Author: Ed Itor

NEAS congratulates Centre for English Language Teaching, University of Western Australia (CELT UWA) for completing a successful Quality Review Activity.

CELT UWA is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive English Language Pathway for students by offering a range of courses, including Language and Communication Essentials (LCE), English for Academic Purposes (EAP) m and Bridging Course (BC), all designed to equip students with the necessary language proficiency and academic skills for their future undergraduate and postgraduate studies. 

The curriculums at CELT UWA have been developed, taking into consideration feedback from students and teachers. Continuous course evaluation is an integral part of the teaching process, facilitated through course curricula notes. In addition, student surveys are conducted periodically to ensure ongoing improvement and alignment of learning outcomes with students’ needs and aspirations. 

CELT UWA recognises the importance of a conducive learning environment and ensures that all students receive academic support and have access to extensive resources at UWA libraries. The Centre also holds licence for various digital resources which enhance the learning experience.

July 2023

The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language proficiency exam for healthcare professionals. It assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in a healthcare context, helping to ensure effective communication. Recognised worldwide, OET is a high stakes test accepted by the Australian, UK, US, and New Zealand governments for visa purposes. The test is also accepted by regulatory bodies, employers, and educational institutions.

NEAS is pleased to assess and endorse OET in the category of Quality Products and Services (Area K). The Quality Principles of Area K focus on these features of the target Product and Service: its underlying research; its fulfilment of purpose; its processes for maintaining quality; its uniqueness and innovation; and its contribution to the ELT community. Detailed information on Area K of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework can be referenced here: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/#area-k. 

OET’s commitment to research, both in quantity and quality, is commendable. Collaborating closely with healthcare professionals in diverse clinical settings, OET develops authentic test items to evaluate candidates’ professional communication abilities. The rigorous validation, training, and moderation of item writers and assessors reflect their high standards. With 12 tailored versions for different medical and allied health fields, follow-up studies indicate that OET high scorers are preferred by leaders in medical domains. OET has earned the reputation as the ‘gold standard’ for recruiting proficient medical personnel from non-English speaking backgrounds.

July 2023

Congratulations to Ivanhoe Grammar School on completing a successful Quality Review Activity with NEAS. 

Ivanhoe Grammar School (IGS), a private multi-campus school in Melbourne, has been enrolling international students since 1941. The campuses offer spacious grounds and excellent facilities that are close to public transport and Melbourne CBD. The School offers both the VCE and the International Baccalaureate (IB), together with a vibrant and exciting range of learning and co-curricular programs.

The curriculum is designed to link the students’ EAL preparation with mainstream subjects and is taught by highly qualified teachers who are trained to deliver both ELICOS and other subjects. Students are given access to a range of academic and pastoral support including after-hour tutorial support, advice on time management, academic and personal skill development and one-on-one assistance.

Ivanhoe Grammar School fosters a strong culture of inclusiveness, collaboration and support and operates with the motto ‘Four campuses – One School’. With transparent channels of communication, all staff, students and teachers engage comfortably with each other and management.

Students reported in the survey and Focus Group being pleased with the course design and the quality outcomes it provides. One of the students commented: “Teachers are very kind. They can take care of each student. They make me feel comfortable and after class teacher can help me a lot”.

July 2023

Congratulations to INUS English on completing a successful Quality Review activity with NEAS!

NEAS conducted a Site Visit and Management Meeting at INUS English, covering key areas of the NEAS Quality Framework and areas of significance for the Centre.

INUS English is conveniently located on the ground floor of the renowned Royal Children’s Hospital building in Parkville, Melbourne. The College is easily accessible by public transport and is in close proximately to a range of amenities including cafes, restaurants and a tranquil park situated at the back of the building.

INUS English fosters a diverse and inclusive learning environment, welcoming students from Thailand, Colombia, Chile, Japan, South Korea and China. With its dedicated ELICOS team, INUS English is committed to ongoing improvement to ensure the delivery of high-quality education. 

July 2023

Congratulations to the Language Studies Centre at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD)! UOWD provides a comprehensive range of language programs catering to the diverse needs of its students. With an emphasis on practical application and cultural understanding, the Centre’s language courses enhance students’ linguistic and communication skills for academic study, professional engagement, or personal growth. Highly qualified instructors employ innovative teaching methodologies and interactive approaches to ensure effective language learning outcomes.

UOWD College has now successfully completed the NEAS Quality Review exercise for 2023. This involved structured meetings and focus group discussions with management, students, teachers and professional staff. Anonymised Health Check surveys were used to develop areas of focus for the conduct of the Quality Review, and comprehensive stakeholder feedback was triangulated and mapped to key Principles and Drivers of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework. For more information on the Quality Assurance Framework, please refer to this section of the NEAS website: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/. 

UOWD course design meets the desired goals of students through well-articulated learning outcomes. Curricula are thorough and comprehensive with good guidance provided for teachers. Teachers participating in the focus group interview reported that they had a lot of freedom in interpreting the curricula and tailoring classes to the immediate needs of students. During their structured interview session, students also reported that they were happy with the teaching style and spoke favourably of combined class activities. Students are offered 1:1 individual lessons; this is an excellent initiative and is to be commended. Action plans are formulated to help students improve targeted skills areas.

June 2023

Congratulations to Whitsundays College of English on completing a successful Quality Review activity with NEAS.

Whitsundays College of English received its initial endorsement from NEAS in 2022. The College’s campus is located on level 4 of 579 Harris Street in Ultimo, strategically positioned near Darling Quarter and conveniently accessible by both buses and Central Station. 

The campus boasts a well-designed layout, featuring the student services desk in the main foyer, well-sized and equipped classrooms and a large staff room conjoined to the Director of Studies office. 

Whitsundays College of English attracts students from South America including Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Peru in addition to students from Mongolia and Thailand. The College places significant emphasis on providing academic support to its students. This includes regular feedback and academic support sessions.

June 2023

On 15 May 2023, ASEAN University Network, together with National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) Australia, held the 2nd Online Introductory Meeting on NEAS’ ELT Quality Endorsement/Certification Project.  ELT administrators and lecturers from nine university English Language Teaching Department/Centres across six ASEAN countries joined this online session. This meeting, which is a follow-up from the first one held in March 2023, signifies the continuing commitment of ASEAN higher education institutions to strengthen their English language capability.

Mr. Daniel Yuen, Operation Manager of NEAS Australia, provided participants with insightful details on the core criteria of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, which include:

• Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
• Student Experience
• Strategy, Risk, and Governance
• Resources and Facilities
• Admin, Management, and Staffing
• Promotion and Student Recruitment

In addition Mr. Yeun also pointed out eight supplementary areas of quality which could provide a comprehensive, dedicating assessment to the characteristic of the teaching carried out by each ELT centre. Some of the supplementary areas of quality included Welfare for Students under 18s (for Centres that provide courses for students under 18s), Online Delivery, Transnational Delivery, Foundation Programs, and more.

AUN and NEAS Australia are united under the shared goal of driving English Language Teaching capability of ASEAN higher education institutions to the next level. The ongoing partnership promises a unique opportunity for higher education institutions in ASEAN to take another step ahead in strengthening the English Language Teaching capability.

June 2023

The PIE Live is a conference held on the 24/25 July at the Gold Coast Convention  & Exhibition Centre.

The two-day, PIE Live Australia is focused on building connections and learning amongst leaders and aspiring leaders in international education from across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. There will be attendees from higher education, edtech, private education and government, predominantly from Australia/APAC, but also from the US and Europe. Presentations will be dynamic and engaging, delivered through a mixture of panel discussions, power presentations, roundtables and workshops. The debate about future trends and challenges ahead will be developed and the amazing work being done by the sector will be showcased. 

Dr Patrick Pheasant, the NEAS CEO will be presenting at this event and is looking forward to engaging with representatives from the broader education community. The title of his presentation is: Strengthening Bilateral Relationships: ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Partnership with NEAS Australia for Quality Assurance in English Language Teaching and will delve into the collaborative efforts of the AUN-QA and NEAS Australia, highlighting the key strategies employed to enhance bilateral relationships between Australian university English language centres and AUN member English language centres.

The main focus will be on quality assurance measures that have been developed and implemented to ensure the delivery of high-quality ELT programs, while a secondary focus will be on the role of Education Agents in this dynamic. The findings will benefit administrators, practitioners, and policymakers in Australian Universities, providing effective strategies for international collaborations and ensuring quality ELT programs. The session will also discuss future prospects, expansion of the partnership, and implications for English language education in the ASEAN region and beyond.

June 2023

Have you created a fun classroom activity? Or have you helped a student in a new and innovative way? Consider applying for the IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial IATEFL Scholarship Award 2024. Simply submit your application detailing how you’ve been creative in your teaching to help test takers prepare for IELTS.
The award features:
·        registration for the Testing, Evaluation and Assessment Special Interest Group (TEASIG) pre-IATEFL conference event
·        registration for IATEFL
·        a year’s IATEFL membership
·        a maximum of five nights’ accommodation
·        travel costs, including, if necessary, an economy flight to the UK GBP 55.00 per day expenses.
Application deadline: 21 June 2023: https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers/grants-and-awards/iatefl-scholarship

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/6asssg1I1sQ

June 2023