Press Release. Tens of Thousands of Chinese Students Attend International Education Exposition How many will choose the USA?

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1 Press Release Tens of Thousands of Chinese Students Attend International Education Exposition How many will choose the USA? On October 16 the China Education Association for International Education Exchange officially opened the 10 th China International Forum on Education & China Education Expo 2009 in Beijing. The Assistant Minister of Education, Dr. Wu Degang was amongst the dignitaries welcoming 500 foreign universities who came to China to promote higher education to curious and eager Chinese students aspiring to study abroad. China, the country which boasts the largest higher education system in the world, opened its doors to international institutions in Beijing for two days, followed by events in four other key cities in China. In total more than 70,000 students will have attended the China Education Expo in the course of a few weeks! To put this in context, the total number of international students in US higher education in 2008 was approximately 625,000. Of the more than 500 universities present, 74 were from the United Kingdom, 56 from the USA, 53 from Canada, 36 from Spain, 31 from Japan, 28 from Russia, 24 from France and 19 from Germany. This disappointing underrepresentation of the 4,000+ US institutions is not an exception. In fact, the USA has never had its own pavilion at the China Education Expo in any year during its nine year history. This year would have been the same were it not for the ELS American Education Centers in China which, working with the US Embassy, organized and provided financial sponsorship for the USA Pavilion. ELS also provided travel grants to 23 US universities who otherwise would not have come to China to attend the Expos in Beijing and Shanghai. These 23 universities also participated in workshops where they met and trained educational counselors and study abroad agencies.

2 The President of ELS Language Centers, Mark W. Harris, was present throughout the event, ELS has established American Education Centers in new and rapidly growing markets for US higher education around the world to help our US institutions of higher learning to promote their institutions. The international students they recruit globalize US education and populate our graduate programs with bright young scholars which help our research. ELS realizes that US education has no sponsor to compare with the British Council, Australia s IDP, or Canada s government. Our company has been recruiting international students and has prepared them in English and study skills for success in our university partners programs for fifty years. We realize the international challenges to US as the undisputed leader in tertiary studies and we have decided to take the lead in helping universities to help themselves by facilitating recruitment at events such as the China Education Expo. In the last three years the ELS American Education Centers have represented US interests at nearly 400 international education fairs and we have provided grants to more than 50 universities to participate in recruitment in China, Korea, Japan, Turkey and Vietnam. ELS has also arranged and funded visits by more than 500 international student counseling agent representatives to visit and learn more about ELS partner universities in the USA. ELS American Educational Center member universities report a significant increase in the number of Chinese students enrolling in their institutions, more than 216% increase over the prior year on average. This is a direct result of their participation in last fall s ELS AEC recruitment tour. Of the 70,000+ Chinese students attending this year s International Education Exposition. How many will arrive at your university? ELS is investing to ensure the USA receives the majority. Key point of interest: The number of student visas issued by the United States to Chinese students has increased dramatically, and continues to grow. The number of international students from China in the US: In 2008, over 80,000 Chinese students studied in US institutions (+19.8% over prior year)! ELS Educational Services, a private organization and parent of ELS Language Centers and ELS American Education Centers, has been a promoter of US higher education since The global market for international education has become more dynamic and competitive. ELS saw the need for additional support and increased counseling quality in key developing markets for US higher education and responded by establishing American Education Centers where students could seek information, where universities could train qualified agents and counselors, and where US education experts would be present to support, promote and represent US education 365 days per year.

3 About ELS American Education Centers: Your Strategic Partner in International Student Recruitment International Visibility Quality Representation Localized communications Benefits to members of the ELS American Education Centers include: Have a permanent recruitment base in China, Turkey, and Vietnam. - Presentations to prospective students - Counseling Agent training - A base for alumni gatherings and also a base for visiting faculty Dedicated representation at student recruitment fairs by AEC employees. Ongoing access and communication to ELS worldwide network of authorized ELS Counseling Agents. Assistance in meeting and evaluating prospective sister schools. Have your institution featured on the USAUniversityGuide.org website and in the annual university guide. Participate in annual recruitment tours that include: - Workshops with authorized ELS Counseling Agents (screened, trained and qualified by ELS) - Up-to-the-minute market briefings from US Commercial Service and Consulate officials - Student recruitment fairs Display of your materials in AEC libraries and distribution among ELS Counseling Agent network. Assistance with in-country travel, hotel reservations, meeting arrangement, schedule planning, and communications. One-stop solution for your short-term study-abroad groups including classroom space, scheduling, meeting space, travel and hotel arrangements. Assistance with producing localized promotional materials in-country, at great savings to your institution. Join the ELS-AEC today and Increase your Enrollment of Qualified International Students.

4 About ELS Language Centers: Study English Explore Succeed Since 1961, ELS Language Centers has helped more than a million international students from over 140 countries around the world learn English quickly and effectively in order to achieve their goals. ELS Language Centers has over 50 attractive locations, which allows the student to live in every corner of the USA, from major metropolitan areas to beautiful rural university campuses. ELS offers the largest network of university campus-based English language instruction centers in the United States, and a wide range of English language programs. The quality of ELS academic program is so respected that over 600 US universities accept completion of the program (Intensive English) as fulfilling the English requirement for admission. Students can access a wide range of General and Academic English and Test Preparation programs, as well as conditional admission* to US universities via the ELS university placement service. ELS Language Centers offers its student a convenient and effective one-stop university preparation and application solution. For further information, please contact: Membership Information, ELS Counseling Agent Training, Representation at Student Fairs or Participation in Recruitment Tours Ms. Lisa Magliozzo, Director, Member Strategy Support Services lmagliozzo@els.edu 400 Alexander Park Princeton, NJ USA T: Joining the ELS Cooperative Network Ms. Susan Kassab, Director of ELS International Recruitment and Placement Services skassab@els.edu 400 Alexander Park Princeton, NJ USA T: ELS American Education Centers:

5 ELS American Education Center CHINA Mr. Dan Plaut, Managing Director Unit 7, 11 Floor, East Tower of Twin Towers 201 Anfu Road, Zuhui District No. B12 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District Shanghai, CHINA Beijing, CHINA T: T: ELS American Education Center VIETNAM Mr. Drew Taylor, Director of Client Services Suite 617, 6th Floor 29/5C Thach Thi Thanh Street, District 1 Press Club Building, 59A Ly Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM Hanoi, VIETNAM T: T: ELS American Education Center TURKEY Mr. Carl Holtman, Director choltman@els.edu Cumhuriyet Cad No 141 Kat 1 Da 1 Harbiye Ordu Evi Karsisi Harbiye-Sisli Istanbul, TURKEY T: