NEWS

NEAS Congratulates Ozford English Language Centre for its recent completion of a successful Quality Review activity. Ozford English Language Centre provides international students with a range of courses including General English, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Secondary School Purposes (ESSP). Upon achieving the required level, students may articulate from their English courses into courses at Ozford Institute of Higher Education, and Ozford College (High School). In addition to internal pathway opportunities, Ozford English Language Centre has established articulations with local education institutions for VET and higher education courses.

Ozford English Language Centre has recently moved into a new campus in the centre of Melbourne City. The new campus provides a welcoming and professional atmosphere for students and staff. Teachers have access to a comfortable staff room with the electronic resources required to create engaging learning materials and students are provided with a well-furnished space to enjoy the student community. Students and teachers reported in surveys and Focus Group meetings that they were happy with the spaces at the centre and felt that access to technology was good.

Students expressed that they feel well cared for by teachers, professional staff and management. Feedback from the student surveys concerning teachers and their approach was very positive with over 90% agreeing or strongly agreeing with the high level of course delivery, assessment and teaching approaches. One student commented, “I really happy” “Because I really happy when I go to school. Teacher teach really good” “His class is really communicate [sic] and funny and easy to understand”.

September 2022

Congratulations to The University of Queensland (UQ) College for completing a successful Quality Review activity. Evolving from the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE), UQ College has advanced into a more pathway focused University College with the addition of Foundation and VET courses. In light of this reinvention, the English Language Pathways arm of the College has a more nuanced and focused academic skills program that aims to prepare and acculturate students for their subsequent faculty courses.

Emerging from the COVID-19 period, UQ College has adapted by providing a greater focus on online, blended and hybrid models of English language instruction. UQ College staff have developed and expanded skills in online delivery to cater to students studying remotely in Australia as a pandemic response, in addition to offering online delivery to offshore cohorts. The College uses multiple strategies to cater for online delivery. The development and delivery of online resources are of a high standard and are to be commended. Assessment is comprehensive and rigorous, with sophisticated online-based listening and reading skills testing.

The campus facilities are conducive to teaching and learning and provide a large teacher staff room with hot desk arrangements as a contingency, should teacher numbers suddenly increase. The Ground floor has been reserved as a flexible learning space or Independent Learning Centre (ILC). This space allows flexible study modes, from small group discussion and project work to Guided Individual Learning (GIL) and targeted one-on-one consultation.

Student and Teacher Health Checks and Focus Groups reported high levels of satisfaction with their experience at UQ College, while students expressed being particularly pleased with the UQ Student sessions in which they could meet with and converse with local students.

September 2022

NEAS congratulates James Cook University (JCU), Singapore for completing a successful Quality Review activity.

James Cook University (JCU), Singapore is the Singapore campus of JCU — based in Queensland, Australia — which focuses on issues of the Tropics worldwide. JCU Language School at the Singapore campus delivers the English Language Preparatory Program (ELPP) to international students as a pathway to further studies at JCU in Singapore and other Higher Education establishments.

JCU in Singapore provides a friendly and collaborative atmosphere with the well-being of students as a top priority. Teachers reported being impressed with the amount of support students receive and commented: “JCU has committed teachers and is genuinely concerned about student well-being”; “JCU is a great place to work in, due to the fact that the opinions of teaching staff are valued. Students are at the top of our priority and the working and learning environment here are very conducive for all involved”.

With transparent channels of communication, all staff, students and teachers engage comfortably with each other and with management. Strategies to motivate student engagement and educational goal achievement are deployed by teachers and managers. The evaluation of courses is regular and rigorous, and students are requested to provide consistent feedback on their learning experience. Students reported in Focus Groups being pleased with course design and the quality outcome it provides. One student commented, “I feel very good about the course. It not only help [sic] me with my English, but also broaden my horizon in the future”.

September 2022

NEAS congratulates Vietnam USA Society English Centres (VUS) on the recent Quality Endorsement of FIVE (!) new centres and for completing a successful Quality Review of well-established 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), Hanoi, Binh Duong, Bien Hoa, Vung Tau and Da Nang. Established over 20 years ago, VUS joined NEAS in 2017 with an initial 15 centres and has since added a significate number of new centres. VUS currently has 43 NEAS endorsed centres.

NEAS conducted a recent Virtual Quality Review to confirm the endorsement of five new centres-VUS Binh Duong, VUS Binh Long, VUS Nuyen Van Tang, VUS Nguyen Van Thu, and VUS To Ky 2- in addition to the Quality Review of established centres. The Virtual Quality Review was followed by a two-day visit to multiple VUS campuses including the newly endorsed ones by NEAS CEO, Dr Pheasant.  Dr Pheasant was particularly impressed by the state of art facilities, the student welcoming ceremony and VUS’s overall commitment to delivering quality education.

It was evident via Management meetings and submitted Health Checks that VUS has well-established key business departments and efficient reporting structures. Each campus has its own Admissions and Student Affairs team, Training Quality Management team and School, Service and Compliance team. The Academic Research team is in the Head Office in Ho Chi Min City.

VUS has a strong culture of fostering a sense of family among students, parents and teachers through social media, face-to-face engagement and the Learning Management System (LMS): V-Hub. Social events are also advertised on the notice board in the foyer of each building. When asked in focus groups about their experience at VUS, many teachers and staff members expressed being happily employed at VUS for 10 – 20 years, which is a testament to the good work conditions and supportive culture.

September 2022

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.