Category: NEAS News

NEAS congratulates International House – Gold Coast Campus on completing a successful Quality Review Activity. 

International House – Gold Coast Campus, situated on the fourth floor of the Australia Fair Shopping Centre, has strategically positioned itself in the heart of Southport, providing both students and staff with access to central services. With stunning views of the Gold Coast Broadwater to the Southport Spit, the campus offers close proximity to essential amenities such as Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) Student Hub, GCCC Southport Library, Southport TAFE IELTS Centre, the Glink light rail, and a variety of medical, optical, dental, and retail services.

International House has given the site a fresh, modern look, incorporating their trademark colors and branding. To cater to a substantial number of students across three timetables – Morning, Afternoon and Evening – the College maintains a diverse teaching pool. The College provides a range of ELICOS and test preparation courses, fostering an environment where practically and theoretically trained teachers can interact and learn from each other.

Gold Coast campus is at the forefront of innovation, with Sydney leading the way in virtual reality activities for students. Virtual reality stations have been set up for students to engage in virtual discovery activities such as visiting other cities. Student feedback on these activities is currently being collected and used to inform the learning design of a suite of activities pitched to the different proficiency levels of students.

April 2023

Congratulations to Language Links International (LLI) on completing a successful Quality Review Activity with NEAS.

NEAS conducted a virtual Management Meeting with Language Links International followed by a Site visit by Dr Patrick Pheasant.

Language Links, conveniently situated in Northbridge, close to the Perth CBD and the central train and bus interchange, is part of Academies Australasia Group. The College currently caters to a diverse student body including students from Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Austria, Italy, Korea, and Japan.  Students are enrolled in courses offered across two shifts: Morning and Evening. These courses include General English levels from Beginner to Advanced, Cambridge First (B2) and Advanced (C1) and EAIP.  Upon attainment of the required level, students may articulate to pathway institutions.

Language Links International has special support services in place to ensure that under-18-year-old students are specifically catered for, including homestay support, airport pickup and drop off, working with children checks, excursion permission forms, and welfare support services.

The College is committed to embracing digital processes and is actively transitioning towards this goal. Teacher professional development is highly considered and there is an annual professional development plan in place for teachers. The College places high value on student feedback and conducts regular surveys and student feedback is utilised to shape the development of courses.

April 2023

Congratulations to EF International-Perth for successfully completing a Quality Review Activity with NEAS.

EF International-Perth Campus is conveniently located across two buildings in the Perth CBD close to the central train and bus interchange. The main building is a refurbished heritage building with historic character as well as modern classrooms and student facilities. Students cross a small lane to study in the more modern sister building.

The Campus provides modern and state of art facilities, well-equipped classrooms and student breakout areas. Boasting ample space for growth, EF International-Perth provides students with access to facilities in both buildings, including microwaves, refrigerators, and vending machines. 

QR Codes play a distinctive communication role in the Centre, with pull and push modes employed. Students are able to access surveys and other important information via codes. The Centre further leverages social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Linked to promote its programs, services and facilities, with the assistance of student ambassadors who play a significant role in promoting the campus to prospective students.

EF International-Perth enjoys the advantage of operating several Centres throughout Australia, providing opportunities for benchmarking activities. As a multinational, large-scale institution, EF International-Perth gathers student feedback samples from across its Centres to inform curricula, test reviews and the overall development of the EF International brand. Additionally, staff have the opportunity to work at various EF Centres, providing a unique opportunity to compare and contrast operations. 

April 2023

NEAS congratulates Citipointe Christian College International on completing a successful Quality Review activity.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the doors of Citipointe Christian College International (CCCI) closed at the end of 2020 as enrolled students successfully transitioned into mainstream classes, and the College was in hibernation during 2021. However, with the start of the new year in 2022, students began to return to the school, which currently offers three classes. The College has written a new Secondary School Preparation Program which is referenced to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The International College building, although slightly detached from the main school classrooms, is situated within the large church and college campus. The hexagonal classrooms on the top floor, as well as the multi-purpose room used for student counselling and classroom breakout activities, are all well-equipped with modern and comfortable furnishing.  

Homestay families are sourced from the Citipointe school and church community, as well as other Christian churches in the region. Clear guidelines and expectations are established for both students and homestay families, ensuring a peaceful and happy living environment.  The staff at CCCI possess a good understanding of the unique issues that under 18 international students may face, and this knowledge is reflected in their adherence to established procedures. 

April 2023

Congratulations to University Preparation College for completing a successful Quality Review activity.

“The University Preparation College (UPC) is located in Surry Hills, Sydney, and provides a welcoming and friendly student services desk. The Centre is easily accessible by public transport, with buses and train services located nearby. The location provides students with easy access to a range of amenities including cafes, restaurants and shops. Students come to UPC from Vietnam, Japan, Egypt, Hong Kong and the Philippines among other countries, and are currently enrolled in either a General English or an EAP class. The majority of students are on pathways to VET courses at UPC College. 

UPC offers a comprehensive range of resources to students, including self-study resources via Microsoft Teams and face-to-face support. After-class language-focus workshops, study skills sessions, and workshops aimed at acclimating students to life in Australia provide students with a holistic approach to student life. 

UPC conducts regular course evaluations, soliciting feedback from teachers and students each term. Teacher feedback informs the test validation sessions, while student feedback is used to improve courses and services.   

UPC places great emphasis on student attendance and progress and offers students at risk of falling below the 80% attendance threshold make up classes to help them stay on track with their studies.”

April 2023

Congratulations to Whites Hill State College on completing a successful quality review activity!

Whites Hill State College is located in the picturesque eastern suburb of Brisbane. The College is situated in the leafy suburb of Camp Hill which is known for its tranquil residential streets and easy access to some of Brisbane’s most popular parks and natural reserves.  

The Centre is a welcoming space equipped with the necessary recourse and facilities to support learning. There is a large open planned area in the HSP unit building arranged in such a way as to provide an excellent space for students and teachers to interact. The classrooms are well furnished, and classes are given access to the College’s Science resources to enable simple experiments and enquiry-based learning.

White Hill State College’s High School Preparation Program is designed to provide students with a smooth transition to secondary school. Providing pathways into several Brisbane schools, students attend White Hill State College dressed in the uniform of their future school. 

Students in focus groups expressed their satisfaction with the school and the level of support they received. Teachers were described as “dedicated” and “all clearly explain things”. The provision of detailed curriculum documents with possible resources and a range of websites and hardcopy texts greatly assists teachers in meeting students’ needs.

Feedback from the staff was very favourable, both within the focus group and the NEAS survey.  Survey comments included that the Centre was continually working on ways to improve services to students and that the Centre was a positive, professional place to work as it was well-run. 

April 2023

NEAS congratulates Discover English for completing a successful Quality Review Activity!

Discover English is part of the Academies Australasia Education Group and provides courses for international students in General English (Elementary to Advanced), English for Academic Purposes (EAP), IELTS Preparation, Excel English, Cambridge English B2, C1, C2 and Business English.

Situated in a prime Melbourne central city location, Discover English has attracted a healthy number of students since the return to campus after the COVID-19- Pandemic. The campus provides adequate study spaces for students and an extensive library. The atmosphere at Discover English is friendly and professional and students are provided with comprehensive student services to assist them during their time at the College. In focus group discussions, students praised the College’s ability to help them achieve their goals. 

Teachers at Discover English are appropriately qualified and are given opportunities to improve their skills and teaching range. A yearly professional development calendar demonstrates that regular internally and externally sourced PD for teachers is provided. Students reported feeling satisfied with their teachers. One student commented, “ the teachers are of a very high quality’, while at the same time being “fun and fantastic”.

April 2023

Congratulations to IELTS on the endorsement of its Quality Product/Services!

IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is a globally recognised language proficiency test designed to assess the English language skills of non-native speakers. Jointly developed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English in 1989, IELTS has become one of the most widely accepted assessments in the world and earnt its reputation as the gold standard of English language testing. Over 11,000 organisations, including universities, immigration authorities, and employers in more than 140 countries, recognise IELTS scores.

NEAS is pleased to assess and endorse IELTS as a Quality Product/Services (Area K), in the category of Testing (High Stakes – Australia). 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. 

Research underpins best practice test design associated with the IELTS brand. The quantity and quality of research undertaken and shared by the IELTS Partners with stakeholders has been impressive. IELTS investment in innovation is a standout feature of the current suite of resources available to test takers. The IDP IELTS practice application and the ability for candidates to retake subtests in a targeted skills area, so as to address a jagged profile, is of particular note. Item writing teams receive regular training and updates to ensure that test items are relevant, current, and align with IELTS latest research and product testing. IELTS coordinates a comprehensive teacher training program to ensure that candidates are prepared for current versions of the tests. IELTS maintains deep industry connections to establish ongoing currency and relevance in the ELT industry.

April 2023

James McIntryre-Ure is a Senior Educator at RMIT University Vietnam and he incorporates evidence-based positive psychology into learning, teaching and mentoring. By tapping into people’s values, he can help people discover their true potential, set meaningful goals and make long-lasting positive changes. He has a strong background in education and his work on well-being has been showcased globally.

The session in the Ukraine Workshop Series will explore how students and teachers can co-create a positive community and supportive learning environment. Support networks are key to developing well-being and resilience. It will provide effective coping strategies which acknowledge the various needs and emotions that arise during challenging times.  

April 2023