ELS Educational Services is undergoing a strategic expansion to support its pathway growth in the US that will open up new recruitment channels in Japan and India, along with a major leadership reshuffle to support its strategy.
The provider will soon begin offering its English for Academic Purposes programme in Japan in collaboration with its parent companies Berlitz and Benesse Corporation, providing a pipeline for Japanese students to study in the US.
Upon completing a full semester of the programme at one of “a number of prestigious universities in Japan” – names of which are yet to be released – students will be able to transfer directly to one of ELS’s 23 US campuses to complete a foundation year, leading straight into a degree at one of the company’s university partners.
The effort will support the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s efforts to increase outbound mobility.
ELS has signed an agreement with vocational training provider CADD Centre India Private Ltd to expand its agency arm, ELS India
Meanwhile, ELS has this month signed an agreement with vocational and corporate training provider CADD Centre India Private Ltd to expand its agency arm, ELS India.
Through the partnership, ELS-trained counsellors and CADD Center advisors will provide higher education counselling and admissions services at more than 500 CADD centres across the country through an online portal.
ELS has already provided counselling to some 500 students in India, and the new partnership will enable the provider to extend the services to “all the major developed and developing cities”, according to president emeritus Mark Harris – formerly ELS president and CEO.
Harris has transferred roles as part of the management reshuffle, and is now focusing on developing the company’s recruitment strategy through increasing intake from Latin America, Central Asia, Australasia and South East Asia.
Reiji Terasaka, former chief strategy officer at ELS’s parent company, Berlitz, has taken on the mantle of chief operating officer at ELS, overseeing investments in the US and the new Japan-based programmes.
Meanwhile Alexandra Zilovic is now executive vice president of global operations and business affairs, working on ELS’s on-campus pathways in the US, Canada and Australia and integration on US campuses.
Mallik Sundharam, who established the counselling arm ELS India, has been promoted to vice president of business development, directing counselling and recruitment in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.
ELS has opened seven on-campus pathways in the US in the last year, most recently at Hofstra University, NY and West Chester University, PA.
It recently announced a new partnership with International Technological University in San Jose, CA. The pathway programme will offer entry to the “most sought-after majors”, including software engineering, digital arts and electrical engineering including curricular practical training with Silicon Valley companies.
“When international students graduate, their ITU degrees and the practical experience they have acquired during their internships will give them a huge advantage when pursuing career opportunities back home,” Harris said.
