Brazil stays strong

Key points

The total number of students placed by the 17 agencies in our survey was 13,295 Individual agencies placed between 10 and 8,000 students on courses per year Average business growth was 25 per cent in the last 12 months The average length of stay for Brazilian students was nine weeks Overall, 79 per cent of Brazilian students stayed with host families when studying overseas Seven agencies charged their clients a handling fee of between US$50 and US$150 On average, each agency worked with 23 schools in the last 12 months

Top destinations		Most popular courses
1. Canada 36% 2. UK 17% 3. USA 16% 4. Australia 8% 5. Spain 5% 6. New Zealand 4% 7. ireland 3% 8. France 0.7% 9. Germany 0.3%		1. General 46% 2. Intensive 21% 3. Lang. + work 14% 4. Summer vacation 6% 5. Business 5% 6. Junior 3% 7. Academic prep. 2%

Reasons for language travel		Types of courses
1. Future work 38% 2. Studies overseas 25% 3. Current work 19% 4. Studies at home 8% 5. Pleasure 2% Other 8%		1. Lang. programme 72% 2. Work & travel 17% 3. Internships 5% 4. Higher education 0.5% Other 5.5%

How do agencies recruit students?		How do agencies find new schools to represent?
1. Word of mouth 51% 2. Website 16% 3. Mail shots 8% 4. Seminars to students7% 5. Adv. in press 6% 6. Adv. on tv/radio 2% Other 10%		1. Fairs or expos 30% 2. Workshops 25% 3. LTM/ETM 15% 4. Internet 17% 5. Other press 3% Other 7%

Percentage of agents who recognised each of the following organisations
Australia Acpet 29% English Australia 65% Canada Capls 71% CLC 65% France Souffle 29% L'Office 18% Unosel 12% FLE 18% Ireland MEI~Relsa 59% IEAI 24% Italy Asils 12% Italian in Italy 24% Malta Feltom 35% New Zealand Ed. NZ 47% English NZ 47%		Portugal Aeple 6% South Africa Eltasa 24% English SA 24% Spain Fedele 53% UK ABLS 24% English UK 65% British Council 88% Europe Eaquals 29% USA AAIEP 47% Accet 47% CEA 24% UCIEP 18% International Ialc 59% Quality English 35% Tandem 35%

Language and destination trends
Canada’s appeal in the Brazilian student market declined very slightly this year with 36 per cent of students choosing to study in this country, compared with 43 per cent in our previous survey. Otherwise, the favourite destinations were fairly similar to last year although slightly more students were choosing to study in Spain – up one percentage point on the previous year – and Ireland, up two percentage points on 2006’s result.

Student and course trends
The most common reason students gave their agencies for studying overseas was in order to improve their future job prospects and this trend has not changed since our previous survey. The percentage of students giving this reason for their studies had, however, increased by 10 percentage points while those with plans for further studies overseas increased from 17 per cent previously to 25 per cent this year. In contrast, those wanting to learn a language overseas for their current studies decreased from 19 per cent to just eight per cent this year. The growing number of students learning a language for future work purposes may explain the increase in popularity of general language courses, which were taken by 46 per cent of students this year, compared with 35 per cent in 2006. Meanwhile, the need for specialist programmes such as business or academic preparation courses declined somewhat.

Agency business
A greater proportion of agency business was geared towards students wanting to study on language programmes abroad than previously – up by 20 percentage points – which is an interesting development as previous Agency Surveys on other countries have tended to show an increased diversity in the programme types opted for by students. Volunteer programmes in particular appear to have fallen out of favour with Brazilian students as the percentage of agency business dealing with this sector was negligible this year, compared with six per cent previously.

Looking ahead
With a booming economy, most agencies predict business growth will continue in 2008 with more Brazilians able to invest in their education overseas. Specific factors that are likely to help the market along in the future include the possibility of Brazil making an agreement with New Zealand regarding the working holiday scheme and an increase in interest among students for new destinations and products. One development that was expected to have a detrimental effect on work programmes in the USA was a recent change in visa regulations.

Brazil’s exports and imports rose to record levels this year, with exports reaching US$15.1 billion in August and imports rising to US$11.6 billion, according to the Trade Ministry.

Brazil’s currency appreciated by 13.9 per cent in the first eight months of 2007, reassuring investors that the economy remains in good shape and will continue to grow, along with demand for the country’s main exports of orange juice, steel, coffee and soya beans.

Central Bank President, Henrique Meirelles, said that the Brazilian economy, “remains on a trajectory of sustained expansion.” Economists predict that the country’s GDP will rise to an overall 4.7 per cent for the whole of 2007.

Source: Bloomberg.com, IHT

Thank you to the following agencies for taking part in this survey: Atrium Turismo, Bei Bridge Education International, Bex – Brazilian Exchange, Brasil Intercultural, Brazilians to the World, Canada-Brasil, Canadianz, Central de Intercambio – CI, Cultura Inglesa, Exel Cursos e Turismo, Fit Intercambio, Hanseatic Tours, ICL – StudyNet, Ciete, International Schools, Kangaroo Tours, Liguria Turismo.