NEWS

Vietnam USA Society English Centres (VUS) is a leading English Language Teaching institution in Vietnam with approximately 250,000 students enrolled annually throughout the country. The majority of its campuses are located in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi. VUS joined NEAS in 2017 with an initial 15 Centres; 14 in HCMC and 1 in Hanoi. Currently the number of Centres stands at 43. This Quality Assurance activity was conducted to confirm NEAS Quality Endorsement of nine new centres: Vo Van Van Branch – HCM City; Le Quang Dinh Branch – HCM City; Gia Kiem Branch – Dong Nai Province; Long Khanh Branch – Dong Nai Province; Long Thanh Branch – Dong Nai Province; Ba Ria Branch – Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province; Vinh Long Branch – Vinh Long Province; Tay Ninh Branch – Tay Ninh Province; and Can Tho Branch – Can Tho City. 

Congratulations to VUS for its successful completion of the NEAS Quality Assurance activity. This review encompassed structured meetings and focus group discussions involving management, students, teachers, and professional staff. Additionally, the use of anonymised Quality Principles Surveys helped identify focal points for the Quality Review process, while comprehensive stakeholder feedback was analysed in alignment with the 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/. 

VUS cultivates a strong familial atmosphere among students, parents, and teachers through channels such as social media, face-to-face interactions, and the Learning Management System, known as V-Hub. Many teachers and staff members have remained employed at VUS for numerous years, a testament to the supportive culture and favourable working conditions. VUS prioritises the welfare of students under 18 by providing Teacher Assistants and extra classroom support for younger children. To further bolster student welfare efforts, VUS maintains dedicated teams, including the School, Services, and Compliance team, and the Administration and Student Affairs team, with all team members trained in student welfare practices. 

April 2024

Congratulations to Griffith University – Faculty of Humanities, Language and Social Science on successfully completing a quality review activity with NEAS.  

NEAS quality endorses two ELT qualifications at the Faculty of Humanities, the Graduate Certificate in TESOL and the Master of TESOL. These courses attract domestic and international students, particularly from Southeast Asian countries and South America. Some students are also enrolled in a Master of TESOL and Leadership which involves four additional subjects from within the Business School. This degree has been added to the scope in reply to international students’ desire for study work rights. 

Offered in a hybrid format, the courses provide flexibility through Microsoft Teams, ensuring quality education both on-campus and asynchronously. Students are required to observe twenty hours of teaching classes and are supervised and assessed in their delivery of six-hour lessons. The university department has signed agreements with an extensive range of language centres and supervisors in several locations to accommodate the diverse needs of its students.   

Students have access to university support services, including learning advisors and the English Help service, with a small International Student Services team available at the Nathan campus. Participation in industry discussions through the TEAMS GU TESOL Committee group is encouraged, covering a range of topics including career information and upcoming industry seminars and conferences. 

April 2024

NEAS extends congratulations to Universal English (UE) for the successful completion of a Quality Review Activity. Located in Melbourne CBD, Universal English (UE) serves as the central office for the Universal Learning Group, comprising the Universal Institute of Technology, The William Light Institute, and Universal Higher Education.

The campus features well-equipped facilities, including computer labs, a library, comfortable breakout areas on each level, a dining area, and a cafe-like space offering barista courses and coffee services. UE’s student body is diverse, welcoming students from many countries, including Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. These students are enrolled in a variety of courses including General English, Cambridge FCE, IELTS Exam Preparation, and the unique UE Active Conversation in English (ACE) course.

Committed to enhancing oral communication skills and fostering cultural integration, UE organises Active English weeks and various social activities, showcasing dedication to holistic language education.

March 2024

ReadyTeacher is a dynamic technology platform connecting educators with top-tier institutions offering ELICOS and VET programs, both in-person and online, including offshore courses. ReadyTeacher’s mission is to revolutionise the way education providers find specialised teachers, making it as simple as a click of a button.

NEAS is pleased to assess and endorse ReadyTeacher 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.

ReadyTeacher was developed after identifying gaps in on-demand teacher hiring and feedback from stakeholders requesting a centralised pool of qualified teachers. It benefits teachers with flexible work and diverse experiences, centres with streamlined hiring and teacher quality, and the ELT industry with improved reputation and recruitment practices. Software developers were engaged from the start to ensure compliance and suitability of the technology.

ReadyTeacher offers a comprehensive platform for client centres, including payroll management, lesson planning, and professional development. It provides a 90-minute turnaround for teacher relief and access to a wide pool of on-demand teachers across major cities through its user-friendly mobile app. Pricing is competitive, saving on payroll and recruitment costs. The service also offers biweekly lesson planning support and mandatory professional development for teachers.

NEAS was particularly impressed with the quantity and quality of research and development, industry consultation and stakeholder feedback that has gone into ReadyTeacher. The involvement of software developers and early adopters in the initial development and piloting phase is also to be commended. NEAS notes ReadyTeacher’s aim as a transformative resource geared towards innovative 21st century solutions to a persistent issue within the ELT and other educational settings.

March 2024

Congratulations to ILSC Sydney on the successful completion of its Quality Review activity with NEAS.

ILSC Sydney is part of the wider ILSC group, established 31 years ago, with a global presence including colleges in Canada, the USA, India, and Australia. The Sydney campus is strategically located on George Street within the iconic Woolworths Building. The two-floor facility serves as a vibrant hub for English language teaching and learning. ILSC Sydney offers courses in General English, FCE, CAE, IELTS Mastery, and EAP, accommodating over 1,000 students across three shifts.

Participants in the Student Focus Group expressed satisfaction with their learning outcomes, highlighting the quality of instruction and describing their experience as ‘very good’. Beyond the classroom, students enjoy diverse opportunities to enhance their language skills through activities such as job clubs, foosball games in common areas, and informal gatherings in the lounge/kitchen spaces, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.

Teachers in the Focus Group are pleased to be part of the ILSC teaching team. They appreciated the wealth of resources available and their seamless access to instant IT support during teaching sessions.

Management’s commitment to fostering a “school ethos” and a “community feel” is evident in their efforts to promote coordination and networking among colleagues. This initiative aims to create a supportive environment where professionals can build a rewarding career path within the ILSC community.

March 2024

Congratulations to Acknowledge Education (AE) Melbourne centre on successfully completing a Quality Review Activity with NEAS.

Since merging under the Acknowledge Education umbrella in June 2022, AE has undergone significant restructuring, including a rebrand. All four education institutions – Melbourne Language Centre, Stott’s College, Front Cooking School, and Acknowledge Creativity – have seamlessly merged under the unified logo of Acknowledge Education (AE). As part of this transformation, the centre has implemented a formal and scheduled system for assessment validation and moderation, established a more structured professional development program for staff, and transitioned to an online format for student feedback, aligning with NEAS recommendations.
 
Catering to a diverse student body primarily from China and Vietnam, alongside students from India, Thailand, and the Philippines, AE offers High School Preparation (HSP) to under 18s at its Exhibition Street campus, while its Bourke Street Campus focuses on General English (GE) for adults.
 
AE’s dedication to student welfare is exemplified through initiatives like the Your Care Team and the provision of counselling services.
 
The centre’s commitment to continual improvement underscores its dedication to delivering an enhanced ELT experience for both students and teachers.

March 2024