Page 5 - StudyTravel Magazine February 2023 Issue

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by Matthew Knott, News Editor
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british Council launches new agent ef english Proficiency Index
training and certification hub 2022 released
lAnguAge secondAry tertiAry AssociAted lAnguAge AssociAted
he British Council www.britishcouncil.org has launched a he latest EF English Proficiency Index (EPI)
new agent and counsellor training platform, providing free www.ef.com/wwen/epi analysing skills in
Ttraining and assessment for agents and covering all levels of TEnglish language at a national level has
international education and studying in the UK. been released, showing gains for Latin America,
The new hub is designed “to help education advisers all around but a decrease in scores for younger speakers.
the world better understand the UK education system and the UK The EPI 2022 is based on the results of 2.1 mil-
as an international study destination”, the British Council said, lion EF SET English tests in 2021 and shows the
and replaces the previous paid-for certification process. Netherlands retaining its top position with an
Agents and counsellors will be able to average score of 661 (maximum 800), followed
access the latest training topics, includ- by Singapore, Austria, Norway and Denmark.
ing why students should choose the UK; Europe remains comfortably the most profi-
preparing students for studying and living cient region and increased its average score to
in the UK; the UK’s visa and immigration 558. Latin America (495) had the largest year-
system; employment opportunities and on-year increase and become the third-highest
post-study work options. ranked region (behind Asia), with almost every
The BC said that students, parents and institutions will be able country improving.
to check a public-facing searchable database of certified agents. Traditional ELT markets such as Italy, Spain
Jacqui Jenkins, Global Programme Lead, International Students and Korea posted small increases but remained
at the British Council, said, “I’m delighted to say that the new hub in the moderate category, while Japan stayed in
offers a full set of resources and is now completely free. the low band.
“Education advisers that are new to the industry can take By age, the 26-30 cohort has the highest
their time to work through the content, while those that are more average score at 530, followed by 31-40 (525).
experienced can jump straight to the assessment and quickly The youngest age group (18-20) has expe-
get certified. We hope that the hub will empower agents and rienced a drop of 50 points over the last two
counsellors working with prospective students and provide a years, the authors said. “Remote classrooms,
better international experience.” social distancing, masks that impede commu-
The launch of the agent hub is part of a response to a report nication and a lack of travel opportunities have
released last year by the British Universities’ International Liaison hit this cohort particularly hard. It remains to
Association (BUILA) and the UK Council for International Student be seen if their English proficiency will rebound
Affairs (UKCISA), which found that there was a need for a cheaper, as they get out
more accessible agent certification process. into the world
The training course and hub were developed by the British again,” they
Council in partnership with BUILA, UKCISA, the Association of commented.
Colleges, the Council of British Independent Schools (COBIS) and Read more at:
English UK. Read the full story at: bit.ly/3PfN47i bit.ly/3W2fTX4

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