The SGI Business Development Manager, Linda Colney (see a short video about Linda’s llife in London here) recently attended the BOSSA ‘Chinese Study Abroad Agency Roadshow’ to help attract more students from China to SGI London.
The Beijing Overseas Study Service Association (BOSSA) consists of 69 different educational organisations specialising in recruiting Chinese students for study in other countries outside of China.
Did you know that over 140,000 people from China come to study in the UK every year?
In 2013, BOSSA members were responsible for helping 175,547 Chinese students find study places around the world (which is approximately one third of the total number of Chinese overseas student market). From those students, the top two destinations were the USA and the UK with 25% choosing Britain to improve their English skills.
Linda met 11 agents from China (see picture) at the fair and she said that: “It was a very productive fair with lots of highly-professional and well-established agents. It was very interesting to hear about some of the issues that education agents are facing in China at the moment. There are a number of fraud agents in China and the licensed agents are fighting against this problem. I was told that there are around 1000 unlicensed and unregistered agents in China. In fact, since the year 2000, there have only been 426 agencies that are officially licensed. So, the advice is definitely for Chinese students to confirm that their agents have proper official accreditation before booking an English course in London with them.”
Linda also found out from the agents some interesting information about why Chinese students choose the UK and London as a preference for English courses.
- The UK is a top choice because after Chinese students complete an English course here, they have a much better chance of finding a good job when they return home.
- 70% of people who study abroad come from major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai
- 60% of students who go abroad use an agent to help them select a foreign school.
- Human Resources departments in Chinese companies always check the university on a CV, but also the internship program that a student has completed – it can be a big advantage to do an internship in an English speaking country such as England.
You can contact Linda Colney in the SGI London office to find out our licensed Chinese agency partners to secure a safe booking for your English lessons with us here in central London.
Email: lcolney@stgeorges.co.uk
Direct Phone Line: +44 (0)20 7299 1712
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Wherever you come from in the world, did you know that you can pay now for an English course to study at ANY time during 2015?
Book now and pay before the end of December 2014 and you will only pay the lower 2014 course fees. This is a great money-saving offer for high-quality English lessons in an excellent learning atmosphere.
So, for example, you can pay now for a 2015 Summer School course, or come and study Business English (group lessons and one-to-one private lessons), Academic English courses for university students (like IELTS Exam preparation and University Foundation courses) and General English courses for all levels from beginner to advanced)….. the possibilities are endless.
Hope to see you in 2015!
