GLOBAL: Social media sells education

The explosion in internet access has transformed the 3.5 million strong market for international education, according to a four-year global research project by the British Council's Education Intelligence unit, writes Stephen Matchett for The Australian.

According to research manager Elizabeth Shepherd, "the evidence shows institutions that want to attract the best quality students must make information accessible in the easiest possible way and that means going the extra mile online".

She says many are already on the march. According to the research: "In large part institutions' websites have now taken over the role of physical brochures as regards the details of courses and accommodation options. Online attendance at exhibitions is now competing with physically attending an expo as a means of meeting representatives in person to ask questions about overseas study aspirations."
Full report on The Australian site