NEWS

2023 Conference Announcement!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

We are extremely excited to announce the details of the 2023 NEAS Management Conference! Next year, we are extending the conference experience by offering a expanded, jam packed program! The three-day event will feature over 60 speakers from around the world, multiple social and networking events, Familiarisation Tours, an ELT Industry Roundtable and of course the popular NEAS ELT Communities of Practice events. The 2023 theme ‘English Language Teaching: The Profession, The Professional, Professionalism’  will explore the different professional landscapes in ELT locally and globally and the impact they are having on world economy, education and future generations.

We are delighted to have the phenomenal Ms Leigh Sales AM feature as the opening plenary speaker. Leigh was a multi award-winning author and journalist at the ABC and anchored the network’s prime time current affairs program 7.30 for 12 years. She was the face of the ABC’s major events coverage, including federal election and budget nights. Leigh has interviewed every living Australian Prime Minister and innumerable world leaders and celebrities from Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair to Paul McCartney and Elton John. We cannot wait to hear her weave her view on professionalism into her keynote address.

We look forward to bringing you further updates about the conference in the lead up to the event, including speaker additions, pre-conference activities and professional development. So stay tuned!

Call for Abstracts NOW OPEN!

There are a variety of speaking and participation opportunities available for the 2023 conference! The focus questions for the event are:

  1. How does quality assurance underpin our Profession?
  2. What does it mean to be an English Language Teaching Professional in Australia, ASEAN and beyond? How does this relate to the global context?
  3. What does Professionalism mean to you and how can NEAS support enhancement of English Language Teaching in Australia, ASEAN and beyond?

We would love for a wide variety of people from the ELT community to participate! We have expanded the scope of opportunities for you to put your work, research, innovations, and talents in the spotlight!

NEAS is now seeking abstracts for the below categories:

  • Plenary Speakers
  • Lightening Talks
  • Communities of Practice – Convenors
  • Communities of Practice – Panel Members
  • Sponsored Strategy Sessions
  • Performances
  • Familiarisation Tours
  • Speaker Recommendations

Those selected to take part will receive a complimentary conference ticket and will be spotlighted not only to conference attendees, but to over 14,000 stakeholders affiliated with NEAS worldwide via the NEAS News and social media platforms!

We want to put your passion on a pedestal – so submit your abstract now! Applications close on Friday 30 September.

Sponsorship Opportunities

There are a variety of conference sponsorship packages available with differentiating factors such booth size and proximity, advertising exposure and exclusive conference event sponsorship such as the gala dinner and awards ceremony. There are also a selection of sponsorship opportunities available in relation to the conference online platform, which attracted over 1450 delegates from around the world in 2022 and NEAS Online which attracts thousands of online registrations from our community each year!

It is our aim to work efficiently with you, by helping and promoting your business to achieve international exposure through sponsorship of the NEAS conference. We work with our sponsors in the lead up to the conference and look forward to seeing them in Sydney in May 2023 for our 26th annual conference. Completely virtual packages are also available.

To peruse sponsorship packages unique to your organisation please click below to view the 2023 prospectus.

Tickets

Early bird tickets will be available soon! This special pricing has been generously discounted and we are pleased to be able to offer these savings to our members! There are a variety of ticketing options next year, so if you can’t make it to Doltone House in Sydney, we’d love to see you online! You will see that we have also added extra events to the 2023 line-up. So why not attend the industry roundtable? Or the gala dinner? Or perhaps a familiarisation tour. Or why not ALL?! Click below to see 2023 ticket types and pricing.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

A large range of sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2023 NEAS Management Conference!

Why sponsor the NEAS Conference?

CONNECTIONS
As a sponsor, you will have direct access and reach to key individuals from multiple education organisations, including Directors of Studies, Academic Managers, government officials, teachers and students (from around the world).

AUDIENCE
Inform a specific target audience about your products and services, network with likeminded delegates and generate new business relationships and sales

INSIGHT
Discover the current trends and challenges in the ELT sector and how your organisation can meet them 

BRANDING
Gain brand exposure by having your organisation’s logo on the NEAS website and conference promotional material, which links direct to your website

EDUCATION
Attend the conference and gain valuable insight into the ELT sector from our members and industry stakeholders

ADVERTISING
Ability to advertise on our website, or in our eNewsletter (NEAS News) which is distributed to over 14,000 people internationally

EMPLOYMENT CONNECTIONS
Looking for staff? Advertise your organisation’s employment opportunities on the NEAS website

Click here to peruse the 2023 packages and register your interest!

Want to know what the NEAS Management Conference is like?

Posted on | by Ed Itor

All recordings from the 2022 NEAS Management Conference are now available for viewing via NEAS Online! The 2022 theme was ‘Going Glocal: Embracing ELT Communities of Practice’ and featured over 60 speakers from around the world. We encourage you to check out the recordings to get an idea about what to expect in 2023 – stand out plenary speakers, awesome break out events and ample networking opportunities! Each session viewed is also worth one CPD point, so get cracking!

Check out all the content here.

Call for Abstracts NOW OPEN!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

English Language Teaching – The Profession, The Professional, Professionalism

There are a variety of speaking and participation opportunities available for the 2023 conference! The focus questions for the event are:

  1. How does quality assurance underpin our Profession?
  2. What does it mean to be an English Language Teaching Professional in Australia, ASEAN and beyond? How does this relate to the global context?
  3. What does Professionalism mean to you and how can NEAS support enhancement of English Language Teaching in Australia, ASEAN and beyond?

NEAS is now seeking abstracts for the below categories.

Plenary speaker

30 mins + 5 mins Q&A

Plenary presentations must be based upon the conference theme / questions.

Lightening Talk

3 mins

A strictly timed, short, sharp, engaging presentation which answers:

“What methodology or technique changed your view of yourself as a teacher / professional?”

A presentation intended to spark discussion among conference participants. The intent is for these talks to provide a venue in support of new ideas and newcomers to the ELT community. Lightning Talks are a great way to get early feedback on a work in progress, to demo a new tool or technique, or to find potential collaborators!

Communities of Practice – Convenor

30 mins + 5 mins Q&A

Are you looking for the opportunity to enrich your professional profile and unite communities within the sector? Well, why not moderate a COP workshop! The main role of the COP Convenor is to develop questions, lead a panel discussion, and encourage further engagement with the COP area during the conference. There will also be several other associated events throughout the year that the Convenor may wish to lead. There are six NEAS COP areas to choose from.

Communities of Practice – Panel Member

30 mins + 5 mins Q&A

Participate on a panel of experts to answer questions delivered by the COP Convenor. In this forum you will be able to share your professional experiences, tips, strategies, and insights. There are six NEAS COP areas to choose from.

Sponsored Strategy Session

30 mins + 5 mins Q&A

Sponsors of the NEAS Management Conference are invited to present a strategic session based around the conference theme, current industry trends or new technologies.

Performance

Up to 10 minutes

Do you have a special talent that you would like to showcase during the conference? E.g., a theatrical or creative presentation, dance, song, poetry reading or film screening? Whatever it is, we would love to see it!

Recommend a Speaker

Do you know of an awesome speaker that you think would be suitable for the NEAS 2023 Management Conference? This could be an up-and-coming teacher or professional with an interesting project to share, a company that could give a demonstration of their new and innovative technology relevant to the sector, or even a celebrity speaker that you think could nail the theme! Let us know who you want to hear from!

Familiarisation tour

In 2023, for the first time, NEAS will facilitate familiarisation tours in conjunction with five of our endorsed ELT Centres. Would you like your Centre featured on this exclusive program and itinerary? Let us know!

We want to put your passion on a pedestal – so submit your abstract now! Those selected to take part will receive a complimentary conference ticket and will be spotlighted not only to conference attendees, but to over 14,000 stakeholders affiliated with NEAS worldwide via the NEAS News and social media platforms!

Call for Abstracts applications close on Friday 30 September.

Submit your application here

Hoa Sen University

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NEAS would like to celebrate the Quality Endorsement of Hoa Sen University, Vietnam. Hoa Sen University is an established, private, multidisciplinary university in Ho Chi Minh City. The English for International Communication (EIC) Program is provided for first and second-year university students and is designed to prepare students to study their third and fourth-year programs in English as the medium of instruction.

Hoa Sen’s program is dynamic with the provision of projects and workshops providing opportunities for real communication activities, and self-directed learning at home through a well-designed Learning Management System. Students enjoy a friendly learning environment and spoke of ‘gentle’ teachers who encourage student participation.

Congratulations to Hoa Sen University for its commitment to providing quality education!

June 2022

Aussizz Group

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Congratulations to the Aussizz Group (Aussizz) on achieving NEAS Endorsement in the Quality Education Agent category. Founded in 2009, Aussizz is an Australian-registered education and migration consultant agency that has grown over the past 15 years to operate 25 offices in four nations, recruiting students from multiple countries, including Australia, New Zealand, India and the UAE. In addition to Australia, Aussizz counsels students destined for the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Aussizz has partnership agreements with many NEAS members and is itself a member of the International Student Education Agents Association (ISEAA), Australia India Business Council, Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), Professional International Education Resources (PIER) and Migration Alliance and Migration Institute of Australia (MIA).

NEAS assessed Aussizz’s application using Quality Area J of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, focussing on these important principles: the presence of an ethical framework underpinning the practices of the agency and its counsellors; provision of information to stakeholders that is ethical, accurate and consistent; use of governance structures that are effective and transparent; supporting a performance and development culture for staff; implementing systematic risk management processes; and routinely obtaining stakeholder feedback to inform the continuous improvement of services.

NEAS uses a unique 360-degree stakeholder feedback model in its review processes. During telephone discussions with partner providers and students, these stakeholders confirmed that Aussizz seeks regular feedback from them regarding their services. One provider claimed “they are some of the best in practice”, while another said, “issues are dealt with immediately” and a third enthusiastically declared “they are all really good …know their stuff”. One provider also commended Aussizz for winning their Admissions Award three years in a row. Clients in the telephone discussions were delighted with the way Aussizz handled their application.

June 2022

Southern Cross University

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Southern Cross University (SCU) College offers preparation and pathway programs to international students to prepare them for success in university and beyond. Creating a supportive language environment, the College empowers students to develop their language and academic skills, as well as their confidence. In June 2021, NEAS and SCU College worked together to conduct a quality assessment of the Centre’s online English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and General English (GE) programs, as part of a project funded by Trade Investment Queensland. As a result of the initiative, a dedicated NEAS Report was produced, noting areas of best practice alongside specific recommendations for ongoing improvements.

Twelve months later, a special Management Meeting was held, which served as a review mechanism to assess the updates and revisions that were applied to the College’s Learning Management Systems (LMS) and interactive resources, in alignment with the recommendations made in the earlier report. As with the Quality Assurance exercise in 2021, the recent review of 2022 measured the course enhancements against the Quality Principles in Area H: Online Delivery. These Quality Principles focus on: ensuring the design of the online environment supports a positive and engaging user experience; the appropriateness of learning and assessment strategies for virtual delivery; provision of learning resources and technology to facilitate learning; and the presence of an integrated reporting system to support the online courses.

NEAS acknowledges the improvements that have been methodically implemented, and commends the College for its adept use of the University’s LMS in acculturating pathway students to future systems. Also commendable was the creation of new learner-centred format of scaffolded online lessons featuring a combination of resources aligned to the learning outcomes and assessments for each weekly unit. The implementation of explicit learning outcomes into Blackboard Accordion menus across courses form part of an integrated reporting system, and changing from Blackboard Collaborate to a Blackboard integrated Zoom application improved further the learner experience.

June 2022

Interview with Denver Craig, NEAS Quality Assessor

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Celebrating 10 years service with NEAS Australia!

Tell us, how did you first come to know about NEAS?

As the Head Teacher at a boutique ELICOS college in the late 90s my manager at the time was very keen to make sure that I had a thorough understanding of the accreditation process for the college. This was how I was introduced to NEAS as they were the only accrediting body for ELICOS providers in NSW. I began to learn the NEAS Standards and what it meant to be compliant.

How did you join NEAS and what were your motivations in doing so?

In those days the annual review required the providers to collect piles of hard copy paperwork and as the NEAS Head Office was located nearby I regularly headed into their office to drop off paperwork or ask for advice in regard to particular matters, such as teacher qualifications and defining parts of the ESOS Act or National Code. I became quite intrigued with the process of annual accreditation and used to ask lots of questions to learn what was “best practice” in the industry. Eventually, I was asked to join a training session for new NEAS Assessors and my manager thought this would be a great opportunity to extend my knowledge and improve quality at our own college at the same time.

What are your views on the changing face of NEAS over the past 10 years?

The main changes have been the application of the quality review cycle which allows centres to participate in a range of quality reviews, rather than the same type of review each year. In addition, NEAS has become a body that supports and promotes centres that strive for quality in order to deliver the best outcomes for their stakeholders, rather than simply checking on compliance issues. These days there are so many opportunities for centres to reach out to NEAS on a regular basis for support with areas such as professional development, premium product endorsement for unique services as well as receiving regular health checks and supporting continuous improvement.

Looking into your crystal ball, what do you foresee for NEAS and international education for the next decade?

I see a strong future for NEAS because in our industry there will always be a desire by centres to improve their level of quality and to gain the best outcomes for all of their stakeholders. As educators, we will always have an essential desire to learn and improve.

In addition, it seems clear that the opportunities for some centres to deliver their courses transnationally will continue to grow and NEAS will be central to this development. 

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

As a former Director of Studies, I always felt fully supported by NEAS because of their level of care and depth of knowledge. As a NEAS Quality Assessor, it’s always a pleasure to assist and support centres as part of the NEAS Quality Assurance process. 

Thank you, Denver!

Posted on | by Ed Itor

PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 12 April, 2022

NEAS Australia and English Australia – Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

(Clockwise from top left: Prof. Tanya Buchanan, Dr Patrick Pheasant, Brett Blacker and Kerry Sutcliffe).

NEAS Australia is pleased to announce the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with English Australia.  The MOU was signed by NEAS Chair, Prof. Tanya Buchanan and English Australia Chair, Ms Kerry Sutcliffe on Tuesday 12 April 2022. NEAS CEO Dr Patrick Pheasant and English Australia CEO Mr Brett Blacker were also part of the online ceremony.

The MOU establishes the terms and understanding between NEAS Australia and English Australia to facilitate collaborative activities that are mutually beneficial for both organisations. The purpose of the MOU is to:

  • ensure a consistent understanding of what type of information the organisations can share and how this information should be used.
  • establish agreement on the most effective form of this information so it can feed into established regulatory systems.
  • clarify the relevant liaison officers to facilitate the relationship between the organisations and the exchange of information.

We are enthusiastic that this partnership will strengthen and advance the interests and activities of each organisation and continue to promote excellence in the English Language Teaching sector.

The University of Wollongong in Dubai Celebrates 10 Years of NEAS Quality Assurance

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We are excited to announce that this year the English language programs at UOWD College celebrate 10 Years of NEAS Quality Assurance (QA).

Established in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) stands proud as the first international Australian university to be established in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Over the years it has gone from strength to strength.

UOWD College is one of the fundamental pillars of UOWD and delivers a range of fit-for-purpose English language courses to support students in achieving their target levels in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) assessments. Through the provision of high-quality English language courses, the College prepares students for real-world success in their academic and business endeavours.

A valued member of NEAS since its accreditation in November 2011, UOWD College notably delivers the following NEAS Quality Endorsed courses: Global English Skills (full-time program) and IELTS preparation courses.

Dr Debra McDermott, Director of UOWD College, said: “Celebrating a decade of NEAS Quality Assurance is testament to the integrity and quality of our courses and we are absolutely delighted to have maintained our accreditation for such a long period of time.

“The English language is a fundament skill for any student to progress in their academic journey and we value the support of NEAS in shaping the futures of the next generation.”

It is with a great sense of honour that we at NEAS congratulate UOWD College for its milestone 10-year commitment to NEAS QA. Well done!

PRESS RELEASE: 17 MARCH, 2022