The Interactive Design Institute has entered into a joint venture with International College Britain, part of The Talent International Education Group.

Interactive Design Institute was established in 2004 to offer on-line programmes in Art and Design to UK and international students.  It is the only UK organisation accredited to offer Art and Design degree programmes on-line.  It has established international partners in 10 countries.

International College Britain was established in 1999 and has previously worked in collaboration with Queen Margaret University College, Cambridge Regional College, Edinburgh’s Telford College and West Thames College, and other universities to offer EFL, undergraduate foundation, postgraduate foundation, and Pre-Master courses. ICB has trained and successfully placed almost 2,000 international students to UK universities.

The joint venture will be called International College Edinburgh (ICE) and will provide English as a Foreign Language, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Foundation, and Pre-Master programmes for international students. There will also be opportunities for students working with our international partners to take some of their programme in Edinburgh or to come to Edinburgh for short study visits for undergraduate degree programmes validated by UK universities.

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland ICE will enrol its first cohort of students in September 2009. It is anticipated that ICE will host in excess of 1,000 international students within the next few years.

Professor Yifa Cai, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Talent International Education Group says: “The partnership with IDI will provide an increased range of opportunities for international students, and will allow us to consolidate our position as a leading recruiter of international students to the UK as well as further develop our partnership in China with IDI”

Michael Stewart one of the founding directors of The Interactive Design Institute said; “This is an exciting new venture for us and we welcome the opportunity to work with Professor Cai. The Edinburgh campus will enable IDI to increase its provision from purely online delivery to include face to face tuition over a broader range of courses”.

Initially, International College Edinburgh will be attracting students from China, Dubai, Iran, India and Singapore to its courses.