NEWS

NEAS Endorsement News: INUS English

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

NEAS Advisory Council

As some Advisory Council members complete their tenure, we extend a warm welcome to two new Advisory Council members: Marta Setkowicz and Sharon Leslie.

It is with gratitude for their wisdom, contributions and inspiration as Advisory Council members that we farewell Jason West, DOS at UTS College, Alex Nanni, Associate Director of Institutional Research, Roger Williams university, and Youngeun Song, PEO Australian Pacific College. 

Marta Setkowicz is the Student Experience Director at Australian Pacific College and English Unlimited (National). As such she is leading the Learner Experience Enterprise Unit at the national level in achieving outstanding course, operations and student service delivery. She works closely with Senior Managers across Australia in pursuit of innovation, excellence and growth. She is a University of Wroclaw graduate.

Sharon Leslie, is currently the Director of English Language Programs at Southern Cross University College. She is an experienced Lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Teaching, Higher Education, University Teaching, and Curriculum Development. Strong education: professional graduated from QUT (Queensland University of Technology).

July 2023

University of Wollongong Dubai

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

Whitsundays College of English

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

Asean University Network

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

NEAS Presents at The PIE Live Conference on the Gold Coast 

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

IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial IATEFL Scholarship Award

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

Congratulations to James Cook University Singapore!

Congratulations to JCU Language School, part of James Cook University Singapore, on successfully completing the 2023 Quality Review – Self-Assessment, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to quality education. The Self-Assessment process, aligned with the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, enables Centres to evaluate their operations and plan for continuous improvement.

JCU Language School is dedicated to delivering exceptional language education. As an integral part of James Cook University, a highly esteemed Australian institution with a global reputation, JCU Language School offers a diverse range of language programs catering to students from diverse backgrounds. The Centre is highly commended for its thorough self-reflection on current practices and the development of well-considered plans for continuous improvement, specifically addressing key areas such as Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (Area A), the Student Experience (Area B), and Online Delivery (Area H), as outlined in the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework. JCU Language School is, furthermore, commended for its proactive approach in implementing recommendations from the previous NEAS Quality Review conducted in 2022. The Centre’s notable initiative to enhance digital learning further demonstrates its commitment to staying at the forefront of educational advancements.

June 2023

Congratulations to Global Business College of Australia (GBCA)

Congratulations to Global Business College of Australia (GBCA) on completing a successful Quality Review activity with NEAS.

GBCA is situated in the bustling heart of Melbourne’s CBD. GBCA traditionally offers VET courses in Business, IT and Childcare. In addition, GBCA has established a partnership with the University of Canberra, offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in business. Since 2019, GBCA has been delivering ELICOS programs to a diverse international student cohort including students from China, India, Colombia and Sri Lanka. The ELICOS program serves as support for international students intending to transition into VET and other higher education courses.

GBCA upholds a strong commitment to Work, Health and Safety (WHS) regulations. All staff members receive first aid training, fire exits are clearly signposted and accessible first aid kits are available to cater to any emergency situation that may arise.

June 2023

Mahidol University

Congratulations to the Preparation Center for Languages and Mathematics, part of Mahidol University International College (MUIC), for successfully completing the 2023 Quality Review – Self-Assessment. This achievement reaffirms the Center’s commitment to providing quality education. Aligned with the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, the Self-Assessment process empowers the Center to evaluate its operations and establish plans for continuous improvement.

Part of MUIC, the Preparation Center for Languages and Mathematics is dedicated to fostering academic excellence. The Center offers comprehensive language and mathematics preparation programs designed to equip students with the necessary skills for success. With a strong emphasis on quality education and personalised instruction, the Center prepares students not only for their academic pursuits at MUIC but also for their future endeavours. The Center is commended for its considered self-reflection of current practices. It has showcased its proficiency in developing well-thought-out plans for continuous improvement, with a specific focus on key areas such as Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (Area A), the Student Experience (Area B), and Administration, Management, and Staffing (Area D), as outlined in the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework.

June 2023