I would like to firstly acknowledge the support from our members over the past month. Your commitment to English Australia, as signified by renewing your membership, is greatly appreciated. I understand the pressure that members are facing, and we will continue to do everything possible to support you now and into the future.
July has proven to be another challenging month with many of us experiencing lockdowns and heightened concern around our steps out of these lockdowns. Despite these murky waters, plans continue to progress on returning international students to our shores and our sector continues to innovate, looking for new opportunities in offshore and online recruitment and course delivery.
Roundtable with Minister Tudge and key industry stakeholders
The Third International Education Roundtable was held last Thursday bringing together Peak body and State/ Territory delegates alongside senior representatives from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s (DESE) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Minister Tudge attended the meeting and noted the significant challenges that the industry faces with border closures, specifically acknowledging the state of the ELICOS sector. He confirmed the government’s commitment to returning international students via the endorsed pilot programs (NSW and SA) and other avenues aligned to broader community vaccination. Other discussions included consideration of a future Commission or Commissioner for International Education and presentations by QANTAS and GoPassport.
Administering the Innovation Fund 2021 grants
The assessment of the Innovation Fund applications has been a major task for English Australia over the past month with successful grantees presently finalising their work plans and executing agreements. I’ve been impressed by the range of activities that grantees are planning to expand their opportunities online and offshore and I’m looking forward to seeing how they progress over the next 6 months.
I recognise that these grants were not accessible for all colleges and that student numbers are declining further in 2021. English Australia continues to advocate for further support for our sector.
Government and regulator liaison
We continue to engage in meaningful discussions with colleagues in federal and state/ territory governments on issues facing our sector. Earlier this month, I participated in ASQA’s Third Provider Roundtable meeting for 2021. Discussions included an update on ASQA’s cost recovery reforms noting the agency is planning to transition to full cost recovery on 1 January 2022 implementing the fees and charges schedules that were consulted on in 2019. We noted the ongoing financial hardship faced by providers and that measures implemented by ASQA, along with measures by DESE, must provide some financial relief. We will circulate the meeting communique once it is published by ASQA.
Reviewing the Foundation Program Standards
This month, English Australia made its submission to DESE’s review of the Foundation Program Standards. This review presents a real opportunity to improve the Standards, particularly regarding online and offshore delivery, and our submission highlights these opportunities.
Many member colleges contributed to the development of our submission and I particularly want to thank representatives from Monash College, Macquarie University International College, UNSW Global, RMIT English Worldwide, La Trobe College and ACU. Your assistance set clear views on how improvements to the Standards can benefit members.
Continuing professional development with our Ed-Tech Symposium
Professional development has never been more important, particularly as we further refine our online teaching and learning. Our recent Ed-Tech Symposium brought talented speakers from across the globe to showcase best practice in delivering ELICOS online. As well as looking at unique ways that we can teach and learn online, the Symposium highlighted the importance of community and well-being in supporting students and teachers, something perhaps even more valuable in these trying times.
I would like to thank all the presenters and participants for joining the Symposium. I particularly want to thank Henno Kotz, Kirsty Phease, and Kelly Mannix our SIG convenors, and Sophie O’Keefe, English Australia’s PD Manager, for the incredible work they put into the Symposium.
The 2020 English Australia Conference
The agility of the ELICOS sector continues to show as we refine our delivery of ELICOS online and seek new businesses models. In response to these changes, English Australia has supported members by hosting a suite of webinars on technology-based learning.
Now, it almost feels like we are in a different phase of teaching and learning. We no longer scramble just to run lessons online but instead look for better ways to support and engage our students.
Having undertaken these incredible transformations, it is timely to reflect on our experiences, consolidating what we have learnt and looking into the future with new perspectives. This theme will underpin this year’s English Australia Conference.
This year’s Conference will again be wholly online and again be free for English Australia members. We know 2021 is just as difficult as 2020, perhaps more so, and English Australia wanted to recognise this. I encourage you to register for our conference. Make the most of your membership and enjoy the diversity of sessions that the Conference offers.
Providing timely market data – Quarter 2 Survey underway
I wanted to thank participants in our Quarterly ELICOS Market Survey for once again supporting this program. We are currently collecting data for the second quarter’s survey and our research partner, Bonard, has likely already contacted you. If you are yet to be contacted or would like to participate, please contact Svetlana Cruz from Bonard to register your data for this vital program.
Always available
With the continuing challenges that this year is giving us, I would like to again say that I am always available should you wish to raise any issues with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help.
