In a joint statement, City Colleges Group CEO Philip Burke and Oscars International CEO Will Dowling said joining forces will “expand both companies offerings to a broader international audience”.

“We aim to take strategic advantage of our place within the City College Group by offering pathway and foundation programs”

Speaking with The PIE News, Dowling said the strategic move will increase enrolments for Oscars, as well as City Colleges.

“We aim to take strategic advantage of our place within the City College Group by offering pathway and foundation programs to students who will go on to diploma, degree or professional courses with City College,” he said.

Oscars International’s day-to-day operations will remain independently run, Dowling added, with students continuing to enrol at its Dublin, UK and Cyprus locations.

However, the language provider will be working closely with colleagues across the group to develop enhanced QA procedures and standards, and to share expertise, he noted. Oscars hopes to “collaborate with experts across the group to design new and exciting programmes” for these centres across its locations.

The group is a “natural fit” for the Oscars business model, according to Dowling, given its present course offerings. Currently these include the group’s full-time high school seniors program from Ashfield College in south Dublin and a BSc degree programme in Accounting and Finance in partnership with the University of Chester, among others.

The City Colleges Group will also significantly broaden its academic course offering in 2019-20.

“Its academic quality and governance systems and the ability for cross-selling and academic progression within the group are all strategic benefits,” Dowling highlighted.