English Australia is pleased to present the Future of ELICOS interim report and want to thank the more than 100 colleges and over 240 college staff who provided their responses to our preliminary survey conducted in 2021.
The Future of ELICOS findings have raised a number of important considerations for both the ELICOS sector and regulatory bodies. These considerations are crucial as we enter the third year of the pandemic where a range of delivery models will still be needed, and as we observe the shifts in student and provider expectations about how English language programs can or should be delivered.
The preliminary research conducted by English Australia found that students and providers have come to expect some degree of flexibility afforded by online modes of delivery that the existing regulatory environment does not account for. Providers said they recognise that the existence of a strong regulatory framework for ELICOS enhances the quality and attractiveness of the Australian ELT sector but that extending provisions to incorporate online and hybrid modes of delivery is desirable. Further, reverting to pre-pandemic structures of course design and delivery would be both counterproductive for providers, given the scale of innovation and investments already made, and misaligned to the student learning preferences that have emerged during the pandemic.
The majority of respondents of the English Australia survey indicated that there are opportunities for the sector and government to work together to ensure that ELICOS remains attractive to international students, for quality and integrity to be maintained, and for the regulatory requirements to be in step with the innovations implemented throughout the pandemic.
English Australia will lead this dialogue and wants to now explore implications from a provider perspective should the regulatory framework include provisions for a range of modes of delivery for students located in and outside of Australia.
Your input into this process is even more valuable at this time in light of the upcoming Department of Education, Skills and Employment ESOS review consultation process, which is due to commence shortly as an outcome of the release of the Australian Strategy for International Education 2021-2030.
Next steps;
Complete the survey
English Australia is therefore requesting that providers complete a brief follow-up survey by no later than COB Tuesday 1 March. The survey can be accessed via this link. (Please note that this survey has now closed).
Following the completion of the survey, key themes will be discussed at State/Territory branch meetings throughout March with outcomes to be tabled at a forum with DESE, TEQSA, and ASQA in late March.
Provider views on potential changes to the regulatory framework and their impacts are crucial to inform the ESOS review consultation process and to enable English Australia to strongly advocate on behalf of its members should potential change be desired by the sector.