Applecross-based global education services group Navitas Ltd has announced a joint venture between its part-owned student recruitment business, EduGlobal China Ltd, and online higher education company, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
Applecross-based global education services group Navitas Ltd has announced a joint venture between its part-owned student recruitment business, EduGlobal China Ltd, and online higher education company, Open Universities Australia (OUA).
EduGlobal, which is 55 per cent held by Navitas, has agreed to a joint pilot project with Melbourne-based Open Universities Australia, to recruit Chinese students to study with OUA.
Students will be able to study online or at one of OUA's national partner universities, which includes WA's Curtin University of Technology.
Curtin is one of seven part-owners in OUA.
Full announcement below:
Global education services provider, Navitas Limited today announced an exciting new joint pilot for the Company's Student Recruitment division, involving EduGlobal China Limited (EduGlobal) and Open Universities
Australia (OUA).
In 2006, NVT acquired a majority share (55%) in EduGlobal as part of its
strategic initiative to establish a Student Recruitment division. EduGlobal, a
Chinese student recruitment business, provides Navitas with access to a major
student distribution channel.
Today marked the launch of a joint pilot between EduGlobal and OUA, called OUA
China. OUA is Australia's fastest growing online higher education service, owned
by several leading universities.
Under the agreement, EduGlobal will recruit students for OUA, leveraging the
flexibility of online learning in China. Students have the option to complete their
studies through OUA or, subject to meeting eligibility criteria, complete their
studies in Australia through one of OUA's partner universities.
"We've worked hard to find the right partner and the right model to move into
China. In EduGlobal, we have found a partner with the experience and capacity
to make this initiative work for students and for us, while also supporting the
existing initiatives of our shareholders," said OUA CEO Stuart Hamilton.
"We'll see the first students joining us in August, so it won't take long to get a
clear picture of the future of the Chinese market."
"This is the future of transnational education and will create a strong pathway for
Chinese students into Australia or enable students to finish their degrees in China
in a complementary way," said EduGlobal CEO David Shi.
"OUA is a growing force in higher education in Australia and we hope to grow its
presence in China and for it to be a more widely accepted way of delivering
qualified students into Australian Universities."
OUA China presents a new model for transnational student recruitment into
Australian higher education. Both partners have contributed equally to the joint
pilot, significantly reducing risks and costs previously problematic for Australian
institutions involved in traditional in-country agent-fee models.
Navitas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rod Jones, said the joint pilot with OUA fits
well with the Company's strategic plans for growing the Student Recruitment
division.
"We have previously discussed plans to expand the reach of our existing
recruitment efforts, especially through EduGlobal which is a key business unit
within the division," said Mr Jones. "Today's agreement with OUA is an excellent
opportunity for us to enter the online education space which complements our
existing pathway programs."
NVT offers student recruitment services for universities and other educational
institutions in Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, the United States
and most recently India.
The first students to join OUA as generated by OUA China are expected as early
as August.
