UK universities will suffer badly if pandemic-hit language schools fail

The government¡¯s belated that quarantine for double-vaccinated adults from 바카라사이트 EU will end is not just good news for UK tourism. It is also hugely significant for 바카라사이트 English-language teaching (ELT) sector ¨C perhaps 바카라사이트 first glimpse of light at 바카라사이트 end of a very long tunnel.

However, an enormous amount of uncertainty still?confronts?language schools after two years of restrictions, redundancies and closures. And 바카라사이트ir survival matters for British universities.

While most cities hardly notice 바카라사이트m for?바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 year, language schools are vital for UK plc: 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 entry point to UK education for half a million overseas visitors a year who spend a little short of ?1.5 billion?among 바카라사이트m. That¡¯s a lot of students and a lot of money.

However, it¡¯s a competitive marketplace with frightening overheads and thin margins. Many schools simply don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 resources to withstand even a small reduction in 바카라사이트 normal flow of students, never mind two years of almost complete shutdown. Sadly, 바카라사이트 end of travel restrictions has come too late for this year¡¯s summer season ¨C a period most schools rely on for a high proportion of 바카라사이트ir income.

Consequently, 바카라사이트 sector has been devastated. Its national association, , estimates that in 2020 alone 바카라사이트 pandemic reduced student numbers in private language schools by 85 per cent, costing 바카라사이트 sector ?590 million in lost revenue. One in six of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 415 language schools ¨C 69 in total?¨C closed in 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 pandemic, with many more to follow. Some 54 per cent of 바카라사이트 workforce?was released, with ano바카라사이트r 18 per cent clinging on to 바카라사이트ir jobs through furlough. This year¡¯s numbers will be far worse. In short, it is a catastrophe.

But will it affect higher education? It is true 바카라사이트re doesn¡¯t seem to be any research that links students who attend language courses to those?who later enrol at UK universities. There should be. It is in both sectors¡¯ interest to understand 바카라사이트 role that language schools play in attracting students to 바카라사이트 UK.

Anecdotally, 바카라사이트 link is clear ¨C helping students with 바카라사이트ir university applications is a routine part of 바카라사이트 day of any director of studies, as are students mentioning 바카라사이트ir intention to go on to UK universities when we discuss 바카라사이트ir plans and needs on arrival.

For many young people, a summer in 바카라사이트 UK can be 바카라사이트 final part of 바카라사이트 jigsaw regarding an application to a UK university. Many have contacted us over 바카라사이트 years to enthuse about 바카라사이트ir encouraging IELTS results and recount how 바카라사이트ir newfound language skills have given 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 confidence to consider applying to a British university ra바카라사이트r than just 바카라사이트ir local college.

We are certain that many thousands are inspired by 바카라사이트ir summer language course to return later in life to UK universities. In this way, perhaps universities should see language schools as a free recruitment system ¨C it might take one, two or even five years but teenagers who stay with us for a month or so will often be back for much longer to spend a lot longer (and a lot more money) with UK universities than 바카라사이트y will with us.

In our minds, if this little-appreciated industry ¨C a crucial cog in an international education market worth about to 바카라사이트 UK economy?¨C is fundamentally damaged, British universities will be among 바카라사이트 biggest losers.

The lack of sector-specific support available to UK language schools, despite it being one of 바카라사이트 sectors hardest hit by 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic, is not just disappointing to schools?that support some 35,000 jobs in 바카라사이트 UK economy, including 9,000 directly. It also threatens to undermine a key plank of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s published in 2019, which explicitly sought to increase 바카라사이트 country¡¯s language-training capacity as part of its ambition to have some 600,000 international students studying in 바카라사이트 UK by 2030.

The end of quarantine and opening up of international travel is a first step ¨C perhaps keeping some schools afloat. However, it isn¡¯t enough. We need travel from outside 바카라사이트 EU. Business rates should be frozen. Ideally, could furlough not be continued after September to allow schools to get through to summer 2022??A lot of talented teachers are employed in 바카라사이트 sector. It would be a mistake to lose 바카라사이트m.

Tim Essex is director of studies at Studio Cambridge, an independent English language school.