AI tools help to smooth international student housing

• The student housing crisis continue to persist

• Several start-ups are using the power of AI to streamline the process of finding and booking accommodation for students

In universities and colleges around the world, and across the various sectors linked to international education, AI is revolutionising processes used to attract, enrol, and provide support for international students. This year, more AI-based start-ups focused on student accommodation, and more private sector solutions addressing the problem of insufficient and unaffordable housing are in sight.

Canada Study Permits

Canada announces two-year cap on new study permits - Canada will establish a cap on the number of new study permits issued to international students. The cap will be in effect for 2024 and 2025, and is described as a temporary measure.

Canada Immigration

JISC, UK

Managing digital shock needs to be part of student's support plan

New research from Jisc, the UK's data and technology agency for higher education, points out that students are now exposed to another type of challenge when transitioning to study abroad: Digital Shock

• Along with culture shock, new research highlights that international students are also subject to digital shock.

• Adjusting to new technology, and ways of using technology, during study abroad can be a hurdle for student success.

• Educators need to provide clear support and signposting for how technology will be used in and around the study programme.

Canada Immigration

1. International students applying for a permit to study in Canada will now need to prove CAN$20,635.00 in available funds

1. The government’s decision comes amid scrutiny of the country’s international education sector and how well it protects students’ welfare

1. The temporary measure allowing international students to work unlimited hours while studying has been extended to 30 April 2024

1. Extensions of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) will soon be phased out.

UK: Student visa grants has now reached double figure pre-pandemic levels

• The UK granted just under 500,000 study visas for the year ending June 2023
• Indian student numbers are driving much of that growth and grants to Indian students now account for nearly 30% of total study visas issued

Study visas granted to main applicants between year ending June 2014 and year ending June 2023. Source: UK Home Office

US now allows student visa applications up to one year in advance

On 21 February 2023, the US State Department announced an expansion of the time period during which international students may apply for an F or M-class visa to study in the United States. Up to that point, students were able to apply only 120 days before their planned programme starts. Under the revised rule, the US will accept student visa applications up to 365 days in advance.

The move appears designed to help smooth visa processing delays and make it easier for students and US institutions to better plan ahead.

UK visa numbers reflect surging international enrolment in 2022/23

Rapidly growing enrollments by Indian & Nigerian students are driving a spike in the study visas issued by the UK through September 2022. Chart depicts the top 05 nationalities for study visas granted in the last 05 years.
Source : UK Home Office

IELTS to launch new online test in early 2022

We help you in choosing the right course in the University as per individual profile of students and provide the complete information of Educational Institutions along with Admission Guidance. We foster our students to excel in their career path by

• IELTS will launch IELTS Academic Online in early 2022 to give students the ability to take the test at their homes or other suitable location
• The new online test will be delivered through a purpose-built platform loaded with security features to ensure test integrity

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WELLBEING STRATEGY BY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, NEW ZEALAND - a great initiative

The Wellbeing Strategy was released last year by Mr. Paul Goldsmith, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment and it in turns maps out four focus areas for government agencies that touch international education: economic wellbeing, education, health, and inclusion. As such, it has a broad mandate to strengthen government policy and process relating to the education experience, support services, and post-graduate opportunities available to international students.

• ECONOMIC WELLBEING: International Students are able to support themselves.
• EDUCATION: International Students achieve educational outcomes that support their future pathways and choices.
• HEALTH & WELLBEING: International students are safe and well.
• INCLUSION: International students are welcome, valued and socially connected.

Fifty-fold increase in English-taught bachelor’s degree programmes in Europe

• The number of English-medium undergraduate degree programmes in Europe has gone from practically zero in 2009 to nearly 3,000 in the year 2017
• This follows an earlier, and continuing, period of growth in English-taught master’s programmes among institutions in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
• Going forward, the outlook is for continued expansion and specialisation in English-language degree offerings in Europe.

From the turn of the century onward, Europe has seen dramatic growth in the number of English-medium programmes on offer throughout the 19 countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The Bologna Declaration, formally adopted by European ministers of education in 1999, has been an important catalyst. The Bologna Process established the EHEA, and with it the goal that students and graduates could move freely among member states, using qualifications earned in one country to meet the requirements of admission for further study in another.

Foreign enrolment in Russia triples over past decade

• There are now more than 280,000 international students enrolled with Russian Universities The majority of students come from former Soviet Republics, notably Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine
• Russian educators anticipate further enrolment growth from sending markets in Europe and Asia, particularly as scholarship support for foreign students has expanded within the past year and as the relatively low value of the ruble positions Russia as a more affordable study destination A new report from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) finds that the number of foreign students enrolled in Russian universities has increased nearly three-fold over the past decade. From a base of 100,900 foreign students in 2004/05, total enrolment in Russian higher education reached 282,900 in 2014/15. This represents total growth of 180% over the ten years, and is matched by a commensurate increase in related export revenues which grew to a reported US$1.46 billion in 2015.
• Year-over-year enrolment growth stands at 17.2% between 2013/14 and 2014/15 alone and RANEPA reports an average annual growth rate of roughly 9% since 2003. “The appeal of Russian education for foreigners has risen in recent years as the decrease in the value of the ruble compared with foreign currencies has made studying in Russia much more affordable,”
• For further details please call +91 96542 28207 / +91 98101 59565.

British PM orders new visa review.....

Here are the highlights:

• The British Home Office has reportedly been directed to prepare a set of new measures to tighten UK visa controls
• International student visa policy has been specifically targeted for further review as the British government reinforces its commitment to reduce net migration by more than two-thirds of current levels
• A recent study estimates the economic impact of declining international enrolment at US$1.5 billion to date, and projects total losses in excess of US$10.5 billion by 2016/17

Canada introduces new visa process for conditional admissions.....

Here are the highlights:

• On 13 July, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada changed its processing guidelines for international student files involving conditional admissions
• Under the new processing policy, visa officers are instructed to issue a study permit – that is, a Canadian study visa – only for the period of the student’s prerequisite studies
• After successfully concluding any such preparatory studies, the student will now be asked to apply for a further study permit to cover the period of their planned academic programme.
• This is a departure from the previous practice which saw visa officers issue a single study permit for the entire duration of both programmes.

New Zealand launches pilot for five year pathway visa......

New Zealand has launched an 18-month pilot for a new Pathway Student Visa The pathway visa allows students to study with up to three different education providers over a five-year period, all without renewing the study visa Pathway visa holders may also work during their studies, within the limits of existing immigration regulations in New ZealandThe pilot is limited to education institutions that meet defined government criteria for participation, including a 90% student visa approval rate over the previous 12 months New Zealand has introduced a new pathway visa that will allow international students to study for three consecutive programmes over a five-year period, and all on a single visa.

You will not be able to use your Indian Passport from 24th November 2015, if......

The Government of India has advised to Indian citizens living in India and abroad to urgently replace their handwritten passports with machine readable passports. The International Civil Aviation Organization (IACO) has set a deadline of the 24th November 2015 for globally phasing out of all non-machine Readable Passports (MRPs). Thereafter, Other Countries may deny Visa or entry to any person travelling on a non-machine readable passport.

Immigration New Zealand’s fees are increasing and a new immigration levy will be introduced.

Following a 2015 review of immigration charges, Cabinet has agreed to increase immigration charges by 8.3 per cent overall. Most of the additional funding will give effect to Budget 2015 decisions to enhance New Zealand’s border security and support the implementation of Vision 2015. Both of these initiatives provide significant benefits to New Zealand in respect of making further improvements to customer experience and border risk management. Some additional funding will provide for enhanced marketing and attraction functions and also enhanced protection of migrant workers (including students) from exploitative employers. This funding will directly support the government’s objectives to fill skill gaps, attract investment, grow export education and reduce migrant exploitation.

Immigration New Zealand’s new international education industry partnership ...

In January 2014, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) commenced the Industry Partnership Pilot (IPP) with 25 international education providers from across the sector. The industry partnership was established to contribute to industry growth by incentivising providers to strive for high education standards and take more responsibility for good immigration outcomes, thereby enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as a high quality study destination.