Author: Ed Itor

Dear Valued Quality Member,

This NEAS team update reflects on the last few months and as always, such a reflection provides us with the chance to throw a spotlight on our own practice and see what we are achieving and what’s to come before the end of 2024! 

NEAS continues advocating on all things “Quality” with regulators, government, and industry bodies for independent, industry-led and specialist Quality Assurance in English Language Teaching. 

The impact of NEAS’s advocacy efforts has been tangible, as evidenced by the growing traction and momentum within the industry. The influx of incoming students from overseas is on the rise, indicating a promising trajectory for the ELT sector. NEAS’s continuous support for the ELT community through advice, information dissemination, guidance, and innovation has contributed significantly to supporting our members during this positive trend.

We thank the Australian ELT sector for being our stalwart supporters and are proud to share the news that the last three months has seen 35 ELT centres, individuals and agents pass their Quality Assurance activity with flying colours. The majority were ELT centres that underwent Quality Endorsement/Review, while others conducted Self-Assessment or attended Management Meetings. Our members have shown renewed enthusiasm for the NEAS process for practice improvement and we commend them for it wholeheartedly!

Onshore collaboration and partnerships have remained at the core of the NEAS strategy. We have maintained strong collaborations with prominent Australian stakeholders such as English Australia, University English Centres Australia (UECA), and others. Government departments and authorities, including the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), have also been key stakeholders in NEAS’s pursuit of quality assurance.

NEAS CEO Dr Patrick Pheasant presented at the PIE Conference on the Gold Coast in July to promote the importance of Quality Assurance (QA) with his topic of Strengthening Bilateral relationships and in Sydney at the English Australia Conference in September on Homestay standards. Just last week we had a significant presence at The Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) where we exhibited, presented and hosted Braindates. We also took the opportunity to host  an  industry networking event to announce the new NEAS Homestay Standards Quality Area O: Homestay Service Provider. We were delighted to share this event with so many friends and colleagues from the ELT and Education sector in general. Furthermore our 2024 Professional Development Schedule is jam-packed with COP events, webinars, workshops and the conference, most of which are free, all of which are worth CPD points.

The team at NEAS regularly scrutinises the QA Framework and recognised the need for an additional area, namely Quality Area O: Homestay Service Providers. Together with extensive industry input this area is now being piloted with some early adopters. This is an exciting addition to the NEAS Framework.

Our cross-border collaboration has remained pro-active too and has been instrumental in fostering growth and innovation within the global ELT sector. We have grown our involvement with the ASEAN University Network (AUN) as well as other ventures overseas. Our Education Manager, Ms Rima Ibrahim, spoke at the GPEX summit in Malaysia and our Communications Manager, Ms Peetra Lechte, spoke at the VUS TESOL conference in Vietnam as well as at the AUN-QA conference in Thailand. Between us, we have recently visited a number of university ELT centres promoting QA activity and Australian Quality Standards for English Language Teaching in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

The importance of NEAS’s endeavours and its commitment to fostering connections among global ELT practitioners have been recognised and endorsed by notable figures in the education sector, as evidenced by mentions in prominent publications and podcasts, such as those by Claire Fields in the Campus Morning Mail and Tim Todd in The Australian Higher Education supplement. 

The NEAS team, with guidance from the NEAS Board, NEAS Advisory Council and our members, is finalising the 2023 – 2026 Strategy to take us into the next phase of our important role in the ELT sector here and overseas. 

As always, we thank you for your loyalty and commitment to QA and ELT and remain at your service. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of the team directly, for any feedback or questions.

October 2023

NEAS congratulates STARFISH Education on becoming a Quality Endorsed Member, marking a significant milestone as the first NEAS Member Centre in Myanmar. Established in 2008, STARFISH Education has consistently demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the English language proficiency of Myanmar’s young learners.

Before the pandemic, STARFISH Education maintained four physical Centres in Yangon and Mandalay. These Centres were dedicated to offering English language courses and test preparation programs. In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, STARFISH Education made a significant transition to become an online English language provider.

Currently, STARFISH Education extends its reach to students in over 190 townships across Myanmar through online classes and a self-study portal. They have a team of experienced teachers, a responsive customer service team, and IT support in place to assist students with their online educational needs. This strategic shift demonstrates STARFISH Education’s commitment to ensuring continued access to quality education for students.

During the Focus Group session, students shared their positive experiences with STARFISH Education. They highlighted that their applications to institutions like the British Council and other pathway courses had seen a significant increase in success rates after they began their studies with STARFISH Education. Furthermore, students noted a substantial improvement in their confidence when it came to productive language skills, specifically speaking and writing. Students expressed their appreciation for the Study Portal materials, underscoring how these resources had enabled them to monitor their progress electronically, offering a personalised learning experience. Additionally, students participated in group projects, requiring them to collaborate online outside of regular class hours. This approach not only nurtured their autonomy as learners but also honed their teamwork and leadership skills.

October 2023

The Australian Homestay Network (AHN) is a well-established provider of homestay services in Australia. AHN’s mission is to provide international students with a secure, comfortable, and culturally enriching living environment by carefully matching them with host families. With a strong emphasis on student welfare, AHN is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing and overall positive experience of their students. They offer essential support and training to host families, equipping them to provide a nurturing and enriching environment for the students under their care.

NEAS is pleased to assess and endorse AHN as the first Australian provider in the category of Quality Products and Services (Area O – Homestay Service Providers). The Quality Principles of Area O focus on the following critical aspects of the vendor’s service: its governance and management practices; the provision of a safe and comfortable living environment for students; its support for student welfare arrangements; and the training of host families for student welfare and wellbeing. Detailed information on Area O of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework can be referenced here: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/#area-o.

NEAS was particularly impressed with AHN’s well-structured documentation provided to both students and homestay hosts. AHN uses student and host portals that encourage continuous interaction and feedback while also serving as repositories for essential documents and policies. A standout among these resources is the Homestay Placement Summary, which effectively presents crucial information to students, offering clear descriptions and showcasing photographs of the hosts and their residences.

October 2023

We are proud to be an Exhibitor at the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) this year and we are also getting excited about our special networking event. This event is to celebrate the new Homestay Service Provider Standards: Quality Area O that we have co-developed with industry practitioners and stakeholders.

Here’s a quick reminder of the details for the event:

Industry Networking Event for Homestay Service Providers and Stakeholders

Thursday 12 October at 12:30 pm

Booth #14

We would love to see, so if you happen to be at AIEC, please come and see us any time!

The team at NEAS is so grateful to have had the opportunity to create this new Area and we thank all stakeholders for their enthusiastic participation in the virtual workshops and the in-person forums. Please view early adopters here and the standards here.

If you would like to stay connected and be informed of our Industry Networking Event for Homestay Service Providers and Stakeholders and all our other activities throughout the year, please sign up to our free e-newsletter here.

We look forward to seeing you at AIEC!

October 2023

NEAS congratulates Anh Van Hoi Viet My VUS (Vietnam USA Society English Centres – VUS) for its continued growth and successful completion of its recent Quality Endorsement exercise for eight new Additional Centres.

VUS holds a prominent position as a leading education company for English Language Teaching in Vietnam. Their campuses are located in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Hanoi, and other major cities in Vietnam. The newly-endorsed VUS Centres are: Nguyen Kiem Branch; Thuan An Branch; Nguyen Huu Tri Branch; Nguyen Oanh Branch; Phan Van Hon Branch; Green River Branch; Pham Van Dong Branch; and Vo Van Ngan Branch.

VUS has a strong culture of creating a sense of family among students, parents, and teachers. This connection is fostered through social media, face-to-face interactions, and their exclusive Smart Learning Space: V-Hub. Many teachers and staff members have been a part of the VUS community for 10 – 20 years, underscoring the positive working conditions and supportive culture they provide.

Through anonymised surveys and focus group interviews, students showed strong positivity towards course delivery, assessment, and teaching methods. All teachers possess appropriate qualifications, with the majority having more than five years of teaching experience, and around half boasting over a decade of expertise.

Records of course delivery, attendance, and assessments are maintained within V-Hub, enabling stakeholders, including parents, to access progress updates easily. V-Hub also facilitates homework completion outside of class time and encourages students to engage in preparatory activities like vocabulary and pronunciation exercises.

VUS is supported by an Academic Team responsible for developing, reviewing, and evaluating courses and assessments. An effective communication system ensures clear transmission of course requirements to teachers and gathers their feedback, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and currency in course content.

September 2023

NEAS Congratulates CQU Brisbane on the successful completion of their Quality Review Activity. 

CQU Brisbane campus enjoys a strategic location within the heart of Brisbane City. It stands in proximity to key transportation hubs, including the King George Square busway station, Central Station Queensland Rail (QR) station, and the Roma Street QR station and busway. The Centre’s surroundings are rich with culinary and retail options, as well as cultural attractions such as the iconic Brisbane City Hall and the engaging Museum of Brisbane (MoB).

CQU Brisbane is seamlessly integrated into the broader CQU city campus framework, allowing students to tap into the support services offered to the larger CQU student community. This vibrant learning environment encompasses classrooms, student support services, and student areas spread across various sections of the Brisbane CBD office building.

CQU English Brisbane caters to diverse educational needs of students on pathway to higher education courses, offering three levels of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), EAP 1, 2, and 3. The Centre also offers IELTS Preparation courses and occasionally hosts Study Tour Programs.

In the focus group discussions, teachers emphasised the alignment of their teaching strategies and professional development with the objectives of the three EAP courses. They recognised the importance of equipping students with the necessary academic discourse skills for success in their future faculty courses at CQU. CQU English offers its teachers tailored professional development sessions designed to address the specific language backgrounds of students that might pose challenges to their academic progress.

Students participating in the focus group praised their teachers for providing clear models of course expectations and  course goals and the alignment of these goals with the desired learning outcomes across all courses.

September 2023

Congratulations to Crown Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) for achieving Quality Endorsement with NEAS.

CIHE, conveniently located on the Pacific Highway in North Sydney, offers easy access to public transportation and nearby food facilities. The Centre caters to both ELICOS and Higher Education students and is providing EAP classes as a pathway to Higher Education courses at CIHE.

At CIHE, a warm and welcoming atmosphere prevails, providing students with a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience. Students described staff as approachable and helpful, while teachers were recognised for their thorough teaching methods and caring approach to students. The College actively fosters a sense of community by organizing cultural events, college-wide barbecues, and graduation ceremonies.

Students appreciate the feedback they receive and the personalised attention from teachers. One student mentioned, “I like the way teachers correct my mistakes.” Students also appreciated the provision of a dedicated librarian who guides ELICOS students in using the online library, helping them prepare for future university studies.

Teachers at CIHE expressed satisfaction with the courses and available resources. The collegiality among the teaching team, coupled with the ongoing support, contributes to making CIHE an enjoyable place to work.

September 2023

Congratulations to Aspire English on completing a successful Quality Review Activity with NEAS!

Aspire English is an ELT Centre nestled within the stunning sandstone campus in Manly, offering breath-taking views of the iconic beachfront.

Currently, Aspire English is offering General English (GE) and Cambridge B2 First to students from various countries including Vietnam, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. Aspire English students are on pathways to various courses at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) and Higher Education programs

Students in the focus group responded very positively about their course which they found interesting and described their teachers as “well prepared” and could “explain things clearly”. Additionally, students were satisfied with the provision of workshops four days a week and the access to dedicated in-house student support services. Students also expressed satisfaction with the number of excursion opportunities to explore various Sydney attractions.

Teachers at Aspire Institute had positive opinions of their managers and described them as highly cooperative, especially in terms of resource allocation. This, in turn, contributed to the overall perception of Aspire Institute as “a great place to work.”

September 2023

Curtin English operates as a part of Curtin Global and is situated on the Bentley campus. The Bentley campus offers a spacious and accessible environment, and it is well-connected to public transportation options such as the Trans Perth bus station and nearby rail connections. Various amenities including food services, recreational facilities, and student counselling are available on campus and are thoughtfully designed to cater to the diverse student population.

Curtin English has established a structured approach to familiarise students with university life, ensuring access to all facilities of Curtin University from the beginning of their enrolment. The English courses offered by Curtin are categorised based on specific disciplines, aiding students in engaging with and preparing for their chosen faculty pathways. These courses primarily emphasise academic proficiency and cultural awareness, essential for success in subsequent pathway and faculty-specific studies.

The teacher focus groups have positively acknowledged the logical course design implemented by Curtin English, attributing it to the achievement of favourable learning outcomes for students. In parallel, students who participated in focus groups and surveys have conveyed contentment with both their instructors’ teaching methods and the university’s facilities.

September 2023