Destination Analysis: Steadfast USA
Despite fears that the terrorist attacks on the USA on September 11, 2001, would have a negative effect on international enrolments in the USA for the 2001/2002 academic year, statistics show that, overall, numbers increased during this year and US colleges and universities predict that this trend is likely to continue for 2002/2003. Bethan Norris looks at the wider picture.

Feature: High standards
High school-age students on long-term study abroad programmes present a particular challenge for the institutions in charge of their welfare and general well-being. High schools in Australia rely on a network of government, state and individual policies in order to ensure the safety of their international students and the standards of the accommodation and welfare provision on offer.

Subject Focus: Business in Asia
Business courses delivered in the English language are becoming commonplace in a number of Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Korea, and Asian students are increasingly turning away from traditional destinations to study closer to home. Gillian Evans finds out what the benefits are for students choosing this route for their studies.

The first half of 2003 has already thrown up many challenges for the education travel industry. The war in Iraq and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) have presented their own particular problems for schools, universities and agents worldwide. Universities report that many short-term study and marketing trips to Sars-affected areas have had to be cancelled, while the ongoing 'war on terrorism' in the Middle East continues to effect visa operations in many countries.

However, one of the most remarkable aspects of this industry as a whole is its continued resilience in the face of adversity. The same universities reporting the disruption of short-term study courses, and the quarantining of students from Sars-affected areas, also say that international interest in their programmes has not diminished and that student numbers on long-term education courses have been largely unaffected.

This resilience can also be seen in our Destination Analysis feature, which looks at statistics for the incoming student market in the USA for the academic year 2001/2002 . Statistics for this year show an increase in international students studying in the USA despite fears that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and subsequent military action in the Middle East, would discourage education exchange to this country. Universities and colleges in the USA also report increasing international interest for the present academic year, proving that, for long-term academic courses at least, the benefits of an international education for students outweigh any other political or international concerns.

As the value of educational exchange becomes more established in the minds of governments and individuals worldwide, so some areas of the industry are concentrating on regulations to ensure best practice and safety standards. A new agents' association in Argentina hopes to encourage ethical standards and fair business practices amongst its members, as well as lobby the government to promote the credibility of agents throughout the country.

Our feature on welfare and accommodation provision within high schools in Australia also focuses on the issue of government and state regulations to ensure the safety of younger age international students away from their home country.

The variety of academic opportunities for international students is expanding with new countries entering the marketplace. Asian students are increasingly enrolling on business courses given in the English language within their own continent, as branch universities from Australia and the UK open their doors in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, and private national colleges develop their own courses within these countries.

As well as increasing the variety of the courses on offer, many universities are concentrating on the progression of language students into education and offering courses to help facilitate this transition. One community college in Canada has been marketing its education courses to language students already studying in Canada, while others have been developing language courses that can be combined with separate modules from higher education courses.

This continued innovation and development on behalf of educational institutions worldwide will surely ensure that the education travel market remains robust, whatever international troubles come its way.