UK & EU
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND WORKERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA CAN NOW ENTER THE UK AND AUSTRALIA
The UK and Australia have lifted the travel restrictions on South Africa ahead of other countries like the US and Canada. The UK was the first to remove the bans, and Australia followed closely. The announcement from the UK government came after the officials realised that the travel bans were no longer effective for controlling the spread of the Omicron variant.
NEW KOREAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE OPENS IN LONDON
London has witnessed the opening of a new institute to promote Korean language and culture at Richmond’s liberal arts university this week. The London Sejong Institute is a joint venture opened with collaboration between the King Sejong Institute Foundation and Richmond The American International University. The event took place at the southwest London campus of Richmond.
MORE THAN 35% OF TOP GLOBAL CEOS HAVE STUDIED ABROAD
A report by Study.eu, a European study choice portal in Germany, states that more than one-third of the top global CEOs have studied abroad, completing an international education programme of some kind. According to the report, this number is increasing over time. African CEOs are the leaders for internationalised experience.
AI EXPERTS TO BACK NEW BUSINESS SKILLS PROGRAMME
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) experts are backing a new scheme to enhance the delivery of skills programmes. With the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) pilot, employers across Leicestershire will be at the centre of skills provision. It aims to consolidate links with local training providers and colleges.
SECRET SCHOOL RUN IN A SYRIAN DETENTION CAMP BY THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT
The Finnish government held a secret virtual school for Finnish students in a detention camp in Syria. Teachers used different phones, pseudonyms, and emojis to create the programme. Al-Hol is a camp for the families of internal refugees and ISIS fighters. It also has numerous foreign nationals, including young children.
ASIA
STUDENTS LOCKED OUT OF JAPAN EXPERIENCE IMMENSE STRESS WHILE STUDYING
The Japanese government has implemented strict border measures amid the growing concern about the Omicron coronavirus variant. Once again, thousands of international students are in a dire situation. Many are forced to attend online classes at odd hours due to time zone differences. Not to mention, they are struggling with uncertainties hanging over their futures.
CHINA’S TUTORING CRACKDOWN TAKES AN EDUCATION BILLIONAIRE BACK TO HIS RURAL ROOTS
Yu Minhong (俞敏洪), 59, an education billionaire is returning to his rural roots after the tutoring crackdown in China. Minhong started his journey as a kid from the countryside and went in to become the founder of a US-listed tutoring company. His success story is seen as the symbol of the power of education in China over the past two decades.
ANOTHER COUNTRY PRIORITY FOR STUDENT RETURN PROMISED BY CHINA
In a recent announcement, Malaysia’s foreign minister stated that the country is one of the top priority countries in the Chinese pilot project to bring back international students in the country. The statement came after he attended a meeting with China’s minister of foreign affairs in Huzhou earlier this month.
BORDER CLOSURES TO STUDENTS, TRAVELLERS BY SINGAPORE OVER OMICRON CONCERNS
Singapore has imposed fresh travel restrictions as a part of measures to respond to the Omicron threats. Students and travellers from 24 countries Singapore have agreements with for quarantine-free travel will not be allowed to arrive. Ticket sales for flights and bus trips under the vaccinated travel lanes have been frozen from December 23 to January 20.
DUBAI CAMPUS OF DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY OFFICIALLY OPENED
Leicester’s De Montfort University has opened its Dubai campus on December 9. The university is among the founding partners of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The new campus building in Dubai’s International Academic City has state-of-the-art facilities, services, and equipment
AUSTRALIA
NEW NORMS FOR ARRIVALS AND QUARANTINES: FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LANDING IN AUSTRALIA
As international students start arriving in Australia under pilot plans and border exemptions, they may struggle with arrivals and quarantine plans. The reason for the confusion is that different states and territories have varying rules and regulations on border entry and quarantine. Additionally, these regulations may change depending on the impact of the new Omicron variant on current infection rates.
USA
US FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT PAUSE EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 1
US President Joe Biden has extended the federal student loan payments pause until May 1. He cited the continuing impact of the pandemic as the reason for the extension. The president stated that millions of borrowers are likely to struggle with their repayments despite the job numbers going up.
INDIA
EIGHTEEN REFEREES FROM INDIA ON FIFA’S INTERNATIONAL LIST 2022
As a historical landmark, as many as eighteen referees from India have made it to the international list for 2022 FIFA. Out of these eighteen names on the list, fourteen are men (6 referees and 8 assistant referees) and four are women (2 referees and 2 assistant referees).
GUJARAT SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE VEDIC MATHEMATICS FROM NEXT YEAR
Gujarat state government has stated that the state will have Vedic mathematics in its school curriculum from the next year. The announcement came on the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the famous Indian mathematician. Vedic mathematics is acclaimed as a faster and easier way to solve arithmetic problems.
ADVISORY BY INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOR EDTECH CONSUMERS ON AVAILING DIFFERENT DEGREES AND COURSES
The Ministry of Education in India has issued an advisory notice for parents considering edtech services for their children’s education. The advisory states that the Department of School Education and Literacy has found instances of edtech providers trying to lure parents with the assurance of free services before they sign an electronic fund transfer (EFT) mandate.
CBSE DECISION ON RESULTS BRINGS GOOD NEWS FOR CLASS 10, 12 STUDENTS
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided not to fail any student of class 10 and 12 this year. The decision brings good news for more than 33 lakhs students, many of whom raised concerns over the new MCQ format of the Term-1 CBSE exams.
If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?
