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Read the digital August 2012 issue of
Study Travel Magazine here

Contents - August 2012

Special Report
Agency challenges
The reputation of a study travel consultancy depends upon it offering a high level of personal service and professionalism. However, in a highly competitive marketplace, there are always obstacles to overcome, as Jane Vernon Smith finds out.

Advisor Survey
Japan rebuilding
The Japanese outbound student market continued to build on growth achieved in the 2010 operating year. Meanwhile, there was a new lead destination for Japanese student clients.

Tertiary Focus
Market report Ireland
With flexible work rights for international students post-study, Ireland is gearing up to rival the UK on the higher education scene, as Nicola Hancox finds out.

Vocational Focus
Recipe for success
Culinary arts courses have an enduring appeal for international students, with Europe considered a primary destination. Matthew Knott puts on his chef whites and investigates.

Secondary Focus
Supportive orientation
Many US high schools offer comprehensive orientation programmes for international students embarking upon their studies in the USA. Such programmes are essential to prepare students for the ups and downs of living in a different country. Gillian Evans reports.

Secondary Focus
School partnerships
With international recruitment from an array of countries becoming big business for many secondary schools in the USA and Canada, advisors have a greater role to play. Bethan Norris reports.

Destination
Cool Germany
Germany certainly has the cool factor with visitors and locals, with its lively cities, great outdoors and friendly, multicultural population. Gillian Evans reports.

Regional Focus
Eastern England
England’s eastern counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex are steeped in history and offer international students a traditionally British way of life. Bethan Norris finds out more.

Direction
The STM Star Awards contenders 2012
With only a few weeks to go until this year’s STM Star Awards, the prime red carpet event of the industry calendar, votes have been counted and preparations are well under way. Claire Twyman talks to the shortlisters about what it means to be nominated.

Market Analysis
Canada’s fusion
Increased travel costs, lack of flight frequency and visa issues were causes for concern for some Canadian English language providers in 2011. However, enrolments look stable with a good dose of diversity on campus.

Spotlight
ESP in the UK
While general English language programmes are beneficial, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses give clients an edge in the world of work. And in the UK, there are a range of institutions catering for various industry requirements, as Claire Twyman reports.


Opinion
Fostering support

News
Sol Group opens Vancouver school and leaves International House
Auckland based school collapses
Eurocentres adapts school network
UK struggling to recoup loans to EU students
Mayfair launches vocational training programme
Research shows changes to pathways in Australia
Hollande keeps promise to repeal tougher post-study rules

News Round Up
Ialc introduces policy changes
Overseas students up at UK independent schools
Ilac donates scholarships to Daughters for Life
USA Summer Work and Travel amended
Coined opens new Puerto Madryn centre
Study Group partners with Istituto Marangoni
Pearson PTE partners in China and Nepal
NZLC moves to new Auckland campus
News in brief
Travel update.

Inside The Industry
On the move
Q&A Educator association: English UK
Industry issues- agents speak out
Q&A Advisor Association: Tieca
Agency of the month: World Study

Course Guide
Portuguese language programmes
Portuguese, spoken by 220 million people worldwide, is widely taught as a second language in Portugal and Brazil. One-to-one and intensive language programmes are common, and all courses at institutes surveyed are beginner-friendly.

Grapevine


Opinion
Fostering support

by Bethan Norris, Senior Editor

The August issue of STM is possibly the most eagerly anticipated of the year by those anxious to find out the nominees for this year’s STM Star Awards. The nominees themselves were all notified of their achievement in June but for those wanting to see who is on the list this year, go to page 46 and satisfy your curiosity...

It is pleasing to see that enthusiasm for these awards has not waned at all in the seven years since they began. It seems that showing appreciation to partners is important for many in the industry and these awards provide an outlet to do just that. A nominee in the STM Star New Agency category reports that their nomination is an indication that they “have chosen the right way” and it is good to see the awards promoting good business practices and being used as a benchmark of a good business model. Good luck to those nominated, we’ll see you at the ceremony!

After some time away from the industry on maternity leave it is good to see that business in many areas appears to be booming despite continued economic difficulties around the world. I have noticed that language schools are continuing to expand and open new centres, showing that demand from students for language courses is high. A trend for individual schools to group together and trade on each other’s strengths also seems to be becoming the norm. Sol Schools International has announced that it is to open a fourth school in Vancouver, Canada, in September (page 6) and has disafilliated from International House World Organisation. It is interesting that for this group of schools, being part of a smaller group is obviously seen as being more valuable for their businesses than being part of a larger international organisation.

The New Zealand vocational education sector is in the news again this issue with the closure of a college for international students in Auckland, affecting 150 students from overseas. The college offered courses in design, business and computing and its closure damages the reputation of the industry at a time when the New Zealand government is hoping to double the value of the country’s education exports by 2025 (page 6).

Government support, be it financial or in the form of policy change, is vital if educators in all sectors are to survive the knocks and grow their businesses. A major attraction for students is New Zealand’s post-study work rights, facilitating them in gaining employment relevant to their field of study. However, the government needs to take a tough stance on dodgy operators to ensure that this migration route retains its legitimacy.



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