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Embassy Toronto Hosts ICEF Workshop Reception

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

On Saturday May 11th, Embassy Toronto Study Centre hosted a reception for agents that participated in the International Consultants for Education and Fairs (ICEF) Toronto Workshop.

From May 9th to 11th, ICEF held a workshop that saw over 700 educators and 34 agents from around the world come together to meet in rounds and seminars. The schedule of the workshop was very tight and we were honored to have the agents attend our reception. As the workshop was located in Toronto, it was the perfect opportunity to invite agents from many countries to come to visit the centre.

The agents were greeted by the Embassy Toronto staff and students from Brazil, France, Korea, Panama, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. The students proved the perfect ambassadors for the school and were thrilled to attend their very first “Canadian style” party. For many of the agents, the highlight of the evening was having a chance to be a student themselves and to use the interactive white boards (IWBs) for the first time. By the end of the lesson, the agents had a better understanding of how the IWBs are used in the classroom to engage and enhance the overall learning experience.

Pakistan to be the location for the next Building Futures school project

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group is pleased to announce a new Building Futures project in the Vehari district, Pakistan. In a country where 25 million children do not receive any education, and the overall literacy rate is 46% and only 26% for girls, our project will really make a difference.

What is planned for the Pakistan project?

Classroom construction in seven primary schools to provide protected learning spaces for children.
Construction/replacement and raising boundary walls in two girls' elementary schools – protecting 600 girls and the school belongings during school times and creating opportunities to participate in outdoor activities openly and freely.
Repair of toilet blocks in 20 schools (including piping, electric water pumps, new bore holes, water tanks, taps, septic tanks, wash basins, new floors, plastering and pointing, weather shielding and distempering).

Nine years and counting

Conceived as a direct response to the devastation and loss caused by the Asian Tsunami in 2004, Study Group’s Building Futures now supports projects all over the world. Building Futures is supported by a combination of corporate donations, staff and student fundraising.

Kingston University's Distance Learning MBA programme goes global with Study Group

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Kingston University has partnered with international education provider Study Group to deliver its new distance learning MBA programme.

The university will take advantage of Study Group’s expertise in global marketing and recruitment, online delivery and student retention, to claim a greater share of the booming distance learning MBA market.

Africa and Asia are expected to be important student recruitment destinations for the competitively priced £16,000, three-year course, with the first students commencing study in September.

Kingston University vice-chancellor Julius Weinberg said. “They will also save money in terms of living costs and by being able to continue to work and earn whilst studying. We already run a very well established and industry-respected MBA here in London as well as one in Moscow and we are proud that our fantastic business management team will now be running a high-quality MBA in cyberspace too.”

James Pitman, Study Group’s higher education MD, comments: “Distance learning courses are particularly vulnerable to students dropping out after their initial motivation wanes. We’ll be applying our retention expertise to the Kingston distance learning MBA programme and interacting with students via forums and social media, amongst other methods, to ensure their continued engagement.

“The ability to fit learning around work and life commitments is making distance learning MBAs increasingly popular and almost a third of all MBA enrolments in the UK are now for distance learning courses.* Research shows that career paths are comparable regardless of whether a student undertakes a full-time MBA or not, and the resulting salaries reinforce this; a distance learning student can expect remuneration in the region of £80,000 while the full-time student average is around £85,000.**

“Add the fact that the UK MBA brand is incredibly strong and that distance learning courses aren’t subject to visa complications, and it’s clear to see why forward-thinking universities are looking at this mode of delivery to develop their international opportunities.”

Study Group also runs an International Study Centre on the Kingston University campus. The International Study Centre prepares international students for undergraduate and postgraduate study at the university and was established in 2010.

For further information or interview opportunities, please contact:

TopLine Communications
studygroup@toplinecomms.com
+44 (0)207 580 6502

* Source: Intake and Graduation Survey 2012, AMBA
** http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationadvice/9877231/Distance-MBA-How-to-earn-an-MBA-from-your-sofa.html

New look website and video for Lancaster International Study Centre

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Lancaster International Study Centre is pleased to announce the launch of its dynamic new website with improved navigation.

The Lancaster University International Study Centre (ISC) site is now on-brand with Lancaster University’s main site, and new features include the Lancaster University ISC student video with testimonials from students and academics.

News stories are now on the home page, and shows continued success at the top of the UK’s subject rankings: Lancaster has 12 subjects in the UK’s top ten and is ranked 1st for Marketing in the Complete University Guide 2014. Lancaster is also included in the world's Top 200 institutions in 18 of the 30 subjects featured in this year's QS World University Rankings by Subject.

The Lancaster University ISC building was opened in November 2011 to cope with increasing demand and is already thriving, with a diverse cohort of students from around the world, recruited through Study Group’s global marketing and recruitment teams. The ISC offers a choice of International Foundation Year programmes, each carefully created with the university academic team to provide a seamless transition into year one of a broad selection of mainstream courses.

University of Leicester visits India and launches scholarship programme

staff\ymills — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The University of Leicester and Study Group host joint event for partner agents in New Delhi.

Professor Douglas Tallack, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of College for Arts, Humanities and Law was guest of honour and gave a presentation on how Leicester continues to empower people to explore what they don’t know through passionate, dedicated teaching and innovative, world-changing research.

Prof. Tallack’s focused on the University’s active engagement in research where 93% of staff is research active - one of the highest in the UK - citing examples such as the discovery of DNA finger printing to pioneering space exploration, and the recent discovery of the remains of King Richard III. Agents gained an understanding of the real opportunities and benefits that students will get from being taught by academics who are pioneers in their respective fields.

Will Maciver, Study Group’s Partner Director and Prof Tallack spoke about the partnership and the success of the International Foundation Year. In 2012, 92% of the International Study Centre students who completed their programme were offered a degree programme at the University.

The highlight of the event was the launch of University of Leicester Scholarships worth up to £4500 for students from India for a range of degree programmes. International Foundation Year students who meet the progression grade to the relevant undergraduate degree can qualify for these scholarships.

The event was also attended by Ms Moneesha Gupta, British Council, representative from the Blossom High School, Namrata Anand, Study Group’s Partner Manager, and Kilenkala Longchar, Study Group’s Accounts Manager.

New vision of £35 million 5G research centre at the University of Surrey revealed

staff\ymills — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The design for the world’s first centre for research into the next stage of mobile technology at the University of Surrey has been revealed by the newly appointed architects.

Scott Tallon Walker architects have won the competition to create the 5G Innovation Centre focussed on 5G networking.

It will mean that the university campus becomes the first place in the world to test 5G technology by using lampposts as mobile signal base stations around the campus to create a new ‘test-bed’ that will cover an area of four kilometres for the next generation of mobile technology.

5G is the fifth generation of mobile cellular systems. 3G which is currently in use in the UK as the country transitions to 4G focuses, on speed. 5G’s focus is on network capacity, providing more capacity with lower power consumption. It’s estimated that 5G will be in use in about eight years’ time.

The new centre, expected to be completed by the end of January 2015, will house the UK’s largest academic research centre for mobile communications with 130 researchers and around 90 PhD students.

When built the scheme will achieve an ‘Excellent’ environmental rating under a leading environmental standard called BREAM (Building Research Establishment Assessment Method) which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building's environmental performance.

It encourages designers, clients and others to think about low carbon and low impact design, minimising the energy demands created by a building before considering energy efficiency and low carbon technologies.

The funding for the project comes from a variety of sources including the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) government and a range of corporate sponsors from the mobile communications industry.

Peter Dudley, Scott Tallon Walker’s Director of Science and Technology, said: “We see the new centre at the University of Surrey as a place where some of the finest minds in mobile communications from around the world will be sharing their visionary ideas.

“The Scott Tallon Walker practice is obviously delighted to have won such a prestigious competition but my colleagues working on the project are equally excited as they really want to see their ideas for this creative community in action.”

Professor Rahim Tafazolli, the Director for the new centre at the University, said: “It’s an exciting vision of what promises to be a very important centre for not only the University but for the whole of the UK and beyond.

“The designs reflect our aim of being at the very forefront of technology in a fast-moving and interconnected world.”

The research centre will accommodate both the university’s own researchers and those of its industry partners who will come to the university.

From the University of Surrey Press Office, April 2013

Study Group launches Holland International Study Centre

staff\ymills — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group launches the first International Study Centre in Holland. The centre will prepare international undergraduate and postgraduate students to progress to one of seven different higher education institutions.

Academically qualified students will complete a two-term or three-term English Foundation Programme at the Holland International Study Centre (HISC) before progressing to undergraduate programmes year one at the University of Groningen, Wageningen University, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Nyenrode New Business School, or Stenden University of Applied Sciences.

All other students will complete a three-term International Foundation Year before progressing to year two at Nyenrode New Business School or The Hague University of Applied Sciences, or year one at the University of Groningen.

Associate Dean Frans Rutten at Groningen University comments: “This partnership with Study Group will help us attract the best international students from all over the world. Dutch higher education offers excellent value for money: with 12 universities in the top 200, the Netherlands occupies the third position in Times Higher Education World University Rankings, after the USA and the UK . All accredited undergraduate programmes are quality assured by Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) - this means that students can be assured a first-class qualification on study completion.”

James Pitman, Study Group’s higher education MD notes: “The time at HISC will acclimatise the students as they’re immersed in Dutch culture and university style teaching. It also enables them to increase their English language competency to the level required for HE study.”

All the students attending HISC will require a conditional offer from one of the aforementioned universities. On completion of study they proceed directly to their university of choice.

Pitman continues: “HISC is based on a model that has already proved extremely successful throughout Europe. The number of students from emerging economies looking for a first-class higher education is increasing rapidly and universities across the world are positioning themselves to make the international student experience as seamless and fulfilling as possible. Pathway programmes are the best way to prepare international students for university study – it leaves them ready to maximise their time in higher education.”

HISC course commencement will be in January or October each year and the minimum IELTS entry level is 5.0. Students will attend HISC via university referral or through Study Group’s global network of academic agents.

For further information or interview opportunities, please contact:

TopLine Communications
studygroup@toplinecomms.com
+44 (0)207 580 6502

University of Strathclyde partners with Study Group to boost global recruitment drive

staff\ymills — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde has partnered with Study Group to establish a new International Study Centre, which will welcome its first international students in September this year.

The International Study Centre, run by Study Group, will prepare international undergraduates and postgraduates for entry to the university with a range of pathway programmes. By 2016, 300 international students are expected to attend the International Study Centre each year.

Study Group is the largest provider of international students to UK universities and the partnership is part of a concerted international student recruitment drive by the University of Strathclyde, the Times Higher Education’s UK University of the Year 2012/13.

Currently one in ten of the University of Strathclyde’s students are from outside of the UK, and annually it welcomes around 1,900 international students from more than 100 countries. With increasing global competition and changes to UK immigration, direct recruitment of international students has become increasingly challenging. Study Group’s global reach will help the University of Strathclyde to attract more high-quality overseas students and prepare them for university life.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald (left), Principal of the University of Strathclyde, says: “As a leading international technological institution, and UK University of the Year, Strathclyde is an increasingly attractive destination for international students who want to give themselves the best start to their career. All our students benefit from being part of a university which has global partnerships and whose degrees are valued around the world.

“We already successfully recruit more than a thousand international students every year. Our partnership with Study Group will help us increase the intake of high-quality students and allow us to further improve the international experience of our home and overseas students.”

Study Group’s James Pitman, Managing Director, Higher Education UK and Europe comments: "We're proud to be bringing Study Group's knowledge and experience of recruiting the best and brightest students to the University of Strathclyde.

"International students often come to the UK from countries where the secondary education system is actually a year shorter than it is here, and the learning style quite different. In that context, pathway programmes are an excellent way to ensure universities receive high calibre students who have been comprehensively prepared for degree study, so that those students get the most out of their time in the UK, both academically and culturally.

“The International Study Centre at Strathclyde will ensure those that pass through its doors realise their full higher education potential while making a positive and truly international contribution to life on campus - it is an exciting partnership for all concerned."

Established in 1796, the University of Strathclyde is Scotland’s third largest university, with nearly 16,000 students and more than 3,000 staff. Famous alumni include television pioneer John Logie Baird, and medical missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone.

For further information or interview opportunities, please contact:

TopLine Communications
studygroup@toplinecomms.com
+44 (0)207 580 6502

Embassy English signs strategic partnership with Gold Coast Tourism

staff\ymills — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group’s Embassy English has recently signed as a strategic partner with Gold Coast Tourism at the bright, modern campus located in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast Tourism are successful promoters of tours, events, accommodation, places to see, and how to get around this sunny strip of Australian coastline. As a new Embassy partner, they will now also be advising visitors where to learn English. Embassy English Gold Coast has always been a very popular choice for International Students to study English. The recently refurbished Surfers Paradise campus is only two minutes from the beach and in the heart of the Gold Coast.

A key benefit of this new partnership is that Embassy English will be advertising on the arrival desk at the Gold Coast Airport International Terminal.

See here for more information about Embassy English, Embassy Summer, Embassy Academy, Embassy University Pathways and Embassy Study Tours.

An exciting time to be part of the UK's international education sector

staff\ymills — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

Study Group’s UK Managing Director James Pitman was interviewed by Study Travel Magazine and discussed the recent challenges facing international education in the UK. He argues that there's never been a more exciting time to be part of the sector.

“We’ve been kept on our toes in the UK over the last couple of years by visa reforms geared toward reducing net migration”, said Pitman.

“The debate surrounding the revisions will rumble on but we can at least be reassured by positive signs from the government more recently. Look at Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit to India, with an entourage laden with heavy hitters from industry and education. Likewise, promises of a period of stability when it comes to visa regulations must also be welcomed.

So, in the year when 50,000 international students will go through Study Group’s doors worldwide, we want to pick up the baton for Britain and send out some positive messages about the times ahead to the sector and students, based on the exceptional and undoubted quality of education, life experience and academic outcome offered by UK universities.

From a student’s perspective, the strong tradition in Britain of welcoming visitors endures amongst the public. In addition, the UK’s geographical location makes it almost unique among the world’s premiere study destinations – its proximity to Europe results in a diverse student body that Australia or the US cannot offer, making the UK a nexus of truly international networks that students can tap into and which also boost the UK’s ‘soft-power’ in diplomacy, commerce and culture.

The UK’s universities have embraced innovative modes of study, combining various methods of course delivery with the latest technology and there is a lot more of that to come. They’re famous for their academic research, led by, amongst others, the Russell Group of universities, and the UK’s range of choice is also huge: from leading design, art and fashion institutions through to Oxford, Cambridge and everything in between.

Those working in the international education sector also deserve recognition. The industry attracts talented individuals who work extremely hard to deliver an unsurpassed academic and cultural experience for international students. They play an important part in fostering deeper trans-national understanding, communications and cross-cultural awareness, and often develop a surprising affinity with their alumni based on the contact with them at a time of profound change in their lives.

An exciting period of growth lies ahead, with Unesco expecting the number of international students looking for higher education outside of their own country to reach eight million by 2020. The UK is ideally placed to welcome this new influx of curious minds looking for a world-class higher education at some of the best universities in the world. We just need to ensure we continue to push the quality of our international education and higher education sectors, and don’t let negative rhetoric from certain government departments weaken our position as a leading study destination.”

'Feeder' partners deliver increased value

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

One year ago Study Group created the Channel Development Team to develop 'Feeder' partner agreements. The increasing numbers of these agreements are already delivering greater value and ever greater number of students.

Expanding from a solid base in China the Channel Development Team, led by Mike Foster, has expanded into new markets in North, South and South East Asia and onshore in the UK.

“The great thing about Channel Development is how closely it is aligned to Study Group’s new statement of purpose; it encapsulates both the commitment to supporting student aspirations, whilst realising Study Group’s commitment to develop a best-in-class sales and marketing capability” Mike Foster, head of the Channel Development team.

The Channel Development Team’s innovative and entrepreneurial approach accesses new markets and is helping new and mature Study Group products to grow. Key to this innovative approach are the multi-sector collaborations being established between Study Group and several other market leaders in education. Further developing the existing model of collaboration that has been so successful with NCUK and NCC, the Channel Development Team has concluded agreements with both Edexcel/Pearson and GAC (Global Assessment Certificate). These agreements allow us to offer International Year One and Diploma of Commerce programmes to A level, BTEC Level 3 and Foundation students who have not made the entry requirements for direct entry across hundreds of learning centres and schools worldwide.

And the advantages are not just in student numbers – these diverse opportunities are operated by a variety of different partners from existing agents, to high schools, universities and local foundation providers bringing Study Group closer to every part of the international education community.

Concluding, Mike says: “Study Group is evolving to maintain our position as a global leader in international education. As it does, Channel Development is poised to become a cornerstone of that evolution”.

Study Group has become a founding member of Exporting Education UK (ExEd)

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

The group currently consists of 24 members, who cover the full range of education from Pre-preps, Prep schools, High Schools, Sixth Form Colleges, FE & HE colleges, to Professional Colleges and Education Publishers.

The group has a membership of UK-based companies and organisations involved in education as an export who have come together to promote the value of the sector to UK plc and its contribution to the UK’s long term competitiveness in the global economy. All have a common interest in the export of quality education in the UK- both export of services and the education of international students in the UK. The group is known as ExEd for short.

Education exports are worth over £14 billion to the UK economy and have the potential for year on year growth. The founding members believe that there is a need for all parts of the sector to work more closely together to promote the contribution of education exports to politicians, policy makers and the media. This is an umbrella group which for the first time can represent the common interests of all parts of the sector and although Universities UK (the trade body representing all UK universities) has not yet joined, they are supportive of the group.

In addressing the challenges of current UK government policy on net migration and the treatment of valuable international students as an immigration problem, the sector has not been well served in the past years by its fractured nature, all segments of which have made representations, lobbied and made their arguments, but only for their own particular area of the sector. By bringing together the disparate segments of the sector to present a cohesive and consolidated view, we believe that we have a better chance of influencing the decision makers in government, who thus far have been happy to put political considerations ahead of the economic growth, jobs and soft power that export education delivers for the UK. Out of all the sectors of potential growth for UK plc, export of education surely has the greatest potential, not only for economic benefit and new jobs across the regions but also for the continuation of the UK's soft power- diplomatically, culturally and commercially and yet also, by forging better understanding and communication, it can also potentially bring about a better world.

Membership is currently:

ACS International Schools
Alpha Plus Group
Association of Colleges
Astrum Education
BSA
Cambridge Education Group
Cambridge Information Group
Carfax Education Consultants
Council of British International Schools
Dulwich College Management International
English UK
Funding for Independent Schools (supporter)
GL Education Group
Greenwich School of Management
Independent Schools Council (observer)
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Kaplan UK
Malvern House
Mander Portman Woodward
QA
Study Group
Study UK
OC&C Strategy Consultants (supporter)
Wild Research (supporter)

University of Leicester is a five star institution

staff\ymills — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

The University of Leicester has achieved the highest rating possible in a new assessment of university performance.

Leicester scored a 5-star rating in the new QS Stars Assessment process which is based on analysis on various aspects of a University’s performance.

The University of Leicester achieved 5-star on three of the four core categories –teaching, research and internationalisation.

The QS Stars Development Roadmap builds upon many years of experience collecting institutional data and compiling the QS World University Rankings. The objective is to provide institutions with a broader range of criteria that allows them to stand out in particular areas of excellence.

Ben Sowter, Head of Division, QS Intelligence Unit, said: “The University of Leicester, having undergone the independent QS Stars evaluation, has been awarded a 5-Star rating overall as well as in six of eight evaluated areas, placing them among the world’s elite in terms of teaching, research, internationalization, facilities, innovation and access.”

Richard Taylor, Deputy Registrar of the University of Leicester, said: “The QS Stars evaluation reveals a very strong performance by the University across a wide range of areas. This is a tremendous achievement in an era of increasing competitiveness in higher education where the hallmark of quality is an important distinguishing factor between institutions.”

Study Group to Launch International Study Centers at the University of Maine and University of Southern Maine

staff\ymills — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

The University of Maine System and Study Group Inc., are delighted to announce their recent agreement to establish an International Study Center (ISC) on both the University of Maine campus in Orono and the University of Southern Maine campus in Gorham.

The University of Maine ISC will receive its first cohort of students in fall 2013, followed by the launch of the University of Southern Maine ISC in spring 2014. Other System universities will also benefit from this agreement as students move through the ISCs or directly into the degrees of their choice.

The University of Maine System’s seven unique universities share an overarching goal: to provide high-quality, accessible and affordable learning opportunities. As the System’s flagship university and the state’s land-grant and sea-grant university, the University of Maine offers students a wide variety of programs and opportunities with world-class faculty members doing nationally recognized research in a friendly, safe environment. Among the most comprehensive higher education institutions in the Northeast, the University of Maine enrolls nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University of Southern Maine, cited as northern New England’s outstanding public, regional comprehensive university, enrolls more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its nationally recognized programs. Students are taught by talented committed faculty in an environment that fosters success.

Study Group’s 33 international offices and more than 200 education counselors will recruit fully academically qualified international students to the ISCs, which will provide an International First Year (IFY) for undergraduate students and a Pre-Master’s Program (PMP) for graduate students. Each ISC will initially offer two undergraduate pathway programs — business and engineering at the University of Maine ISC; and general science at the University of Southern Maine ISC — which will prepare students for success in their chosen degree programs by combining English language and academic coursework with academic study skills. More details on additional pathway options at the University of Southern Maine will be available when program details are finalized.

“Our collaboration with Study Group, with its global expertise in student recruitment and education, will assist us in realizing our goals of increasing diversity and enrollment while providing our students a rich and rewarding educational experience and advancing our global image,” says Paul Ferguson, president of the University of Maine.

Theodora Kalikow, president of the University of Southern Maine agreed, saying, “We are excited by the possibilities our partnership will bring the students, the universities, the state of Maine and the world at large.”

“We are proud to have the University of Maine System as a partner,” says Joseph Cece, Study Group’s managing director for higher education in North America. “Providing students around the globe access to its seven campuses will enable the students to yield a high-quality education in a beautiful and welcoming setting and prepare them well for their futures as global citizens.”

Bob Cryan is awarded The Guardian University Awards Inspiring Leader 2013

staff\ymills — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 Z

All at Study Group would like to congratulate Bob Cryan, winner of the prestigious award of Inspiring Leader at the inaugural Higher Education Awards 2013, launched by The Guardian newspaper.

Bob is himself a University of Huddersfield graduate, having obtained a 1st class engineering degree, a part-time PhD and a DSc. He is also a proud Huddersfield man with a deep commitment to his local community.

“Bob is a leader in every sense of the word,” his nomination citation read. “His financial stewardship is exemplary, taking the university out of debt whilst embarking on £100m of visionary developments without borrowing. He is dedicated to ensuring that international students enjoy a high quality education at the University of Huddersfield and so his senior team have put in place mechanisms to ensure that international students influence the University thinking going forward.”

Study Group has maintained a strong partnership with the University of Huddersfield since 2008, when the International Study Centre was unveiled by Cryan himself.

UK International Study Centre Progression Success

staff\ymills — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 Z

We are extremely pleased to report that our UK International Study Centres* had a very successful year with respect to student progression from the 2011-12 cohort. Over 88% of our completing students were offered a place to study at the host University. 9 of our 15 teaching centres had progression rates above 90%, and for the first time more than 2000 students successfully advanced through an International Study Centre (ISC).

Our ISCs also successfully navigated a full educational oversight process with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Due to changes in the UKBA rules, all our teaching centres require educational oversight with the body that is also responsible for assuring quality across all Universities in England and Wales. Success in achieving full confidence from the QAA is further evidence of the quality of provision across our ISC teaching centres.

* Our International Study Centres (ISCs) offer intensive courses of academic subjects, study skills and English language training. Each ISC is run by Study Group in partnership with the Universities.

Study Group Announces Partnership with University of Vermont

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 Z

Study Group is excited to announce a new partnership with the University of Vermont to create a pathway program for international students.

The partnership is anticipated to triple the university’s current international student body within the next four to five years, starting with an inaugural class of around 50 students in January of 2014.

“Study Group has an outstanding reputation of partnering with higher education institutions here and abroad to help universities recruit international students based on quality and integrity,” said UVM president Tom Sullivan. “Increasing undergraduate international student enrolment will enhance the quality of the UVM experience for all members of the UVM community. We already have almost 400 international students on campus… our partnership with Study Group will build on this as we recruit and welcome bright, motivated students from around the world.”

Study Group expects to help UVM recruit approximately 140 international students per year with a two-term pathway sequence. It will be created to prepare students academically and socially for progression to degree status with 24 to 28 credits, if they meet all the program standards.

Joseph Cece, Study Group’s managing director for higher education in North America, said, “We are so excited to partner with an outstanding flagship university like UVM... It has an abundance of selling points attractive to foreign students, including the quality and depth of its undergraduate programs. Rankings are very important to many international students and UVM’s top 100 status among U.S. institutions and top 40 ranking among publics is a huge advantage. The university’s location in relation to New York, Boston and Montreal, and its beautiful campus in a safe and vibrant city like Burlington are very attractive. Our mission is to recruit high-quality students who will be successful and culturally enrich UVM and the local community.”

Chris Lucier is vice president for enrollment management at UVM. Speaking on the two-term pathway agreement he commented; “This program is directly aligned with President Sullivan’s vision to diversify the undergraduate population… including increasing international undergraduate enrollment to 5-7 percent. We feel strongly that partnering with an outstanding company like Study Group and its well-established worldwide network, and focus on student outcomes, is the best way to bring these students and their cultures and experiences to UVM.”

David Leigh appointed Global CEO of Study Group

staff\ymills — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 Z

Dr John Hood, Chairman of Study Group, announced today that David Leigh has been appointed to the role of Global CEO of Study Group, the leading international private education provider.

Mr Leigh was most recently the CEO of SHL Group Ltd, a worldwide leader in talent assessment solutions with a business presence in more than 50 countries. Mr Leigh will formally commence his new role on 1 March 2013.

“David is a widely respected and experienced business leader with a proven ability to grow global services organisations such as ours,” Dr Hood said.

“He has a strong professional services background and a strategic mindset that will be of great benefit to Study Group as we seek to capitalise on our established strengths and relationships.

“The board is delighted to welcome David to Study Group and we look forward to him leading our team and working closely with our valued network of strategic partners.”

Mr Leigh’s appointment follows an international executive search process that followed the resignation late last year of former CEO, Heith Mackay-Cruise.

Mr Leigh commenced his professional career as a lawyer after graduating from Cambridge University and the College of Law, London. For three years he worked for global strategy consulting house McKinsey & Co. Prior to his CEO role at SHL Group Ltd. he worked in a variety of senior leadership and strategy roles for Groupe Steria / Xansa, a major IT services and outsourcing group with almost 30,000 employees.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead the team at Study Group and to work with its partners and the Board to help shape the future of the organisation,” Mr Leigh said.

“Study Group has expanded its higher education reach by forging links with some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. I look forward to helping build on the significant momentum in the business.”

For further information, please contact:

Treacy Bell
Executive Director, People & Culture

Welcoming the UK’s top universities at the next Study Group University Fair for International Students

staff\ymills — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 Z

Held at the Park Plaza Hotel, London Victoria, on Saturday 9^th February.

The UK team is busy preparing for the next Study Group Fair for International Students. Held at the Park Plaza Hotel, London Victoria, on Saturday 9^th February, we are expecting up to 1,000 international students and over 75 of the UK's top universities including the University of Oxford, University of Bath and Durham University as well as university representatives from all of our 18 International Study Centres.

As usual, staff from all four Bellerbys campuses will be joining Bellerbys students and direct attendees at this, the largest international student fair in the UK.

Students will be able to talk to representatives from each university who are specialists in advising international students about studying at their universities. There will also be seminars delivered by select universities and organisations, and Visa advice will be available throughout the day.

Also present will be BBC China who are keen to talk to current students and understand their experience of studying in the UK.

If you would like to attend the fair or have any questions on it, please contact Lisa James.

For all the latest news and information, visit our fairs website at www.studygroupfairs.com

Heith Mackay-Cruise resigns as Global CEO of Study Group, Arvid Petersen assumes interim leadership role

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

After almost six years at Study Group, Heith Mackay-Cruise has announced his intention to resign from his role as Global CEO. Heith has been instrumental in leading Study Group through a period of strong growth and significant value creation for its shareholders.

Study Group today has over 30 university partnerships across the world and will have served more than 50,000 students in the course of this calendar year. Under Heith’s leadership, a number of important strategic initiatives have been commenced and are expected to yield significant benefits to Study Group in the years to come.

The Board of Study Group wants to thank Heith for his many contributions to the company, and wishes him well for a well-deserved break and for his future endeavours.

As part of a managed transition, Arvid Petersen, former Executive Chairman and current non-Executive Director of Study Group, has assumed leadership of Study Group on an interim basis, effective immediately.

The search for a new Global CEO of Study Group is advanced, and an announcement will be made in due course.

John Hood

Chairman, Study Group

A visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 Z

On the 28th of November, William and Catherine (the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) visited the location of Bellerbys College Manor Campus in Cambridge, also home to the Embassy English Summer School. It was their first visit to the city, and Bellerbys students and staff joined in the welcoming party as the couple shook hands and spoke to the crowds.

Study Group announces new partnership with Flinders University

staff\kmaartens — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 Z

The Study Group portfolio in Australia continues to go from strength to strength with the announcement of a new Study Group centre established in partnership with Flinders University. The partnership has launched the Flinders International Study Centre (FISC) to provide degree pathway programs for students who seek to study at the university.

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Barber, spoke of this new venture as an opportunity for both the university and the city of Adelaide.

“At a competitive and challenging time for Australian providers in the global education market, FISC represents a strategic alliance for promoting Flinders University and the city of Adelaide as a destination of choice.”

Flinders University ranks amongst the best 400 universities in the world* and since being established in 1966, it has evolved to become a well-recognized, multi-disciplinary university which offers programmes in health sciences, science and engineering, humanities, law and business.

FISC is Study Group’s first commercial endeavor in South Australia, and the Centre commenced operation in late 2012. The first programs offers are a Diploma of Commerce which articulates to Year 2 of business and commerce degrees and an Introductory Academic Program for students who need to improve their academic language capabilities.

Warren Jacobson, Managing Director of Study Group Australasia talks of what Study Group brings to this partnership. “We pride ourselves both on the provision of high quality education and the personal pastoral care that is vital to the quality of our international students’ experience, and we are delighted to partner with Flinders University in this central purpose.”

* 2012 Academic Ranking of World Universities

Study Group to Launch a New International Study Center at Roosevelt University in Downtown Chicago

staff\ymills — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 Z

(Raleigh, NC) November 2012 Study Group is excited to announce a new partnership with Roosevelt University to establish an on-campus International Study Center (ISC) at the downtown Chicago campus to welcome its first cohort of students in August 2013.

Roosevelt University is an independent, non-profit, comprehensive university with two distinct campuses located in downtown Chicago and suburban Schaumburg, Illinois serving 6,600 students. With a rich history and progressive curricula featuring 126 degree programs, Roosevelt is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence. Its award-winning faculty and dedicated staff take pride in pushing Roosevelt’s remarkably diverse students to the limits of achievement, inspiring transformation of lives and communities through the principles of social justice.

We are proud to partner with such a progressive and comprehensive university in downtown Chicago. This partnership will complement our portfolio of leading universities,” said Joseph Cece, President of Study Group - Higher Education North America. “The Roosevelt ISC will follow successful North American programs established at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA., Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, Canada and Widener University in Chester, PA.”

Study Group will recruit academically qualified international students and provide an International First Year (IFY) for undergraduate students and a Pre-Master’s program for graduate students. These pathway programs combine English language and academic coursework with academic study skills to prepare students for success in their chosen degree. International students have a choice of more than 20 bachelor’s programs in Business, Mathematics, Pre-Law and Science. At the master’s level, students can choose from 15 Master of Business Administration concentrations; Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications or three concentrations in Master of Public Administration.

“We are very excited to partner with Study Group. This initiative will help expand our international community and global perspective,” said Joanne Canyon Heller, Roosevelt’s Assistant Provost for International Academic Programs. “This partnership will build Roosevelt’s positive reputation as a leader in graduating diverse, community-minded citizens.”

International students. International influence.

staff\ymills — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

While 2012 has been an undeniably marvelous year for the UK in terms of sporting achievements and cultural landmarks, the subject of international education has become a contentious issue.

This year, and for the first time ever, the UK was number one in Monocle magazine’s Soft Power Survey, beating the USA, Germany and Japan. Listing football, pop music, the Olympics and James Bond as among the recent, positive global associations with the country, the survey also cites the number of international students studying in the UK (370,000) as valuable and empirical measure of ‘soft’ collateral.

However grand this statistic might appear, as Monocle themselves point out, it is only half the story. The government's promise to cut the number of student visas threatens the UK’s international reputation at a time when the nation should be capitalising on major gains.

To continue to support international education is to continue to attract the brightest international students to an education system that is already renowned as one of the best in the world. Though not designed to exclude those students who are exceptional enough to enter higher-level study in the UK, cutting the number of student visas has the potential to impact global reputation as well as economic growth.

With a question mark still hanging over the future of student visas, whether future policies tighten the reigns on international education or seek a more inclusive approach that strikes a balance between quality and quantity remains to be seen.

But one thing is for certain, with such a momentous year for the UK, the opportunity to exert global influence and attract big businesses (and big minds) has never been stronger.

Share your thoughts on this article and connect with us on Twitter

Royal Roads awarded accolade for innovative brand design

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

Royal Roads University and its creative agency, Cossette Vancouver, brought home the Advertiser of the Year award for their innovative ‘Traits We Admire’ campaign.

Royal Roads University, a successful Study Group Higher Education partner, was presented the prize at the Lotus Awards in Vancouver, Canada. The ceremony celebrates the best in the British Colombia advertising industry, with clients including Nike, McDonalds, VW and Honda. The Advertiser of the Year award recognizes excellence in an integrated campaign and outstanding collaboration between an agency and client.

"This initiative cleverly demonstrated the traits that we both admire in our students and nurture as a university,” said Catherine Riggins, director of branding, marketing and recruitment at Royal Roads. “Each of these advertisements is a small taste of the student educational experience."

"We are an award-winning, highly regarded educational institution receiving consistently positive reviews from those who know us best,” said Cyndi McLeod, vice-president of global advancement, marketing, and business development. ”The Traits We Admire campaign successfully demonstrated the growth opportunities the university offers.”

The promotion was the first since Royal Roads unveiled its fresh new brand in June. The campaign included interactive ads, print, digital and out-of-home media.

Study Group has maintained a strong partnership with Royal Roads since 2011, providing innovative study pathways for international students in Canada.

Financial Times ranks Bellerbys College Brighton in the top 30 secondary schools in England

staff\ymills — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

The 2012 Financial Times (FT) school league table ranks 2,179 schools in England and Bellerbys College Brighton is placed at an impressive 29.

With Bellerbys Cambridge holding its position at 47, both colleges are ahead of many prestigious and internationally-recognised schools including Brighton College (49), Abbey College Cambridge (59), Charterhouse (81), and Roedean (136) to name just a few.

Nigel Addison Principal of Bellerbys Brighton commented, ‘Bellerbys Brighton's position of 29, ahead of Cambridge Tutors, Abbey College Cambridge and Brighton College, illustrates the benefits and importance of highly qualified teachers with years and years of experience.'

Year-on-year Bellerbys College produces outstanding results. In 2012 50% of successful A Level students graduated to the top 15 universities. 57% of all A levels were graded A* or A, which is twice the national average.

John Rushton, Principal at Bellerbys Cambridge was delighted with the results. ‘At Bellerbys College we have dedicated and experienced teachers who know how to get the best from all their students.’

The FT Secondary Schools Ranking PDF can be found on http://rankings.ft.com/secondary-schools/secondary-schools-2012

Students rush to attend the Study Group University Fair

staff\kmaartens — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

1,500 students travelled to central London to take part in the Study Group University Fair.

Over 70 university partners, many of them top-ranked, were present on the day which included seminars, presentations and advice sessions throughout. The event provided the perfect opportunity for both British students and onshore international students to talk to university staff and make decisions on their UCAS applications and continuing in British Higher Education.

The Study Group University Fair is now a well-established event in the university diaries and a very important part of the Bellerbys College student experience. Feedback from universities and students is always hugely positive.

Bellerbys College London provided a team of student 'Ambassadors' who were a fantastic help to all on the day. Study Group’s International Study Centres provided Student Enrolment Advisors, and several members of the International Admissions Centre, to counsel the external students and follow up leads for those requiring pathway programmes.

The next Study Group Fair is scheduled for February 2013.

Winners of Thailand's prestigious OCSC scholarship choose Bellerbys College

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

Five students awarded the prestigious OCSC scholarship by the Thailand government have chosen Bellerbys College for their A level studies.

The lucky five were selected from thousands of Thai students for the highly sought-after scholarship which covers the tuition and living costs for A Levels, Bachelors and Masters degrees in the UK.

Juthaporn Tantakul, Areeya Nuanuthai, and Intuorn Wangwongsakul will study at Bellerbys College, Brighton and Pimonpan Phurappa and Kanchanok Sirison will study at Bellerbys College, Cambridge.

Bellerbys College is recognised by the Thai scholarship approval body as a leading UK pathway provider and these students bring their impeccable academic prowess to Bellerbys College as their preferred place of study and pathway into Higher Education in the UK.

BELTE 2012 a huge success

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Despite the abysmal weather and transport problems, 317 people booked into BELTE on Saturday arriving from destinations such as Glasgow, Portsmouth, Folkestone, Cambridge, Oxford and London. Teachers from language schools, further and higher education, private and public institutions attended. The event was staffed by Study Group staff and 14 local language school Directors of Studies acting as stewards (courtesy of Sussex DoSA).

Embassy launches StudyTours

staff\ymills — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 Z

Last year, over 100 groups travelled to Embassy's worldwide study centres, enjoying the experience and learning English in the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia. To recognise the growing demand for group travel we have created the new brand, StudyTours.

Embassy StudyTours provide personalised, bespoke programmes based on the requirements of each group. This can be anything from additional trips and excursions outside of the classroom to specialised classes and teacher training. As with all other Embassy brands we still provide an excellent choice of accommodations including homestay and residential stays.

With a choice of 19 schools across 3 continents Embassy study centres open to any group with ages 10 and above.

Caroline Lucas MP, visits Bellerbys College, Brighton

staff\ymills — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Caroline Lucas is the only Green Party member of the UK Parliament. As a dedicated MP she spends a lot of time talking to the community in her constituency, Brighton. We were honoured when she came to visit Bellerbys College last week.

Representing Study Group and the educational sector, Managing Director for Higher Education UK, James Pitman, discussed the impact of current government policy on international students. The company and sector have significant concerns and Study Group are already part of a steering group on the matter. Ms Lucas met our top-performing students, who also mentioned their concerns and told her about their success in Bellerbys.

Through talking to our students and academics, we hope to have shown Ms Lucas how important international education is to Brighton and to the UK. We are one of many companies in our industry who provide quality education of national and international significance in our increasingly connected world. Since her visit, we have learned that Ms Lucas has tabled a question for the Home Office in the House of Commons.

ICEF Berlin 28th-30th October 2012

staff\kmaartens — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group are hosting two meeting tables for Language and Higher Education, as well as our B2B stand number 16 situated in the main foyer.

ICEF Berlin is renowned as the most important event for international educators and agents, as well as leading industry service providers, and is the world’s largest and most comprehensive international education focused networking event of its kind.

Last year, ICEF hosted 1941 participants from 94 countries worldwide. International educators had the opportunity to meet hundreds of educational agents from around the world. In total, 21,391 pre-scheduled business meetings were held, with breaks, social drinks and dinners allowing participants to conduct further discussions and develop relationships.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Heriot Watt University retains 'Scottish University of the Year'

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Sunday Times University Guide 2013 has rewarded Heriot-Watt University’s outstanding performance in the National Student Survey by boosting it to 9th in the UK and 1st in Scotland.

Heriot-Watt is the first university to retain its title of 'Scottish University of the Year'. The university jumped 22 places in the ‘Best university in the UK for student experience’ category breaking in to the Top Ten and putting it above Warwick, UCL and Loughborough.

The Sunday Times praised Heriot-Watt for its ‘focus on courses which are geared to industry and which have a professional outcome’ as well as its ‘alliances with oil and gas companies… and research collaborations with more than 25 countries’. This focused approach and excellence in research is why Heriot-Watt is also ranked in the UK’s top 10 for graduate employment.

Students at our International Study Centre can progress to undergraduate degrees in Business, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science as well as to postgraduate degrees in a range of subject areas including International Business Management, Renewable Energy, Construction Project Management and Food Sciences.

Australian Institute of Applied Sciences to stand out with a new identity and website

staff\ymills — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group is pleased to unveil a brand new look for The Australian Institute of Applied Sciences (AIAS). The AIAS has evolved during its near forty year history and the new look reflects the Colleges commitment to its core values of practicality, flexibility and approachability.

The new identity was an eight month long project, involving an in-house team of experts working closely with an external agency to develop both the new look and a complementary website. Extensive research was done with key stakeholders of the business to ensure that the new brand built on existing brand values whilst providing a fresh modernised approach.

The website whilst boasting the new branding, also provides users with a more friendly and easier to navigate experience. You can visit the website at www.aias.edu.au

This is a new beginning for the AIAS. They will retain their commitment to superior career outcomes for their students and flexible, supported delivery, but they will move forward with a new and modern approach.

Study Group announces two new Global Executive appointments

staff\ymills — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0100

We are planning for the future by investing in our senior leadership team. This will enable us to grow and secure our position in the market as the industry leaders.

New Managing Director, Embassy English, Jean Vernor.

Jean Vernor joins Study Group with an extensive business background and considerable experience at senior executive/CEO level. Working out of our New York office, Jean's impressive career so far includes being President and General Manager of a $200m division of General Electric where she led a successful transformation; CEO of a $100m+ global manufacturer with operations in the US, Canada and UK; and various CMO roles in the financial services sector including a start-up that grew to US$1.5b in valuation and is now part of HSBC. Jean brings considerable skills and capability in building and transforming businesses and is supported by an experienced team. She will be based in our New York office.

Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Yuri Narciss

Yuri Narciss is the newest member of our global executive team and will be based in Singapore. Yuri joins us from Google where he spent almost nine years working in a variety of senior sales roles in Germany, Australia before becoming Head of Strategy and Sales Operations in China. Prior to his experience at Google, he had a variety of sales leadership roles and advised global industry leaders on their marketing and digital strategies, including Unilever where he worked across European and Asian Pacific markets. Yuri brings an extraordinary range of skills and experience in combining the discipline, systems and processes of the Unilever business with the technology focus of Google.

Both of these appointments are set to further strengthen our position as leaders and innovators in global education.

Embassy English wins the STM Star Chain School Award 2012

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0100

We are delighted to announce that our English language chain school, Embassy English, has once again been recognised for excellence by being awarded an STM Star Chain School Award.

The STM Star Awards were held at the Hilton (Park Lane), London on Saturday 1st September. Held every year, the awards showcase the best in the industry and are always an important event for networking, fine dining and a bit of dancing.

Shortlisted in two categories (Star Chain School and Star Junior programme), Embassy won what is regarded as the most prestigious of all the Star Awards categories, Star Chain School. Voted for by agents, this award is a great achievement and a reflection of all the hard work put in by everyone in the Embassy Team.

Collected on behalf of Embassy by Sales Director David Anthonisz and members of the Embassy Sales team, this is the fourth Star Chain School award won by Embassy, more than any other schools groups in this category.

2011 STM Star Vocational College - Martin College, Australia
2010 & 2009 STM Star Chain School - Embassy CES
2008 STM Star Innovation of the Year - Embassy CES (Brighton Centre and new teaching technology, UK)

A New Look for Embassy

staff\ymills — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Since Embassy and the Center for English became Embassy CES in 1998, our Language Education business has grown dramatically. We made significant investments in the brand to firmly establish our reputation for using leading edge technology, high quality premises and premier student outcomes.

Reflecting this growth and a bringing more clarity to our market positioning, we have rebranded the Embassy suite of products and are delighted to announce the new name of Embassy CES is Embassy English. The innovation does not end there; the website is currently being completely redesigned to match the vibrant new logo, and together with newly branded brochures, is set for launch in early 2013.

Our sub-brands, Embassy Summer and Embassy Pathways, have also been given a refresh that fits within the overall Embassy English style. Our premier group travel product MW will become Embassy Academy, also with a distinguished new identity reflecting its exclusive positioning in market. A new product, Embassy StudyTours, will identify our group product for the rapidly growing market for year round programs.

Overall, this move to refresh the brands puts a more accurate visual representation in market andwill help to consolidate the existing strength of our highly successful language schools.

London Metropolitan University students

staff\ymills — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

We have heard with sadness the difficult situation faced by London Metropolitan University (LMU) students. If you hold an offer with LMU for an undergraduate degree and are unable to get a visa to study in the UK then you should contact your agent because we can:

Instantly consider you for a place at a top University in London or elsewhere in the UK
Match the standard London Metropolitan University tuition fee for your course
Provide you with a CAS within 24 hours of receiving the first tuition fee instalment

Places are limited so contact your agent now.

Study Group University Fair

staff\ymills — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Saturday 13^th October 2012, 12-4pm

Study Group is pleased to be holding its bi-annual higher education fair. The Study Group University Fair, in association with Bellerbys College, is the No.1 university fair for international students and will take place at the Park Plaza Hotel, London Victoria, on Saturday 13th October 2012.

The fair has proven such a huge success in the past, with more than 3000 students and over 70 UK universities attending the event last year. The next fair promises to be even bigger and better!

With 75 top institutions expected to attend and a host of Study Group staff to advise and direct attendees, the fair will be a unique and important opportunity for students to learn about studying in the UK. Universities that have already confirmed their attendance include the highly ranked Durham University, Lancaster University and the University of Surrey. There will also be seminars running given by select universities and organisations, and Visa advice will be available throughout the day.

Students will be able to talk to representatives from each university who are specialists in advising and recruiting international students. They will also receive counselling from Study Group Student Enrolment Advisers to find the Higher Education Programme that is right for them. Students that bring the correct documentation (SELTS, academic transcripts, academic certificates, passport and visa) may even receive an offer of a place there and then.

For all the latest news and information, please visit the website at www.studygroupfairs.com

The Park Plaza Hotel is a 4 star deluxe hotel offering exceptional function and event space and first class hospitality and service.

Park Plaza Victoria London
239 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London
SW1V 1EQ
United Kingdom

The hotel is located 2 minutes walking distance from Victoria Underground and mainline rail station, an ideal area for ease of access to transportation, food, and shops. Access to the hotel is via a drive through from Vauxhall Bridge Road through to Wilton Road.

International Study Centre Students Finish University

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Congratulations to the graduates of 2012

Graduation ceremonies were held over the past few weeks across our partner universities. Here are just a few of the many success stories.

Daulet Arisambayev from Kazakhstan. Studied the Undergraduate Certificate at the Heriot-Watt International Study Centre. Graduated with First Class Honours in BEng Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Hoi Lun Law from Hong Kong. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Sussex International Study Centre. Graduated with First Class Honours in BA Film Studies.
Mary Macharia from Kenya. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Leicester International Study Centre. Graduated with a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.
Ihsan Ilhanli from Turkey. Studied the Business and Management International Year 1 Diploma at the Keele University International Study Centre. Graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business and Management.
Ksenia Tkacheva from Russia. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Surrey International Study Centre. Graduated with a BSc (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Lan Tran from Vietnam. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Surrey International Study Centre. Graduated with a BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance.
Atare Mahmoh from Nigeria. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Huddersfield International Study Centre. Graduated with a BA (Hons) Computing in Business.
Bailing Li from China. Studied the International Foundation Year at the University of Sussex International Study Centre. Graduated with a BSc (Hons) Business Finance.

We wish all our International Study Centre alumni recently graduated the best of success for their future.

Olympic gold for international education?

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

As the Olympic closing ceremony marks the end of an undeniably successful sporting extravaganza in London, is the much talked about ‘legacy’ likely to benefit the international education community?

It’s not only the biggest sporting event on earth. It’s also the most intensive, widespread and impactful advertising platform a country could hope to secure. In this day and age of 24/7 news channels, sophisticated online streaming, content on phones and tablets, the Olympics has the ability to showcase a city and a host country like never before.

Much of the talk about London’s successful bid for the Olympics, secured in Singapore way back in July 2005, was about the legacy that the Games would bring in terms of regeneration, infrastructure and business. What might that mean in reality for international education?

The lessons from Sydney
It is generally agreed that the Sydney Olympics back in 2000 were one of the most successful ever. Twelve years on, The Sydney Olympic Park is a sophisticated commercial, retail, medical and education centre, home to over 130 businesses. One of those businesses is the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE), owned by Study Group, providing sport, dance and health education related degrees. A definite legacy success in terms of infrastructure.

From a wider international student perspective, the Games in Sydney appeared to have a genuinely positive effect. Warren Jacobson, Managing Director Australasia, says that international student numbers grew significantly from 2001 onwards.

"The impact of the Olympics was and remains a key factor in students' awareness of Australia and in particular Sydney as a destination, and many still cite the Olympics as their earliest and strongest memory of Australia. After the Olympics, Australia became easier for us to market as a destination for international students. We not only saw a growth in student numbers, we also saw an increase in diversity."

Athens and Beijing
The two Olympic Games since Sydney have rather different legacy stories. The 2004 Athens Olympics is currently epitomised by abandoned facilities and cracked pools. With the economy in a similarly precarious state, no one is claiming a positive legacy from the Games.

Beijing’s legacy was always going to be more about global perceptions of China than inward investment. All the buildings and infrastructure were designed to trumpet the arrival of China as a global superpower. Certainly the iconic ‘Bird’s Nest’ has become part of the tourist trail and is regularly used for international sports tournaments.

What of London?
James Pitman, Managing Director, Higher Education UK and Europe, says that he fully expects the Olympic Games to deliver a positive legacy for international students.

“The Games have been brilliantly orchestrated in the UK, showcasing London as the open dynamic, inclusive city that it truly is. Whilst we didn’t need to persuade the international community that this is a world-class city, we do want to remind students that it is a young progressive, exciting place to be. The Olympics will have supported that idea and I fully expect us to see an increase in applications to UK universities from all over the world.”

Annual Brighton English Language Training Event Set to be Bigger and Better than Ever in 2011

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This October will see the third BELTE event take place at the Brighton study centre. A popular, informative and free event in the world of ELT, it is growing in size every year.

Held for the first time in 2009, BELTE (Brighton English Language Training Event) is a non-profit event that is co-produced with Sussex DoSA. It gives ELT professionals the chance to see new materials, receive training from experts, develop CPD, exchange news and views, and ultimately go home inspired.

Taking place on the 15th October this year, the event includes an extensive list of exhibitors including such prestigious industry names as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press and Macmillan Education and Campus. There will also be 19 training sessions with a range of well-known industry figures, some of which are even flying in from Hungary and the US to attend.

The demand for sessions has been so huge that it has prompted a new series of Brighton Midweek English Language Training Sessions (BrightonmELTs). For the Spring term, there are ten sessions booked, one of which will include the first public UK appearance of Michael Swan, talking about his new grammar course book series.

Any donations will go to Building Futures, and will be matched by Study Group.

Charles Sturt University Receives Top Scoring for Graduate Outcomes

staff\kmaartens — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 Z

In the recently published 2012 edition of the Australian publication The Good Universities Guide, Charles Sturt University scores a maximum five star rating in four key areas.

The key areas are:

Graduate getting a job (undergraduate)
Graduate getting a job (postgraduate)
Graduate starting salary
Positive graduate outcomes

These ratings indicate that CSU students are well regarded amongst employers, who recognise the practical nature of CSU courses and understand that graduates can immediately bring valuable skills to their workplace.

At the same time, CSU students are also enjoying starting salaries which are, on average, higher than those of graduates from other Australian tertiary institutions.

These two factors combine to produce very positive graduate outcomes for CSU, with both aspects consistently ranked as highly important by students when looking for a university.

Study Group nominated in four Study Travel Magazine Star Award categories

staff\ymills — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Study Group brands Embassy, Bellerbys College and Martin College have been nominated for four Student Travel Magazine Star Awards, as voted for by our education agents.

Study Group is no stranger to the STM Star Awards having won a trophy every year since 2008. Yet again, in 2012 we are honoured to have our brands nominated and be acknowledged for excellence in business performance and provision of quality education. The awards take place on the 1st September at the Hilton on Park Lane.

This year, we are nominated in the following categories:

•   STM Star Chain School - Embassy
•   STM Star Junior Course for under 18’s - Embassy
•   STM Star High School - Bellerbys College
•   STM Star Vocational College - Martin College

Past Awards

2011 STM Star Vocational College - Martin College
2010 & 2009 STM Star Chain School - Embassy
2008 STM Star Innovation of the Year - Embassy (Brighton Centre and new teaching technology, UK)

You can visit the STM website for more details.

ACPE 2012 Olympians

staff\kmaartens — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Six ACPE students compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games

We are now 10 days into the London 2012 Olympic Games, which have been a fantastic success so far. Olympic fever has taken hold worldwide, including on the campus at the Australian College of Physical Education where six students (five current and one graduate) are wearing the green and gold for Australia.

The achievements of these students are testament to the success of ACPE’s elite athlete program, which assists top athletes to balance their sporting careers with their academic aspirations.

ACPE’s 2012 Olympians:

Olympics

Beki Lee (Bachelor of Sports Business) – Athletics - 20km Walk (pictured)
Jayden Hadler (Bachelor of Sports Coaching & Administration) – Swimming
James Magnussen (Bachelor of Sports Business) - Swimming
UPDATE: James has now won a silver in the Men's 100 m Freestyle Final and bronze in the Men's 4 x 100 m Medley Relay Final
Safwan Khalil (Bachelor of Health and Movement) – Taekwondo
Tobias Lister (2003 graduate in Bachelor of Physical Education) - Rowing

Paralympics

Simone Kennedy (Bachelor of Sports Coaching & Administration) - Cycling

Visit the ACPE Olympic page acpe.edu.au to read the profiles on each of these students and their latest news. You can also post messages of support for the athletes on the ACPE Facebook webpage*.

We wish all of the ACPE students the best of luck in their quest for gold!

*You will need to be signed into a Facebook account in order to post a message.

Embassy centre in Los Angeles doubles size to meet growing demand

staff\kmaartens — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Embassy centre in Los Angeles re-opened its doors to a fabulous new look and feel after a full refurbishment.

It was much needed as the study centre had reached full capacity with its 6 classrooms. Starting from scratch, the entire floor was rebuilt to ensure best use of the space for everybody.

Students and staff graciously relocated to the floor below during the renovations as walls were quickly taken down and replaced. The new modern layout means that the centre now benefits from double the number of classrooms, glass partitions and new flooring throughout, including bamboo in the hallways, more space in the computer centre, improved facilities for both students and staff, as well as new furniture.

Once the finishing touches had been applied, the team moved back into their new home to the delight of staff and students. Centre Director Francesca Andrews commented:

“The centre is now bright and airy throughout making it a pleasure for all of us to come here every day. Former students have already come back to check it out and are astounded. This is now the perfect learning and teaching environment that customers expect from Embassy and we look forward to welcoming students to our new home!”

Leeds International Study Centre in association with Leeds Metropolitan University

staff\ymills — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0100

International students can study in one of the UK’s most exciting student cities.

The Leeds International Study Centre is based in the heart of the city, on the Leeds Metropolitan University campus. Leeds is one of the most popular student destinations in the UK and has a low cost of living, affordable accommodation and interesting places to visit – in fact, Leeds is a great place to be a student.

The degree preparation courses leads directly to undergraduate or postgraduate study at Leeds Metropolitan University. Founded in 1824, Leeds Metropolitan University is one of the UK’s most popular universities and is a real favourite with international students, providing an unforgettable student experience.

With the first intake at the Leeds International Study Centre in September 2012, courses include:

Leeds ISC Foundation Year, with two routes: Business, Law and Social Studies or Science, Engineering and Computing

Leeds ISC Pre-Masters, leading to a range of Masters degrees including Accounting, International Hospitality Management, Marketing and more…

English Language Preparation

Onshore recruitment an open market

staff\ymills — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0100

A recent report by the Knowledge Partnership highlighted on The Pie News suggests that 50% of UCAS applications in 2008-2009 came from international students already studying in the UK.

Often overlooked in the past, onshore recruitment is an extremely important market for any education provider and this statistic shatters the estimates of 10% to 20% made by some universities. ‘Those applying from within the UK were also said to be twice as likely to “convert” into enrolments due to their higher level of English, recognised qualifications and greater finances.’

As part of the pre-university sector, these findings come as no surprise to Study Group. Lisa James Recruitment Manager, Higher Education UK & Europe has led the UK onshore recruitment team since its inception in 2010. “When I started looking into recruitment of international students who are already in the UK it became apparent, within a few months, what a large market it was. It was like going into a rock pool and picking up rocks, there was just so much potential.”

“When we first broke into the UK market, partnering with agents seemed the obvious thing to do and that achieved great results. But as the team expanded so rapidly, we saw there were other options too, and that’s how the Study Group Student Fair was born.”

The Study Group Fair is an event held in London each year that promotes all our products and partners in one place, showing the students who are already in the UK what is on offer. The data we receive at these shows confirms the Knowledge Partnership report, telling us that the students we recruit onshore come form feeder schools, language schools or other international Foundation year programmes.

This year the Study Group Fair will be held on Saturday 13th October 2012 www.unifis.co.uk

ISC Partner Universities retain top 20 rankings in The Times University Guide

staff\ymills — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Times Good University Guide 2013

With rankings being such an important factor for students wishing to decide where to study, the place a university ranks in any guide can change very fast. Hanging on to a top spot isn't always easy but it is a feat that has been achieves by some of our university partners this year. The Times Good University Guide 2013 rankings, published this week, give Lancaster University, the University of Leicester and the University of Sussex the same places they had last year.

We are very pleased for our partners, for full details of rankings and subject-specific rankings, please download this pdf.

Moving up! ISC Partner Universities perform well in the latest Guardian University League Table

staff\ymills — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Guardian produce some of the most well-respected league tables that students use to choose where they want to study.

Every year our ISC partners score high and this year is not exception. Lancaster University remains consistently in the top 10, ranked 7th in the latest tables. The University of Surrey, the University of Leicester, University of Bristol and Heriot-Watt University all feature in the top 20, with the University of Surrey and Heriot-Watt University gaining seven places, now at 12th and 20th respectively.

The University of Lincoln, the University of Huddersfield and Keele University have also made great strides and have now broken in to the top 50 (Lincoln is up ten places to 47th, Huddersfield up five to 48th and Keele is up four to 50th position).

For full details on the overall and subject-specific rankings for all ISC partners, click here.