The US-based firm, which offers English language training, pathways and placement services through 69 centres worldwide, has partnerships with 650 universities – the vast majority in the US, but also in Malaysia, Canada, China and Australia.

“We expect interest in public-private partnerships in France to grow as it has in the US”

Motivated by the rise of English medium education in Europe, President and CEO Mark Harris said the company now wanted to explore further partnerships in France, as well as Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

“As providers throughout the European community have begun offering tertiary degree programmes in the English medium, we see the opportunity to come to support any of those institutions — both to recruit students internationally, as well as to prepare them adequately so they’ll be successful in their advanced studies,” he told The PIE at a launch event last week in Nice, southern France.

The partnership with SKEMA, one of Europe’s highest ranked business schools and a Grand École, is based at SKEMA’s south coast campus, and offers pathways to the school’s business degrees, as well general English courses for those wishing to study on the Riviera.

ELS said it was keen to launch other partnerships in France before venturing further into Europe. However, it could face barriers if recent government proposals to extend English medium education in the country – a direct bid to attract more non-EEA students – are blocked.

France has also traditionally shunned private sector involvement in its state education system (SKEMA is among a minority of private institutions), but Harris is optimistic demand will increase.

“France has long been one of the prime student destination countries because of the quality of higher education in the country and its leadership in certain fields. So I see that as a basis for demand,” he said. “We also expect interest in public-private partnerships in France to grow as it has in the US.”

SKEMA, which offers all of its programmes in English, said the partnership would help it attract more top talent from around the world.

“We aim to educate the most talented individuals 21st century businesses require,” said the dean, Alice Guilhon. “Since English is becoming the lingua franca of international business, the relationship with ELS is of special significance for our students helping them achieve success in their studies and postgraduate careers.”