Page 32 - StudyTravel Magazine December 2016 Issue

SPecial rePOrt global marKEt

he global english language experiencing a decline in their business Global English language market by
travel market for the eight last year. “2015 defi nitely saw a decline in revenue 2015 (uS$)
major english langauge business but this was skewed by big drops Total – uS$11,206,597,165
destinations contracted from three particular markets – russia,
slightly in 2015 in terms of libya and italy,” she says. “these markets
student numbers, weeks haven’t come back in 2016 but we are 35.9%
and uS dollar value for the fi rst time since maintaining numbers and 2016 has been usa
2012. Overall, 1,508,670 students were fairly fl at. Some markets are showing us$4,020,737,882
studying english in these destinations positive growth: juniors in particular and 28.6%
in 2015 (a decrease of four per cent on china. the Far east and Middle east are
2014), while student weeks were recorded also showing positive growth. Providers uK
us$3,206,067,692
at 11,488,152 (a decrease of three per in the uK have learnt to be innovative and
cent) and the global uS dollar value was fl exible after taking a battering over the last australia 14.8% new Zealand 1.9%
calculated to be uS$11,206,597,165 (a few years. english uK has a good dialogue us$1,662,968,692 us$214,337,774
Malta 1.7%
canada 11.5%
decrease of 12 per cent). with the uK government and we are us$1,289,092,456 us$188,638,471
remaining positive in the light of the recent ireland 5% south africa 0.5%
us$565,852,156
us$58,902,039
2015 – a diffi cult year for some ‘brexit’ decision by the uK public.”
Many language schools experienced However, the uK was by no means
diffi cult market conditions in 2015 but the only english language destination to Percentage change in revenue
particularly, it seems, those suffer a signifi cant decline in business from 2015 (in local currency)
particularly, it seems, those
located in the uK. the in 2015. canada’s english language
located in the uK. the
country’s english schools experienced a decline in
which -3% 6.8 per cent, resulting in a new Zealand 10%
language
student numbers of 3.6 per cent,
as well as student weeks of
teaching
sector lost
just over
local currency decline in
the value of the sector
60,000
students
of eight per cent to
in 2015,
can$1,582,068,017.
this latest decline in
alone canada’s elt sector – the ireland 33% Malta 1% australia -0.5% usa -1% canada -8% uK -11% south africa -29%
accounts dEclinE in global fi fth recorded in the last
for nearly studEnt WEEKs in 2015 six years – reveals that the
all of the country has effectively lost
global loss just over 40,000 students
of english since 2010.
language students the latest statistics for 2015
in the same year. the from languages canada www.
national language school languagescanada.ca reveal that seven
association english uK www.englishuk. out of 10 of the country’s top 10 student
com released its member statistics for markets for elt declined in 2015, with the
2015 in May this year (see ST Magazine, three others recording marginal growth. Global English language market by
July 2016, page 5) and revealed that the association blamed the loss of work student numbers 2015 (total – 1,508,670)
student numbers and weeks were down by rights in 2014 as having a negative effect A
eight per cent and 13 per cent respectively, on language student enrolments, as well as 47%
with declines from nine out of the 10 top challenging regulatory policies which had uK
student source markets for the uK. the resulted in an increase in visa refusals for 713,980
most signifi cant market declines in 2015 some nationalities.
were russia (which experienced huge gonzalo Peralta, executive director of 16%
D
economic problems during this year) and languages canada, said that the picture usa
libya (which likewise was experiencing its was looking more positive for 2016. 243,158
own political crisis in 2015). “anecdotally, things seem to be improving, australia 11% Malta 5%
looking at other study travel sectors mainly due to the low value of the canadian 170,628 75,524
in the uK, numbers of non-eu students dollar, but also because of external factors canada 10% new Zealand 2%
148,089
31,097
USA
studying at uK universities in the 2014/15 such as brexit and the uS election,” he ireland 8% south africa 1%
academic year grew by one per cent over says. “these factors may be causing more 113,967 12,227
the previous year, yet only two out of the students to chose canada. We also have
top 10 student markets experienced an more policy stability in canada after the
increase in fi rst-time enrolments during the big changes of 2014. Most provinces have
same period. it is therefore probable that established their regulatory framework now 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
the university sector could soon follow the and this has brought stability to the sector.”
language sector in a downwards trajectory uK£ 0.61 0.64 0.65 0.58 0.64
1
1
1
1
1
uS$
of enrolments in the uK. regulatory disaster auS$ 0.933 0.98 1.08 1.05 1.3
Sarah cooper, chief executive of While english language schools in the 1x uS$ = currency nz$ 1.216 1.25 1.27 1.14 1.4
1.05
1.07
english uK, said that the decline in the uK and canada experienced signifi cant can$ 0.971 1.02 0.765 0.73 1.2
eurO 0.692
0.9
0.79
value of the pound in 2016 had provided challenges in 2015, providers in South rand 6.783 8.17 9.893 10.67 12.4
some respite to language schools africa surely should be recognised 
deceMber 2016 | Studytravel Magazine | 29