Author: Ed Itor

We are pleased to share the details of the new NEAS office! Based in a historic building in vibrant Chinatown, NEAS has set up shop in the Haymarket HQ (HHQ) shared-workspace community! A busy work-hub comprised of companies spanning the globe, HHQ’s members and alumni include the likes of the International Student Education Agents Association (ISEAA), Education Link, Golden Education, I-Student and MyStudyWorks.

Not just an office space, HHQ also provides mentorship and education to start-ups and SMEs wanting to expand into global markets. NEAS shares HHQ’s vision in wanting  to connect and unite organisations in different countries to achieve common goals and solve various issues faced by sectorial communities. NEAS is proud to be a part of this exciting and thriving space!

Come and visit us at Level 2, 63 Dixon Street, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia.

Congratulations to All Saints International Centre on its successful completion of a Quality Assurance Management Meeting, which confirms the Centre’s continued Quality Endorsement. A structured Management Meeting was conducted as a substitute for the Quality Review in 2022, due to the ongoing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Management Meeting covered core areas of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, as well as additional areas of significance for the Centre.

Since the Australian borders reopened to student visa holders, enrolment numbers for the Centre have been strong. At the same time, there have been challenges with visa delays, as well as adjustments required to switch temporarily from onsite classes to streamed delivery, to cater for those leaners testing positive for COVID-19. During the past year, All Saints International Centre has produced a purpose-designed Pastoral Care course for international students and staff. The special program includes an insightful facilitator guide and student workbook, and is intended for use for one to two hours per week over a school year. The purpose of this significant publication is to assist students in settling into their study and life in Australia, and the Centre is commended for its dedication to student care. Staff professional development and careful monitoring of student participation and attendance have been consistently maintained.

August 2022

Congratulations to ELS Language Centres Malaysia on its successful completion of a Quality Assurance Management Meeting, which confirms the Centre’s continued Quality Endorsement. A structured Management Meeting was conducted as a substitute for the Quality Review in 2022.  The Management Meeting was conducted as part of the Onsite Visits to two campuses of ELS Language Centres Malaysia: ELS – Kuala Lumpur and ELS – Subang Jaya. Onsite Visits and Management Meetings are integral to the ongoing Quality Review cycle. The Management Meeting covered core areas of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, as well as additional areas of significance for the Centre.

The two campuses visited (ELS – Kuala Lumpur and ELS – Subang Jaya) offer the Certified Intensive English Program (CIEP), which supports students articulating into university courses at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) or University Technology Malaysia (UTM). Online delivery has been successful for ELS during the pandemic. As students gradually return to campus, some continue to follow courses online. ELS Language Centres Malaysia’s Online delivery in English Language Teaching (ELT) was Quality Endorsed by NEAS in 2020.

Summative assessment grades and attendance records at the end of each level determine whether a student can move to the next level. Every two weeks, individual learners are provided with a progress update, via a formal report. Remedial classes are available to support students academically. Students are asked to provide feedback throughout the year and the surveys returned have a major impact on decision making in the course review process. Student welfare is maintained through assigning one qualified counsellor for each class. A structured yearly professional development (PD) calendar for staff ensures that at least one PD session is held per quarter, in addition to monthly faculty meetings.

August 2022

Congratulations to Pusat Bahasa ELC (ELC Language Centre), Malaysia, on its successful completion of a Quality Assurance Management Meeting, which confirms the Centre’s continued Quality Endorsement. A structured Management Meeting was conducted as part of the Onsite Visit to ELC Language Centre – City Campus. Onsite Visits and Management Meetings are integral to the ongoing Quality Review cycle. The Management Meeting covered core areas of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, as well as additional areas of significance for the Centre (read more…)

The Centre is a sibling campus of ELC Sydney and offers English language courses from Starter level to Upper Intermediate and IELTS preparation. The courses support students articulating into university studies at the National University of Malaysia and the University of Wollongong KDU. The Centre also has an ELICOS operation within UOW Malaysia (temporarily closed due to ongoing COVID-19 challenges). Courses run in blocks of 12 weeks per level. Students are assessed weekly in class under test conditions and a formal summative assessment is held at the end of the 12-week cycle. Students provide feedback to the Centre via online surveys, and this is further enhanced by focus group discussions with students that cover relevant topics, such as accommodation, conditions at the Centre, and the students’ overall experience. Student welfare is maintained through the provision of a dedicated Welfare Officer. A yearly calendar for professional development (PD) for staff features two workshops per month, based mostly on topics that are suggested by the teachers. The Management Team conduct weekly meetings, which inform PD opportunities as well.

August 2022

NEAS congratulates Moreton Bay Colleges International for becoming the latest Quality Endorsed Member! The Centre serves international students of two independent schools of the Uniting Church tradition: a day school for girls (Moreton Bay College, established in 1901) and a sibling school for boys (Moreton Bay Boys’ College, established in 2003). The Centre lodged a comprehensive application for NEAS Quality Endorsement, and Pending status was conferred by the NEAS Endorsement Committee in August 2020. NEAS Quality Endorsement is granted and maintained through a distinctive 360-degree stakeholder-driven feedback model, which is informed by input from students, teachers and professional staff. With the disruptions to international travel arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated impact on student mobility and teacher employment, the Centre’s application had successfully undergone NEAS audit, while its designation as an Endorsed Centre was pending a concluding Quality Endorsement Meeting involving the participation of students and staff. Upon the reopening of Australia’s international borders and the return of international enrolments, Moreton Bay Colleges International coordinated with NEAS to conduct an in-person Quality Endorsement Meeting in July 2022.

Whilst the High School Preparation (HSP) course at the Centre is new, it has been written by experienced HSP staff, who draw on an understanding of students’ needs and backgrounds. Students are being prepared for entry into their appropriate year level, and formative assessment items are based on future school assessment types and appropriate scaffolding occurs in classes. Ongoing liaison between the High School Preparation teachers and mainstream teachers is facilitated to support students’ transition. Independence is encouraged through participation in mainstream classes, and this arrangement creates strong motivation in students. Orientation to life and study in Australia is integral to the course. Students also have access to Sonder, an on-demand wellbeing service, which boasts 24/7 attention by a range of professional staff providing safety, medical and mental health support. Korean and Chinese-speaking tutors are employed by the sibling Colleges to assist students. Homestay placement surveys are in place, and together with ongoing contact with agents, the Centre gains valuable information about their students’ experience.

17 August 2022.