ICTE-UQ wins top Australian export award

English Australia is delighted to report that member college, the University of Queensland's Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) has won Australia's most prestigious national education and training export award. The Australian Export Awards recognise exporters who have achieved sustainable export growth through innovation and commitment to quality.

ICTE-UQ progressed to the national award ceremony after winning the Premier of Queensland's Education & Training Export Award in October 2011. ICTE-UQ was presented with the award by Federal Minister for Trade, Dr Craig Emerson, at a gala event in Brisbane on 8th December.

ICTE-UQ Director Ms Christine Bundesen, who accepted the award, said she did so "on behalf of the Institutes" staff and colleagues, 100+ government, institutional and corporate partners, representatives and other stakeholders in more than 60 countries, and its collaborative English Language Institutes (ELIs) in Chile and Vietnam.

"Being named as Australia's top education and training exporter is a magnificent achievement. Education is opportunity. It's such a privilege to work in this field in so many developing and developed countries and to be part of the next phase of globalisation in employment and in education."

The award is a fitting finale to the Institute's 30th anniversary year during which it has celebrated its growth from a single English language program, delivered to a handful of students in 1981, to become a large, multifaceted institute which, in 2011, delivered English language training, English teacher training and Continuing Education programs and related services to more than 6,500 program participants from over 60 countries and administered in excess of 15,000 IELTS and TKT tests.

The Institute's "Power of Partnership" strategy has enabled ICTE-UQ to deliver a diverse range of regular and customised programs from its UQ St Lucia campus premises, across Australia and in offshore locations including Chile, China, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Oman, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Institute's strategic partnerships have also provided a platform from which to establish two collaborative English Language Institutes in Chile and Vietnam. Many of the Institute's programs have been delivered in partnership with UQ faculties, schools and divisions.

The Australian Export Awards are presented in partnership by The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

Source: English Australia