School are joining forces to offer a hospitality leadership masters degree that will be taught at four campuses across four countries.

The new degree course, set to begin in November 2023, includes four 12-week online teaching modules as well as four six-day sessions held at the various campuses, including locations in France and Singapore.

Students will join classes at Glion’s main campus based in Montreux, Switzerland and its London base, as well at the ESSEC Paris-La Défense and Singapore campuses.

“Hospitality management is constantly evolving and progressing in step with the acceleration of new technologies and new customer demands,” said Francine Cuagnier, responsible for marketing at the Glion Institute.

“This program will offer the opportunity to develop soft skills in terms of leadership and innovation, as well as master the financial and economic fundamentals necessary to develop a solid and successful long-term strategy.”

Vincenzo Vinzi, dean and president of the ESSEC Business School, said the partnership would strengthen the institution’s expertise and academic offering in the field of hospitality.

“This will enable professionals to train and transform themselves by acquiring cutting-edge knowledge as well as expertise and soft skills that will empower them to be responsible and influential leaders in the hospitality industry who will be able to combine value creation and sustainability,” he said.

The first participants will be welcomed in November 2023 and will study four modules: New frontiers in the hotel industry; Improving financial performance; Achieving operational excellence; and Guiding transformation.

Students will also carry out an applied business project within 15 months of the start of the course in order to “help students contribute to future solutions as well as adapt to the changes and challenges facing the hospitality industry”.

The post Glion and ESSEC create multi-city hospitality course appeared first on The PIE News.

As international schools navigate their changing customer bases in the post-pandemic world, Liz Duffy sets out the opportunities and challenges for the sector.

International schools, which traditionally cater to the children of expat workers, are at a tipping point. As fewer companies relocate staff in the age of Zoom and Slack, tuition fees are increasingly coming from families, not corporations. And, facing an economic downturn and high running costs, income is becoming more precarious for some schools as their core customers change and their purpose shifts. 

“While there are some schools that are in sort of unusual positions in the sense that they’re growing, a lot of schools are facing shrinking enrolments or just pressure on tuition and, at the same time, pressure on prices,” says Liz Duffy, president of International Schools Services. 

“The pandemic accelerated this because a lot of companies recognised that you didn’t have to send people overseas.”

Now international schools are increasingly focusing on local children whose families want them to have a globally-minded education. Through her role at ISS, a global nonprofit with a mission to improve the quality of international education, Duffy is in a prime position to see how this paradigm shift will ultimately play out. 

ISS has been around since 1955 and employs approximately 75 people, half of whom are based in the US. The other half are spread around the world. The organisation offers services including teacher and leader recruitment, school start-up and management, and financial services, focusing on English-medium schools in all locations.  

“Ultimately we want to make a difference to the students who are at international schools and prepare them to be global leaders,” Duffy says. “But we do that again through the schools and the educators.”

Duffy began her career in higher education in the US before going on to head up a boarding school in New Jersey which, although not an international school, hosted pupils from across the globe. She has been working at ISS for the past eight years. 

During that time, one of the regions that has changed the most is China. “For a long time, China was a real focus because there was huge growth,” says Duffy.

In recent years, Chinese authorities have begun to crackdown on international schools and foreign-owned private schools, including limiting the teaching of international curriculums and banning schools that teach Chinese students from using foreign words in their names. 

As a result, some international school brands are reconsidering investing in China. “I think many Chinese families who want international education for their kids are leaving China and going to other parts of Asia,” Duffy says, explaining that countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Laos are emerging as a result. 

At the same time, international schools are also facing a reckoning when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion, including grappling with their own colonial pasts. 

“What does it mean to prioritise English?”

These histories are reflected in various aspects of the international school experience, from the sometimes differing treatment of expat and local staff to the language of instruction.

“There’s still plenty of schools around the world where you get in trouble if you don’t speak English, which is really different than having a bilingual or multilingual emphasis,” Duffy says. “What does it mean to prioritise English? And are there ways to actually prioritise multilingualism as opposed to only English speaking?”

She believes that international schools are well-positioned to overcome these challenges, particularly “given the diversity among the students and increasingly among the faculty and staff”.

Post-pandemic, international schools also face questions around the role of technology in the classroom. 

“I think Covid taught us what’s really special about schools in that face-to-face, person-to-person interaction,” says Duffy. “On the other hand, there was really a lot that was good about online education for some students. It actually served them better.

“What’s interesting is, now that we’ve gone back to face-to-face, there was such a desire to recapture the magic of that, that I think some of what we learned has been lost and people are trying to recalibrate again.” 

These worries have been exacerbated with the advent of AI chatbot ChatGPT. Duffy says that while she understands people’s concerns about whether students will be writing their own essays, AI is here to stay. “So how can schools actually harness the power of those tools and help kids to harness the power of those tools?” she asks. 

“Oftentimes the instinctive reaction is ‘no, it’s bad’. I think we need to take a much more nuanced approach to that.” 

Despite the turbulence facing the sector, Duffy continues to advocate for the industry. “Being an educator is one of the most rewarding opportunities, and I think that’s true anywhere in the world, but particularly being an international teacher,” says Duffy. 

“It’s a great way for you and your family to truly see the world, meet people from all over, have a voice in training the next generation of kids that are going to go out and do great things in the world.” 

The post Liz Duffy, International Schools Services appeared first on The PIE News.

As the eve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, unrest on some university campuses in Canada is escalating, according to student groups in the country.

On January 25, the Ukrainian Students’ Society at the University of Victoria released a public statement alleging harassment and hate speech of Ukrainian students on campus.

It claimed members of the university’s Young Communist League posted USS materials online without their consent, along with accusations about USS members’ political leanings.

Insisting it is a matter of safety for USS members, it called on the university to address the matter.

Members of the Carleton University Ukrainian Students’ Club also published an open letter on its social media pages alleging that anti-Ukrainian harassment has been occurring on their campus as well, including verbal harassment and graffiti using pro-Russian symbols.

They posted pictures of the symbols alongside a Russian flag displayed in a dormitory window.

It also condemned the Ottawa Peace Council for hosting a panel discussion at the university entitled, ‘The War in Ukraine: What is the Path to Peace?’ due to claims the council holds pro-Russian stances and pushes Russian propaganda. Similarly, there have been reports of online criticism levied at the Vancouver Island Peace Council for its anti-war stance.

In a public statement of solidarity, the Ukrainian Students’ Club at the University of Ottawa said, “Pro-Russian rhetoric often uses white-washed terms like ‘anti-war’ and ‘peace.’ Despite sounding positive, they disguise Russian support for the war.”

“Peace in Ukraine will only be achieved through complete liberation of Russian-occupied territories and call for restoration of the country’s 1991 borders,” it continued.

Tyan Cherepuschak, a student of Ukrainian-Canadian history and former vice-president of the University of Victoria’s USS penned an opinion piece this month in Times Colonist outlining the history of the left-wing Association of United Ukrainian Canadians and right-wing Ukrainian Canadian Congress in the country.

“Ukrainian-Canadians are diverse in political belief, and a look back into history shows that conflict between opposing factions of the Ukrainian-Canadian community is nothing new,” Cherepuschak wrote.

The universities involved in the recent incidents, along with local law enforcement agencies, have investigated the allegations – with Carleton also saying events to “facilitate discussion” have been scheduled.

“Ukrainian-Canadians are diverse in political belief”

Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliya Kovaliv addressed campus stakeholders in January, after being invited by the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at Carleton.

EURAS researchers launched a new web portal called the War in Ukraine Observatory to provide accurate information about the conflict and resources for refugees from Ukraine seeking safety in Canada – but UUSC members say the university has not done enough to shut down hate speech and protect students.

Senior policy advisor for the UCC, Orest Zakydalsky, said universities are responsible for providing a safe environment for students.

He added that the rise in anti-Ukrainian sentiment is not restricted to universities in Canada as incidents of harassment and hate speech increase across the country in advance of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

The post Canada: Ukrainian students condemn harrassment appeared first on The PIE News.

More than 50 Indian students have been identified as potential victims of modern slavery and labour abuse in the UK over the last 14 months, according to UK authorities. 

It follows the arrest of five people suspected of exploiting Indian students working in Welsh care homes between December 2021 and May 2022. 

The defendants – Mathew Issac, 32, Jinu Cherian, 30, Eldhose Cherian, 25, Eldhose Kuriachan, 25, Jacob Liju, 47 – are all originally from India but now live in the towns of Abergele and Pwllheli in northern Wales. 

Some worked at care homes in the regions themselves while others were connected via family members working at the residences. According to authorities, Issac and Cherian also supplied workers through a recruitment agency. 

The company was reported to the modern slavery and exploitation helpline for incorrectly paying Indian workers or withholding wages. Concerns were also raised about the workers’ appearances and that they “always appeared to be hungry”, according to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. 

All the students identified as victims have now been offered support from the GLAA. The Indian High Commission in the UK said on Twitter it was “concerned” by the news and encouraged affected students to contact the organisation for support. 

The five defendants, who were arrested between December 2021 and May 2022, have been given slavery and trafficking risk orders, which prevents them from arranging travel into or out of the UK and renting or subletting property to anyone other than immediate family members. There have been no criminal charges yet. 

Last year, UK universities raised concerns about the increasing numbers of international students dropping out of courses to work in care homes – a sector facing severe staff shortages. 

The PIE News found adverts on social media encouraging international students to switch from student visas to skilled worker visas to enable them to take up jobs in the industry.  

“Where labour shortages exist, there is an increased risk of opportunists using the situation for their own financial gain”

GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said, “We are all aware that staffing levels have been a cause concern in the care sector for some time, and have not been helped by the Covid–19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately, where labour shortages exist, there is an increased risk of opportunists using the situation for their own financial gain, usually at the expense of workers that they are exploiting.

“Tackling the exploitation of workers in care homes is one of the GLAA’s top priorities, and this order is crucial in restricting the activities of those we suspect would otherwise commit slavery or trafficking offences.”

The post Indian students exploited in Welsh care homes appeared first on The PIE News.

International graduates who stay and work in Australia earn lower salaries than their domestic counterparts, although the wage gap has reduced since 2021. 

Non-Australians working full-time who studied undergraduate courses earned AUS$60,000 on average in 2022 compared to AUS$68,000 for Australians. The salary difference was less pronounced than in 2021, when the variation was AUS$10,700 between the two groups, according to the 2022 International Graduate Outcomes Survey.

The Department for Education funded research, which looked at student employment outcomes approximtely four to six months after graduation, found that studying at postgraduate coursework level did not boost earnings among international graduates, compared to those who took undergraduate courses.

In contrast, domestic students with postgraduate qualifications earned AUS$23,600 more on average.  

Almost 60% of international students who took undergraduate courses in Australia were in full-time employment up to six months after graduation in 2022, but international students still experience much lower employment rates when looking for post-graduation work both inside and outside of Australia. 

Almost 80% of domestic students who studied at undergraduate level were in full-time employment. Although the gap remained, as with salaries, the difference between the cohorts decreased in 2022.

Earlier research from Deakin University found an “education-job mismatch” among international graduates on temporary graduate visas in Australia, with many working in low-skilled jobs. 

While some 63% of international undergraduates employed full-time were in managerial or professional occupations, 30% said they were working in a job that did not allow them to fully use their skills or education. 

Ly Tran, professor at Deakin University, said that international graduates face structural barriers to skilled employment. 

“Many employers are unclear about what the post-study or temporary graduate visa is,” Tran explained. “In addition, the temporary status of the post-study work (485) visa gives some employers a sense of uncertainty or hesitation of recruiting this cohort.

“Our research also shows that many Australian employers prefer candidates with permanent residency or citizenship, which disadvantages international graduates.

“Also, there are a range of employers’ misconceptions about international students and graduates and lack [of] understanding about the value of international graduates and their cross-border experiences, international networks, intercultural skills, transnational knowledge and their multilingual capabilities,” Tran added.

Overall, the survey shows a large increase in employment rates for all graduates as the Australian labour market continues to recover following the pandemic.  

“These reports are timely reminders that a university education sets students up for bright and fulfilling futures, while returning substantial gains to the labour market and the Australian community,” said Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson.

“Only 28% of international students stay and use their degrees here in Australia, yet today’s findings show the opportunities are ready and waiting to be embraced.

“We need more university-educated workers entering our workforce”

“After all, more than half of the one million jobs expected to be created in the next five years will require a university degree – so we need more university-educated workers entering our workforce, not less.”

International graduates who had returned to their homes or moved to another country were more likely to be in full-time employment than their peers who remained in Australia. 

The survey found variation in employment rates across home countries, with 70% of those from Singapore in full-time employment compared to 52% of those from China and Sri Linka. 

Employment rates also varied depending on subject choice, with international full-time employment rates reaching 97% for pharmacy graduates compared to 46% for psychology graduates. 

Over three years, universities with highest full-time employment rates among their alumni included Avondale University (67%), James Cook University (59%) and the University of Queensland (56%). 

International undergraduates from James Cook University had the highest full-time median salaries of AUS$75,300, followed by graduates from University of Newcastle at AUS$68,000.

Tran called for a greater understanding among Australia employers of the temporary work visa and the process of recruiting international graduates holding these visas. 

“There should be [a] better coordinated approach involving education providers and different key stakeholders to tackle misperceptions and prejudices against international students and graduates in the Australian labour market,” she said. 

“In the first place, statements such as ‘permanent residency/citizenship only’ or ‘must be PR or citizens’ should not be allowed in job ads.

“Educating and raising the international students’ awareness of the importance to develop employability earlier in their study program, of their study-work rights, strategies to navigate the labour market and also manage their expectations is equally important too.”

She added that universities should provide customised career support to international students to help them transition from education to work. 

The post International graduates earn less than Australian peers appeared first on The PIE News.

Now is the time for like-minded partners and countries with common principles to collaborate in education, speakers said at an event celebrating a decade of the transCampus partnership between King’s College London and Technische Universität Dresden.

Speaking on February 13 – the anniversary of the bombardment during WWII of Dresden – minister president of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, reiterated the importance of international collaboration.

“What you have managed in the past 10 years, I find extremely remarkable,” he told attendees.

Kretschmer continued to say that the UK is recognised as a “great location for sciences” and KCL as a “beacon for international medical sciences”.

“Now the UK is unfortunately no longer a member of the European Union but it is nonetheless still a European country,” he said, pointing to its shared ideals, judicial systems and societies.

“As western countries we need to stick together,” he added. “We must work together if we… are to [overcome] the biggest challenges of these times… We will only manage that if we bring together the smartest people in the whole world.”

Chief officer technology transfer and internationalisation at TU Dresden Ronald Tetzlaff also emphasised that “in the time of war in Ukraine… it is even more important to make strong collaborations between friends in Europe”.

“We have one team, we have joint professorships, a joint administration and a place where we are friends and develop new technology for the new society,” he said

The initiative specialises in training in various fields of medicine, biology, technology, engineering and communication sciences.

“Our two excellent universities [work together] in a complementary way, we bring together expertise and we are connecting in the future much more engineering science in to these topics… We combine basic research, big technology transfer in order to develop systems for a digital world.”

Up to now, key projects undertaken at the transCampus include new approaches in diagnosis and treating diabetes, depression, long Covid and cancer.

Stefan Bornstein, transCampus dean, concurred that today’s biggest problems “can only be resolved by a global approach”.

“Now more and more we try to bring this knowledge to society, to our patients, to the market, to be used in the wider space,” he said.

“We are reaching out to many places now in Africa”

“We are reaching out to many places now in Africa… [and] a new collaboration that started with India. And it’s not only that we are bringing something to them, but… we are learning something from them to bring back. It’s not only bridging Germany and UK, but also in disciplines.”

Other partners of the initiative include NTU in Singapore and ETH Zurich, Bornstein said, adding, “We are not only now Kings and Dresden, but many universities are joining”.

‘Funmi Olonisakin, vice-president for international, engagement & service at KCL highlighted the institution’s Vision 2029 during a “moment of opportunity”.

“When you think of global mobility in the traditional sense and the mobility of academics and students, there’s no other way to see the world through the eyes of another, but to move around and to do so elegantly, seamlessly, and in ways that empower people without disrupting in a major way,” she said. “And that’s what this partnership has represented in many ways.”

And the partnership has been successful even through the difficult Brexit period, speakers suggested.

“I dare say that our partnerships in Germany overall and particularly in TU Dresden have reflected a kind of longevity, of innovation, of like-mindedness that has made it very easy for us to remain in Europe in every sense,” Olonisakin said.

In addition to current academic collaborations, the initiative is looking to expand further.

“What we want to do, what we hope can define the next moment, is that we begin to see the partnership expand toward other areas of knowledge, pushing the frontiers of interdisciplinary and also involving more our two cities and our universities,” Olonisakin concluded.

The post TU Dresden and KCL transCampus aims to widen appeared first on The PIE News.

International students from Spain who are returning to the country to find work are coming up against bureaucratic roadblocks trying to get their degrees recognised by the state. 

According to a recent report by El PAÍS, a decree that was announced in 2021 trying to streamline the process was only implemented last October – and currently has little to show for helping move the process along. 

They have quite the mountain of applications to deal with. The homologación de titutlos universitarios extranjeros (recognition of foreign university degrees) process currently has over 39,000 cases are pending opening – not pending completion, but opening – which doesn’t even cover applications that are still waiting to be completed and new applications from 2021.

“The decree that entered into force [on October 18 2022] sets a period of six months to be able to resolve the files,” said Universities minister Joan Subirats in December 2022.

Subirats went on to say that applicants who started before the date of the decree would need to close their previous application and begin a new one.

The decree also covers all those coming to Spain with foreign degrees, meaning returning citizens are part of an even bigger bottleneck.

“[We intend to] expedite paperwork and remedy the human drama of long waiting periods for those who have decided to start a new life in our country,” said former minister Manuel Castells in 2021. He resigned in December of that year, with the decree still waiting to be implemented.

The bureaucratic funnel that Spanish nationals have been facing has been growing since 2014, EL PAÍS says, and was naturally exacerbated by the pandemic. 

The need for health workers in that period grew, and job shortages began to be a big problem in Spain over the last two years, with the government vowing to recruit more foreign workers to plug the gap. Spain has also begun enticing international students from outside the EU, to stay after graduation to help with the shortage.

Despite these efforts, it leaves people like US graduate Inmaculada Reina Sumariva behind – despite her being a Spanish citizen.

When Sumariva decided to return to Spain with her family, and she attempted to resume her work in her native Andalucía, she was unsuccessful.

“I have strong qualifications that aren’t recognised in my own country. I have been an ICU nurse manager at the Johns Hopkins Institute – the mecca of meccas – [and] I have worked at the Medical College of Georgia,” she recounted.

“Aren’t we supposed to be in the Bologna framework?”

Despite the aforementioned shortage of healthcare workers, especially nurses, she has been unable to get her degree validated – and has only managed to get a job working as a clinical assistant – far below her qualification. 

Some 5,100 doctors and nurses got their job titles – gained from foreign degrees – approved last year, and as Sumariva recounts, she has been having to “wait her turn”. 

Another case, Marta Perez, began in December 2019 to attempt validating her diploma in educational sciences from a university in French – according to her, the file wasn’t even opened until March 2022. She claims she cannot even talk to anyone by phone, and that the paper system, despite being slow, continues to be the only way she can communicate with the department dealing with her case. 

Speaking to El PAÍS, she asked, “Aren’t we supposed to be in the Bologna framework?”

The ministry of finance’s team to deal with cases like Sumariva’s and Perez’s has been bolstered in recent months – in November, the ministry of Universities announced that the former would be gaining 64 “temporary” officials to help with the bottleneck. 

The PIE News attempted to contact both Spain’s Ministry of Work and Social Economy, and the Ministry of Universities to clarify how long the issues relayed may take to resolve, and why returning Spanish students were being left behind, especially in the midst of a crippling labour shortage they could help solve.

Representatives from the former declined to comment, and the latter did not respond.

The post “Bureaucratic funnel” disrupts return to Spain appeared first on The PIE News.

The UK secretary of state for education, Gillian Keegan, has shown strong support for international students and the wider sector, with reports that she will oppose any potential cuts to international student numbers by the Home Office.

“It’s a sector we should be very proud of,” said Keegan, in an interview with the Financial Times. “It’s world-leading, a great advert to our country.”

Keegan told the publication she wanted to build on the UK’s export market in university education and to expand education export revenues from about £26bn to £35bn by the year 2030.

“We have a strategy which is very much focused on growing the revenue,” said Keegan.

Keegan’s comments come amidst reports that home secretary Suella Braverman will propose a reduction in the time that international students can stay and work in the UK after graduation from two years to six months – a move that the Department for Education has already opposed.

Ian Crichton, CEO of Study Group, told The PIE that Keegan’s expression of support is “significant”.

“After a period of unhelpful uncertainty driven by political concerns around immigration statistics, she has made absolutely clear that – while she will work with the home secretary to address any abuses – international education is a public good and an area of vital opportunity for the UK in future,” said Crichton.

“This is an important signal from a senior member of the cabinet which is also understood and supported by many other parts of government.”

Keegan and Braverman reportedly met last week to discuss international student numbers and the ability of students on “low-value” courses to bring dependants to the UK, the Financial Times reported that government officials said.

In November 2022, The PIE reported on concerns from UK university stakeholders on their ability to provide for and support international students and their families, due to rising numbers of dependants.

Crichton highlighted the dangers of describing university courses as “low-value”, highlighting that all courses are designed to meet quality standards set out by the regulator.

“I studied History at Aberdeen but it would be absolutely wrong to compare a technical or professionally-oriented qualification from a modern university as less valuable because of initial graduate salary levels,” said Crichton.

As for dependants, Crichton served a reminder, as many in the sector have done before, that only postgraduate students are entitled to bring dependants.

“We ought to consider who and what we might lose”

“We ought to consider who and what we might lose before we consider policy changes, no matter how headline grabbing,” he said.

According to Crichton, offering a globally competitive education and post-study work opportunities are vital to a thriving society, economy with connections that will help the UK “play a significant role in identifying the shared solutions which will be needed to build a sustainable, prosperous and peaceful society”.

“If we miss that chance we will neglect one of our most important assets and opportunities for our country,” he said.

It is reported that Keegan has agreed to help the Home Office to hone in on abuse in the system and told the publication her aims of ensuring a high-quality course offer to both British and international students.

The Home Office recently told The Times that Indian students are taking advantage of a loophole in asylum rules that allows asylum seekers to study in the UK while paying domestic fees rather than higher international fees.

About 250 Indian migrants have crossed the channel in small boats this year, a fifth of the 1,180 that have crossed in total this year, the publication reported.

Meanwhile, parliamentarian and chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Lord Karan Bilimoria asked for reassurance in parliament that having hit the UK’s target of 600,000 international students, there will no reduction to international student numbers.

On February 10, he also asked for confirmation that the two-year work visa will be retained, rather than reduced, and expressed concern about the how international students figures are collated.

“Why does the government continue to include international students within net migration figures? They should be excluded like our competitor countries do,” said Bilimoria.

In Parliament yesterday I asked the government to continue to increase the number of international students and exclude international students from net migration figures.@UUKIntl @UKCISA @APPGIS @unibirmingham @NISAU_UK @RussellGroup pic.twitter.com/LWX5JiUN4P

— Lord Karan Bilimoria (@Lord_Bilimoria) February 10, 2023

“It is vital that international education isn’t treated as a political football,” said Crichton.

“It’s far too important for that both for the country and our place in the world. We need to remember that welcoming the talented young people who study with us and become a pipeline of skills and knowledge creation in our world-class universities is a privilege we can’t take for granted.”

A government spokesperson told The PIE “Our points-based system is designed to be flexible according to the UK’s needs – including attracting top class talent from across the world to contribute to the UK’s excellent academic reputation and to help keep our universities competitive on the world stage,”

“We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the country and reflect the public’s priorities.”

The post UK education secretary to oppose cuts to int’l student numbers appeared first on The PIE News.

International study tech platform Edvoy has entered into a “first-of-its-kind” postgraduate student recruitment partnership with Canada’s Trent University.

Together with the Ontario-based institution, Edvoy will launch the joint venture ‘TEX Advanced Learning Centre’. While Trent will deliver the curriculum and manage the academic programs, the one-stop digital platform will bring hundreds of international students to the centre in downtown Oshawa, Ontario.

“We’re thrilled to be embarking on this joint venture with Trent University,” said Sadiq Basha, founder and CEO of Edvoy.

“Edvoy aligns with quality universities, globally. Our agreement means we can both focus on what we do best, Edvoy guiding students through their application process and Trent University delivering world class teaching.

“This is the next level in supporting international students in achieving their travel abroad ambitions.”

President of Trent University, Leo Groarke, pointed to Edvoy’s mission to serve international students with integrity being “at the heart of our relationship”.

“We trust that they will work to match students with the right courses and programs to meet their goals at Trent,” he said.

The courses available for the May and September 2023 intakes include the one-year Human Resource Management, Marketing & Entrepreneurship and Business Communications programs, in addition to the two-year dual Human Resources, Marketing & Entrepreneurship and dual Business Communications & Human Resource Management.

A one-year Financial Analytics course is also open for September.

Created by education consultants IEC Abroad, the UK-headquartered digital platform offers overseas applicants a one-stop digital platform to cover their entire study-abroad journey.

The post Canada: Edvoy and Trent partner on joint venture appeared first on The PIE News.

The number of international students applying for UK undergraduate courses via UCAS has increased by 3% after a slump during the pandemic, driven by countries including Nigeria, India and the US. 

Applications from China dropped by -4.2% compared to last year but still beat pre-pandemic levels (27,710 in 2023 vs 21,250 in 2020) and were more than double those from five years ago.

Additionally, 5,680 applications came from students in Hong Kong, down from 6,010 last year.

The dip is thought to be in part due to travel restrictions that had only just been lifted in China when applications closed in January 2023. 

“Despite Covid issues and disrupted learning in China and Hong Kong, the UK has had its second highest ever number of [equal consideration data deadline] applicants from China,” said Chris Kirk, director of UCAS International. “We expect the recent lifting of travel restrictions to increase applications between now and the summer.” 

Jon Santangelo, spokesperson and senior consultant at Chinese study abroad umbrella company BOSSA, said this could be the “inevitable start of a long-term decline, which has accelerated given the changing economic and demographic situations” in China, but that the trend is not UK specific.

Indian applications increased by 5.4%, reaching a new peak of 9,130 students, while Nigerians increased by 23.1% to 2,930. 

Although not all international students apply via UCAS, the trends mirror those in recently released 2021/22 HESA data, which showed a surge in the number of Indian and Nigerian students enrolled in UK universities. 

“Reforms such as the Graduate Route are starting to pay off”

Hollie Chandler, head of policy (Higher Education) at the Russell Group, said that increasing demand from countries like India and Nigeria shows “reforms such as the Graduate Route are starting to pay off”.

The UK government is debating whether to reduce the time that international graduates can stay and work in the UK from two years to six months, in a move widely contested by the sector. 

Other top non-EU application source countries include the US (5,800), Singapore (3,610) and the United Arab Emirates (3,570). All of these regions saw application numbers increase. 

Applications from EU countries dropped by 2% year-on-year, with the figures less than half of what they were before the 2016 Brexit vote. Some EU countries did experience growth on last year, including Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Netherlands. 

Ireland remained the top source country in the EU with 5,010 applications (vs 5,100 in 2022), followed by France with 2,690 applications (vs 2,700 in 2022). 

The total number of applications via the platform, including UK students, fell by -2.3% but was higher than pre-pandemic levels. 

“This is another complex cycle with a myriad of global and national factors impacting demand, all within the context of an increasing demographic and high employment rates,” said UCAS chief executive Clare Marchant. 

The post Drop in China UCAS applications as Nigeria grows appeared first on The PIE News.