Associations

English UK Wales launches as new industry chapter

With national priorities in Scotland on the radar following the SNP's landslide victory in the UK elections, the distinct voice of Wales has also emerged in the UK's English language teaching sector.

by Amy Baker

May 18 2015

2 Min Read

With national priorities in Scotland on the radar following the SNP’s landslide victory in the UK elections, the distinct voice of Wales has also emerged in the UK’s English language teaching sector.

The newest chapter of national association English UK is English UK Wales, formed this month by eight founding member schools.

“I’m really excited about members working together,” commented chairman, Dave Henson, of We Bridge International. “We are all aiming for the same thing, to increase the overall number of students experiencing this excellent destination.”

Wales’ outstanding cities, quality of life rating, its welcome for students and its beautiful coast and countryside are among the selling points that English UK Wales will be promoting to education agents via inward missions and fam tours.

It also plans to work with local and national government to raise the profile of educational tourism.

English UK Wales will join Universities Wales in aiming to promote the country for its unique offer to international students and also highlight the value of international education.

Over 25,000 international students study at tertiary level in the country, bringing in £218 million in revenue and an additional £195 million estimated in additional off-campus spend (which creates 1,720 jobs).

UW has also found that 38% of Wales’ international alumni have gone on to start up businesses across the globe.

As for its ELT reach, statistics indicate that Wales had 28,512 EFL student weeks in 2013 with an average length of stay of 5.29 weeks.

Vice Chair of English UK Wales, Emelyne Burkhard from Celtic English Academy, extolled Wales’ famously friendly people, international sporting events, world-famous castles and outstanding beaches and urged education agents to get in touch.

The founding member schools are:

Amy Baker

Amy Baker is CEO and co-founder of The PIE and worked as a journalist for many years covering the international education sector. A previous winner of the IEAA Award for Excellence in Professional Commentary, she regularly speaks and chairs panels focusing on trends in international education.

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