Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF

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US administration plans fixed-term limits for international student visas

The US administration, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has released a proposal for a new rule that would fundamentally change the visa regime for international students...

US visa data indicates a further decline in foreign enrolment in 2019

The US Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has released its SEVIS by the Numbers report for 2019, and it reveals a slight decrease...

Data shows a downward trend in ELT enrolments in 2019

The five major English Language Teaching (ELT) destinations – the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, and Ireland – have now reported their enrolment data for 2019, and...

Agent and school survey projects recovery trends for language travel through 2021

A new survey commissioned by the Association of Language Travel Organisations (ALTO) provides a snapshot of industry expectations as to how student mobility for language study may resume...

British ELT numbers down 82% due to COVID

A new study from English UK highlights the severe impact that the pandemic has had on the country’s ELT sector this year. The study, which was prepared by...

ICEF Exchange podcast: Reopening visa services for the ELT sectors in the UK, Ireland and Malta

Our podcast series continues today with a special focus on visas. It is fair to say that visa processing has been one of the biggest issues in student...

UK announces new flexibility for short-term visas; ELT sector sets out plan to kickstart recovery

After a period of extended lobbying by English UK and other stakeholder organizations, the UK Home Office has increased visa flexibility for those coming to the UK for...

Ireland announces 15-country “Green List” for quarantine-free travel; ELT sector calls for support against 80% revenue shortfall

The Irish government announced an initial “Green List” of 15 countries last week. Travellers to Ireland from a Green List country may now enter the country without a...

Canadian language schools push for government support for “Study Safe Corridor”

In a normal year, Canada’s English and French language programmes attract 150,000 foreign students, generate billions of dollars of exports, and prepare many students for study at Canadian...

US administration withdraws controversial immigration rule for online studies

Earlier today, the US government rescinded a much-criticised directive regarding international students and online studies. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidance, issued 6 July, had stated that,...

ICEF Exchange podcast: What is next for online language learning?

“Online will be a component of the language travel sector moving forward. Whether before or after, or even during [face-to-face courses], I think it is here to stay.”...

Ireland: temporary visa measures for language students and a plan for recovery

Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, has introduced a package of temporary measures to ease visa conditions for international students following language courses in Ireland. In a...

Testing update for June 2020: Pearson, TOEFL, IELTS, iTEP, Cambridge, LanguageCert, Duolingo

While most language testing operations have been suspended during the pandemic, there have been a number of important developments over the past two months, including the introduction of...

FELCA continues to advocate for voucher system as an alternative to refunds

The Federation of Education and Language Consultant Associations (FELCA) is continuing to advance a proposal this month for widespread use of vouchers between language schools and agents. The...

Early lessons from moving ELT online: start with what makes your school special

In the early months of this year, a growing web of public health measures and international travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic caused English language schools to...