The Government today announced how the new UK visa system for students will operate from spring 2009.

English UK has today sent out to all its 376 members a 10-page note of interpretation and guidance on the new visa system and on applying to be on the Register of Sponsors.

Tony Millns, English UK’s chief executive, said: “Only language centres accredited by an approved accrediting body such as Accreditation UK can apply to be on the Register of Sponsors. And only organisations on the Register can issue a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’, a unique reference number which students must have to apply for a full student visa. So non-accredited centres will no longer be able to enrol student who need visas next year. This is good news for the accredited English language sector, which brings more than 350,000 students to the UK each year to learn English, generating around £1.5 billion in foreign earnings for the country. The low-quality and sometimes frankly bogus non-accredited colleges damage the reputation of the UK for providing a quality education, and that reputation is our key selling point abroad. There are many details of the system to be sorted out before it comes into operation, but we are pleased to have been closely involved by the Home Office in the design of the system and we will continue to work with the Home Office and the UK Border Agency on how it will be implemented over the next seven to eight months.”

We are pleased to advise that at the June English UK Board meeting, the following 8 centres were formally admitted into English UK membership;

Cambridge Language and Activity Courses (CLAC), Cambridge
English Language House, Milton Keynes
Linguacentre Ltd, London
LITE Bayswater, London
Purley Language College Ltd, Purley
Rands English Language, Hebden Bridge
Select English, London
Select English, Cambridge

To find out more about these new members, or indeed any of our existing members, please click on Course Search option at the top of the page.

For the first time since formation of the association, English UK now has over 370 members in subscription. While English UK remains the world’s leading language teaching association (with 85% of the UK’s accredited centres in membership), it also continues to reflect the diverse make up of the ELT sector in the UK. With private sector members ranging from small independent specialist schools to centres that are part of global groups, charitable trusts and independent study centres and around a third of the membership comprising of ELT departments in state sector universities and colleges, English UK truly is the voice for the English language sector.

PMI2 - Call for pilot project proposals:
Professional Development for Non-native speaker Teachers of English: The Role of College Partnerships

Many international partners of UK FE colleges emphasize the importance of English language skills in equipping their students for the global marketplace. A lack of English can also present barriers to achievement for learners studying for UK qualifications in their own countries and for those undertaking courses at colleges in the UK. Even more significantly, national, provincial and regional governments in a number of the PMI2 target countries are prioritising English language learning for their resident population and some are seeking to expand their in-country facilities. Meanwhile, the progression of the concept and practice of ‘global English’ has implications both for the UK ELT market and at policy level.

The PMI2 Strategy Group therefore commissioned English UK (with support from AoC) to undertake to implement a piece of mapping and research focusing on how international college partnerships could provide opportunities for professional development for non-native speaker teachers of English. The exercise is being undertaken by Otravista consultancy (www.otravista.co.uk).

As a result of the issues and opportunities arising from this research, proposals are now invited from UK FE colleges or private language schools working with named international partners, to undertake pilot partnership projects which will explore innovatory approaches and models. FE Colleges and private schools as lead applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other UK institutions (including HEIs where appropriate), but single institutions meeting the general criteria are eligible to apply.

A total budget of £60,000 will be available to support up to four pilot projects. It is envisaged that, subject to the receipt of high quality proposals, one of the pilots will be led by a private language school. Full details of eligibility, thematic areas and criteria for proposals and the selection process as well as the proposal form can be found by visiting http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/Policy_and_Advisory_Work/aoc_international/funding_and_partnership_opportunities.cfm.

Proposals should be submitted on the proforma (available to dowload at the above mentioned AoC website) by email to otravistamail@yahoo.co.uk by 17.30 on 12 September 2008.

A hard copy signed by the Principals/Directors of all the UK partner insitutions involved and post-marked no later than 12 September 2008 should be posted to:

Otravista
c/o English UK
219 St John Street
London EC1V 4LY.

Please note that assessment and contracting will be carried out by the end of September 2008 and that all project activity must be completed by 31 March 2009.

For the first time since formation of the association, English UK now has over 360 members in subscription. While English UK remains the world’s leading language teaching association, it continues to reflect the diverse make up of the ELT sector in the UK. With private sector members ranging from small independent specialist schools to centres that are part of global groups and around a third of the membership comprising of ELT departments in state sector universities and colleges, whatever type of provision agents and students are looking for, one of the English UK member centres will be able to assist.
At the English UK Board meeting yesterday, membership of the following 7 centres was formally ratified: EF International Language School, Oxford; Millfield School;   UKHELP4U; Exsportise Ltd; Rose of York Language School; Central Language School and Milton Keynes College. To find out more about these new members, or indeed any of our existing members, please use the course search on this website. http://www.englishuk.com/search/basic_search.php

The LTM (Language Travel Magazine) star awards as voted for by the general public and industry peers  has voted English UK as their Language Association of the Year.