Page 42 - StudyTravel Magazine July 2014 Issue

direCtion on-CAMPUS ESl

activities are prominent. “Examples At Post University www.post.edu in the provision in-house, Yassin Boga from the
include immersion in English and modern USA, Bob Sembiante, Communications University of Calgary English Language
architecture principles at the Denver Art Associate, relates, “When we have Program www.ucalgary.ca/esl says that in
Museum, and sessions on university current international students with basic or no Canada, “Many universities are hampered
events and issues such as homelessness in English skills, we develop a programme to by modest international recruiting teams,
America.” And although students hoping to match their needs,” while Audrey Olson rigid collective agreements, scarce capital
earn a degree at the institution need to apply from Mount Royal University www. resources and an organisational culture
for this programme separately, “Students mroyal.ca in Canada says that as well as that provides limited customer support.
experience a seamless transition between the a six-week language preparation course, Outsourcing allows a turnkey sales and
ESL Academy, International Admissions “We offer part-time courses focussing on recruiting solution with the potential for
and the academic environment,” she says. particular language skills and also exam direct investment capital for facilities and
Over in Canada, the University of preparation. In July and August, we offer a resources. That said, universities with
Toronto English Language Program full-time culture and language programme longer-term objectives will be attracted by
https://english.learn.utoronto.ca that is very popular with cohorts from the academic control and revenue potential
includes an Academic English course Asia, Mexico and Europe.” of in-house solutions.”
for low-intermediate to advanced level In the USA, Nadia Redman from The Foundation Studies and English
students, and students who complete University of Delaware English Language Language Division at the University
the advanced level with a B grade meet Institute www.udel/eli explains, “Most of Lincoln www.lincoln.ac.nz in New
the ESL requirement for most degree of the students in our academic English Zealand recognises a need for on-campus
programmes at the university and some preparation programmes are from China ESL, with Lorraine Petelo, Director,
other institutions in Canada too. As and the Middle East, particularly Saudi explaining, “The University of Lincoln is
Becky Smith, International Marketing Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE. This a specialist land-based institution with
Manager, relates, part-time courses is typical of ESL centres… in the USA, applied, industry relevant qualifications
including Academic Listening and Note- however, we have begun to see students aligned to New Zealand’s key commercial
taking and there is also an English Plus from traditionally underrepresented interests. Therefore the focus of our pre-
course available. “There are many free, countries including Brazil, due to the degree programmes, including English
on-campus events held on a regular basis scholarship programme; Venezuela; Iraq; language preparation, must also be land-
such as open lectures, music concerts and even African countries.” Meanwhile, based in curricular content.” She believes
and student festivals,” she says. “Our top Schoberle says that the long visa process that outsourcing does not necessarily meet
nationalities are Brazilian and Japanese – affects students from countries including students’ needs, although acknowledges
this has changed in recent years due to the India, and that “this simply means we that some other institutions have done this.
emergence of scholarship opportunities, must stay on top of the admission and visa Kelly Franklin from UNC Charlotte
the development of university relations and document processes”. English Language Training Institute
global economic shifts.” In Canada, Olson says that there is a https://elti.uncc.edu in the USA is of the
highly mixed nationality profile on courses, view that private pathway programmes are
Market trends but visas are more difficult to obtain for “watered down”, and do not give students,
Universities offer a real range of courses, students from countries such as Venezuela especially at US universities, the necessary
but which are the most popular? At the and Mexico.” And on ESL courses at the language skills to keep up academically.
University of Derby www.derby.ac.uk UK’s Robert Gordon University www.
in the UK, the pre-sessional English rgu.ac.uk, “The top nationalities studying The future
course is the most popular, especially the on our English language programmes As Audrey Olson from Mount Royal
10-week option. “The reason the course is tend to be from China, Saudi Arabia, University www.mroyal.ca Languages
popular is because successful completion Russia, Kazakhstan and mainland Europe, Institute in Canada relates, “Although
means that students can go directly on but typically we have more than 15 many private institutions are developing
to their degree study at the university,” nationalities per year,” says Jamie Hastings. pathway programmes in conjunction with
says a spokesperson. “Over 80 per cent of post-secondary institutions, it seems there
students that studied English language The outsourcing issue may be a move to examine the readiness
programmes with us in 2011/12 progressed While Smith is of the view that most and qualification of these students.” Mark
onto further study with us in 2013/14.” universities prefer to keep their ESL Butler from Bow Valley College www.
bowvalleycollege.ca in the same country
agrees. “Articulation between institutions
Agent usage has been very minimal in Alberta up until
although the eSl programmes mentioned are housed by their respective universities, many of them now.” he says, adding that this would be a
have agent networks exclusive from the institution. audrey olson from Mount royal university in good option for HEIs interested in student
Canada, for example, says, “We do have agents for the language programme from a wide variety of retention but lacking the resources to
countries, but they are paid commission on a successful registration/attendance basis. our university
does not use agents nor recruit into its credit programmes as it is oversubscribed by Canadian students.” sustain ESL programmes.
in new zealand, lorraine Petelo from lincoln university says that offshore partners include educational What is great about on-campus ESL
agents, and that the eSl department works closely with them and supports them with events including programmes, though, is that they “bring
in-country educational seminars. their own flavours”, according to Redman
nadia redman from the university of delaware english language institute in the uSa says, “We
work with overseas agents; we find that our relationships with agencies are critical in the recruitment from University of Delaware English
for programmes. these programmes can be complicated at first, and these counsellors provide vital Language Institute. “This provides many
explanations to potential students and their parents in the local language.” and also in the uSa, Bob options for our students allowing them to
Sembiante from Post university says, “We market eSl through international agents located in or via select schools and programmes, whether
connections to China. in addition, the university has a working relationship with go Campus, a California-
based company with centres in parts of the americas, oceania, europe, africa and asia.” offered by a university or private pathway
provider, that are the best fit. If we keep
Thank you to the following universities for also helping out with this article: trying to be innovative as an industry, we
Sacred Heart university www.sacredheart.edu, uSa; university of east anglia www.uea.ac.uk, uK; university of will only improve our services to students.”
edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk, uK; university of Hawaii english language Program https://manoa.hawaii.edu/eslhelp. claire@hothousemedia.com

40 | Study travel Magazine | july 2014