Malta

Malta's ELT sector has seen a rise in student weeks as demand grows among students outside of traditional European markets according to the Federation of English Language Teacher Organisations Malta.

Figures from leading Turkish agency association, UED, show the UK increased it's already dominate market share of language course bookings in 2014 despite a weak lira at the beginning of the year.

The number of German students going abroad for language study decreased by 1.44% last year, according to agency association FDSV. There was also a decrease in 14-17 year old students to 41.63% of the total number.

The Institute of English Language Studies Malta, one of the largest English language schools in Malta and Gozo, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party and international familiarisation trip.

Traditionally a market for short-term junior courses, Malta's English school sector is aiming to attract longer-term, mature students. The country’s ELT representative body, the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisation, expects 2014 figures to show more growth after strong increases in 2013.

The Institute of English Language Studies Malta, one of the largest English language schools in Malta and Gozo, has acquired Magister Academy, one of the island's original English language schools.

As its 25th anniversary year draws to a close, NCUK has added two major international collaborations to its portfolio of academic preparation programmes: a £1m scholarship scheme for Nigerian students and an in-country pathway programme in Malta.

The London School of Commerce (LSC), one of Europe's largest MBA providers, has opened a campus in Floriana, Malta, which will welcome its first cohort of around 50 students in July, followed by a larger intake in September. LSC Malta joins overseas campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, Colombo, Dhaka and Belgrade.

Latest stats from Malta reveal a slowdown in enrolments although a rise in student weeks helped buoy the English language teaching market overall in 2013. Italy, Russia and Germany led the Western European underpinning of the sector, while the impotance of the ELT market within overall tourism was also highlighted.

A St Paul's Bay hotel in Malta is to be sold to European School of English (ESE) in a deal worth €14m, according to the Times of Malta. The acquisition is the first entire acquisition in a hotel that the school has made and is a significant investment into accommodation for its clients.

EC Malta recently welcomed Italian actor, model and the 2011 winner of Italian TV show Big Brother to its student cohort. The English language school chain is using its celebrity student to publicise its ELT offer among its target student demographic.

Malta is keen to make visas more available for non-EU students in order to continue the market's growth trajectory according to Minister for Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo who spoke at the annual EFL Monitoring Board conference this month.

A spate of injuries befalling English language students "rock-jumping" in Malta has raised safety concerns in the popular English language teaching destination, despite clear signs posted about the dangers of such activities, and re-focused the efforts of the ELT industry in safeguarding its clients.

English language students contributed more than €135 million to the Maltese economy in 2012, in a sign that fears of a slowdown in demand on the island have been overplayed. Most students came from the EU but growth is climbing from Asia and Africa.

ACE English Malta, a new English language learning school in Malta, has opened with a glitzy party attended by industry movers and shakers including government ministers. The school opening coincides with recent figures indicating foreign student numbers to Malta were up by 18% in 2012.