The recent Quality English and Quality Education mission to South America targeted pioneering markets in Ecuador and Peru in a bid to connect with emerging agents, organisers have said.
Colombia, a more mature market, was also included in the trip which allowed 11 QE and QEd schools and colleges from the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and the US to meet with 44 agencies in the three countries.
Traditionally not the strongest markets in the region compared with Brazil or Mexico, Ecuador and Peru are becoming reliable source countries for English language schools.
“Being two of the least established markets it was good to meet the few agents that attended and hopefully we can start to work with one or two of them”
Government-backed scholarships and loan schemes alongside stronger buying power in the middle classes has resulted in greater demand from students in both countries.
QE CEO, Carolyn Blackmore, said the decision to hold the one-day workshops in Quito and Lima was based on school demand and growing agent industries.
The event in Quito was also supported by the Ecuadorian agents’ association COICEC, and Blackmore said discussions are underway about how to build stronger links between their members and QE and QEd institutions.
“All in all a great trip and was excellent to visit Peru and Ecuador,” commented Paulina Fordham, from Capital School of English in the UK.
“Being two of the least established markets it was good to meet the few agents that attended and hopefully we can start to work with one or two of them.”
Meanwhile this was the third QE event in Colombia. Educators were invited to a presentation on a government project to build English language teaching capacity in the country and how they could participate in the project.
“Bogota was also excellent with a lot of agents which is always encouraging, as an established market gave me the chance to meet up with existing partners and many potential new ones too, which is great,” said Fordham.
Founded in 2004, QE and its sister organisation QEd represent more than 60 independent schools and colleges in the UK, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and South Africa, with Associate Schools in other countries.
