Despite economic and political tensions in key ELT source markets, national initiatives to promote foreign language learning and a strengthening link of languages to employability are continuing to drive demand for study abroad in Brazil, Spain, Russia and Turkey.
Spanish agency, Timpany, has filed for insolvency, citing increased competition, a fall in demand and commoditisation of the language travel market as reasons for its closure.
Despite being hit hard by the economic crisis, Spain's outbound study market has seen steady growth over the past few years due to many believing language training can leverage job opportunities. The sector is predicted to continue its upward trajectory this year and ASEPROCE is keen to place a mark of quality on its membership base.
Members of Spain's agency association, ASEPROCE, met with member schools of The English Network (TEN) at an intimate event that both agents and educators said was beneficial. Juan Elizalde, president of ASEPROCE said the small workshop format was "much more personal" than traditional big workshops.
In the face of a "tough" outbound market, members of Spain's agency association, ASEPROCE, will undergo a third party assessment this autumn as it attempts to improve quality standards in the industry. A new regulation policy will also be rolled out by the end of the year and a campaign launched in February 2014 to promote the new professionalisation of the organisation founded in 1987.
Bending to austerity measures, the Spanish Ministry of Education this month announced it would slash scholarships for language students studying summer immersion courses abroad. Funding will be cut from €22 million in 2012 to just €450,000 to fund studying French in France, and a yet-to-be disclosed sum to study language within Spain.
Study abroad scholarships, language courses and test preparation programmes were all in high demand at a recent education fair in Spain. This is the prognosis of ASEPROCE, the country's agency association which has more than 70 members. It estimates an additional 30,000 will leave home to learn a language this year.
