NEWS

Congratulations to Cambridge Assessment English! 

NEAS is honoured to have assessed and endorsed C1 Advanced 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. See here for detailed information on Area K of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework. 

Cambridge C1 Advanced is a high stakes test approved by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs as proof of English language ability for Student visa applications and other programs, including Temporary Graduate, Skilled, Former Resident, and Work and Holiday visas. C1 Advanced is also recognised as proof of high-level achievement in English by many employers, Higher Education Institutions and government departments around the world. Developed by Cambridge Assessment English, a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge, the exam is purpose designed to assess candidates at C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced – CAE, C1 Advanced is the result of over 30 years of academic research, trialling and the careful incorporation of feedback from all stakeholders. 

C1 Advanced test is globally renowned. The trialling of exam materials with a wide range of students helps ensure accuracy, fairness and appropriateness of content. Continuous collation of user feedback from around the world enhances further the test and its delivery. Cambridge Assessment English regularly reviews and develops the test, in line with stakeholder feedback and technological developments. The test provides candidates with certified results.

January 2023

NEAS Congratulates Moreton Bay College International on completing the Quality Endorsement of their Pre-intermediate High School Preparation Course. 

Moreton Bay College International’s Intermediate-level High School Preparation Program was endorsed by NEAS in the middle of the 2022 academic year. Since then, the need for a pre-intermediate level program became noticeable. For the purpose of this endorsement, the College submitted a two-level, 20-week HSP Program including a newly created pre-intermediate level. The pre-intermediate level is suitably written and is consistent with the course endorsed earlier in 2022 to allow the enrolment of students with an English language proficiency of at least A2 CEFR. The course provides an integrated skills approach to language learning while drawing on a communicative teaching method. 

January 2023

NEAS Congratulates EF Brisbane on completing a Quality Review activity with NEAS! 

EF Brisbane re-opened its doors in February 2022 and has since had an ongoing increase in student numbers. NEAS conducted a recent visit to EF Brisbane and was particularly impressed by the school’s collaborative and cheerful environment and management’s commitment to providing students with pastoral care and quality learning experience. The campus facilities are conducive to learning and provide a good space for students to mingle and relax with breakout spaces on every level and a deck area to access during breaks and for school celebrations. Throughout the College, there are bright, cheerful posters, advertising other EF colleges and showing local artwork.

December 2022

NEAS Congratulates Charleston English on completing a successful Quality Review Activity. 

Charleston English commenced in November 2019 and has bravely faced the effects of COVID-19. Currently, all classes are held face-to-face, and the college is offering General English courses. Charleston English is located in the centre of Brisbane city in close proximity to public transport and provides state of art facilities including spacious and well-equipped classrooms, computer labs and break-out areas. In a recent visit, NEAS was particularly impressed by the student learning atmosphere at Charleston English and the level of student engagement with teachers and managers.

December 2022

NEAS congratulates Victoria University English (VU English) for successfully completing its Quality Review initiative in 2022. Located at Victoria University’s City Campus (in Melbourne’s central business district), VU English is the University’s dedicated English language centre. The Centre delivers a wide range of English language courses and supports learners improve their English skills. It also delivers standalone ELICOS programs to university groups from a range of countries. All classes are back to 100% face-to-face delivery and the campus enjoys a diverse nationality mix, with enrolments hailing Japan, Vietnam, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, China, Pakistan, Iran, and other countries and regions.

VU’s core value of “fostering mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships” facilitates open communication among staff and between staff and students. Students’ security and wellbeing are serious considerations of the International Student Adviser and her team. VU English’s course design and assessment is developed in-house and is maintained by academic management with input from teachers via a comprehensive course review system. Feedback from anonymised student Health Checks concerning teachers and their approach was very positive, with the majority agreeing or strongly agreeing with the high level of course delivery, assessment and teaching approaches. Student comments about the teachers include “They really care”, “When I have a problem, they immediately respond”, and “They prepare well, especially grammar”. Students and teachers also reported that they were happy with the spaces at the Centre and felt that access to technology was good. One student commented “That’s amazing!” when asked about the technology in the classroom.

December 2022

NEAS CEO, Dr Patrick Pheasant, visited NEAS Member Centres in Hanoi, Vietnam, during a recent tour of the country in November, to progress strategic dialogues with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency, and the Australian Embassy. During this trip, Patrick’s also arrived in Singapore as a guest speaker at the Asia-Pacific Quality Network Annual Academic Conference.

We take this opportunity to congratulate the following ELT Centres for their continued commitment to aspirational quality assurance standards and for their demonstrated excellence in delivery of English language programs in Vietnam: 

• Vietnam USA Society English Centres (VUS) – Hanoi – Nguyen Luong Bang, Golden Palace, and CTM Branch Campuses;
•  RMIT University Vietnam – Hanoi City Campus; and
•  Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET) – Ngoc Khanh Campus, Hanoi

The Centre staff were invariably warm and welcoming at each site. Key members of the leadership teams demonstrated a solid understanding of quality assurance processes and mechanisms. Each Centre took great pride in their commitment to excellence and prominently displayed the NEAS logo on their campuses. The classrooms were clean and well organised. In structured discussions about future strategy, the Centres were commended for their dedication to teacher training and ongoing professional development for teachers and academic managers.

Onsite Visits and Management Meetings are integral to the ongoing Quality Review cycle. Management Meetings cover key areas of the NEAS Quality Framework as well as areas of significance for the ELT Centre. Following the Management Meetings, a succinct report is delivered to the Centre, which identifies notable areas of strength and presents suggestions for continuous improvement. In addition to planned meetings, NEAS also conducts unscheduled visits from time to time.

December 2022

Congratulations to St John’s International College for completing a successful Quality Review Activity with NEAS. NEAS conducted a Site Visit and a Management Meeting at St John’s International College and was pleased with the current operations as the Centre rebuilds its international Student Cohort. St John’s International College operates within the St John’s Anglican College Secondary campus, offering a High School Preparation Program to international students. In mid 2021, with the extended closure of Australia’s international borders, the College chose not to continue to offer its quality-endorsed online program and sought NEAS “Pending” status (hibernation), during which no eCoEs were issued.

The Centre resumed its active membership of NEAS in late February 2022 and has been recruiting students from China, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

While student numbers are growing, St John’s International College continues to ensure high-quality education and pastoral care for its international students.

November 2022

The College at Western Sydney University (WSU)​​​​​​​ is the official pathway provider for the University and delivers a wide range of quality TEQSA accredited English language and academic preparation courses. Congratulations to WSU The College on successfully completing the NEAS Quality Review exercise for 2022! 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.

Located in Sydney Olympic Park, a major urban centre with strong transport connectivity and retail and community amenities, WSU The College is welcoming a growing number of enrolments from a wide range of countries that include China, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, India, and Pakistan. Currently, classes are being delivered face-to-face, as well as in blended modes and hybrid modes. The College offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses across five levels from Elementary to Intermediate. Also on offer are the following courses: Advanced Academic English Skills: Reading and Writing; Advanced Academic English Skills: Listening and Speaking; Master of Teaching Direct Entry English Program (MTDEEP); and Bachelor of Nursing Direct Entry English Program (BNDEEP).

Students who lodged anonymised Health Check feedback expressed that they were delighted with their course and considered it appropriate for their chosen pathway. Staff also communicated a profound pride in working for WSU The College, with one respondent remarking that “staff and students at the College get the support needed to create an ideal teaching and learning environment”.

November 2022

Congratulations Sunshine Coast International College (SCIC)​​​​​​​ for completing a successful NEAS Quality Review activity. SCIC is an independent ELICOS Centre located in the Sydney CBD. The college was initially founded in QLD and relocated to Sydney in 2016. SCIC is in the process of rebuilding student numbers after the COVID-19 Pandemic. With over 250 students currently studying on campus, SCIC is presently delivering a range of courses including General English, English for Academic Purposes, Cambridge English Advanced and IELTS preparation. The majority of SCIC’s students are from Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam and some are on pathways to a range of universities and colleges with whom SCIC has established pathway agreements.

Teachers and students spoke about “the SCIC family” that supports the students while they are studying at the Centre. Health Check comments by students and staff also pointed to the high level of support, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students spoke favourably about their teachers and courses and were happy that their feedback was highly acknowledged by the school. Students in the focus group pointed out that the Centre always fixes or replaces things as necessary and always “asks if we are OK”. Teachers in the focus group advised that there was a strong relationship between management staff and the teaching body, and they felt comfortable giving feedback and making requests.

November 2022

NEAS was pleased to attend the UECA Assessment Symposium event on 22 October at Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast.

The Symposium was attended by international English Assessment researchers, ELT practitioners, Academic Managers and Centre Directors. The topic of Integrated Assessments was the focus of the Symposium which featured synchronous and asynchronous presentations.

Congratulations to Study NSW for holding a highly successful International Market Briefing which was attended by NEAS on 25 October.

In partnership with Austrade, Study NSW hosted this important event in Sydney to inform, support and engage professionals and stakeholders in international education. Addressing a full audience, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioners and Business Development Managers shared the latest intelligence on key markets abroad and outlined opportunities for the growth of Australian education businesses.

It was an outstanding forum to reconnect with friends and network with future partners. Our many thanks to Study NSW and Austrade for their essential work in supporting the recovery of the education sector.

Queensland Education Minister, Ms Grace Grace, recently announced Whites Hill State College (WHSC) as the winner of the Global Engagement Award at the 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools. 

Whites Hill State College Principal, Mr Andrew Beattie, said he was delighted to accept the award which recognises the hard work and dedication of the High School Preparation (HSP) team who made a way for international students to be continue their studies in both offshore and onshore programs simultaneously across five time zones and countries. 

NEAS is proud to endorse Whites Hill State College as a Quality Centre. The College’s Virtual High School Preparation Program has also been awarded NEAS Quality Endorsement for online delivery.