Continuing worldwide expansion
IN line with its vision to provide accessibility to quality education on a global scale, Smart Reader Worldwide has continued its expansion in Medan, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates and Melbourne, Australia.
Since its inception, Smart Reader Kids Medan has received an overwhelmingly positive feedback and strong support from parents in the community.
Offering the Smart Reader Kids English and Mandarin programmes, Cindyani Novida Putri – franchisee of Smart Reader Kids Medan, Indonesia – praised the Smart Reader Kids concept, stating that “the facilities are excellent and create an environment where children love to go to school.
“The overall design includes dedicated classroom settings for each individual subject, an audio-visual interactive room, outdoor and indoor play areas, fully air-conditioned areas, UV-sterilised and CCTV-monitored premises. This unique concept in Indonesia provides an optimum learning environment for children, one that is not only safe, but also fun and engaging as well.”
Having strong leadership skills, high self-confidence and a positive and vibrant attitude, she aims to expand Smart Reader Kids in Indonesia, envisioning aggressive growth within the country in the next five years.
Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the
Smart Reader International Language and Enrichment centre franchisee has experienced tremendous growth in the past year.
Starting off with just six students in February 2016, it currently has hundreds of students from more than 10 different nationalities.
Offering the Smart Reader English, Smart Mandarin and Smart Calculation programmes, franchisee Ashley Ong shares some tips on her success, emphasising that “staffing is as important as building a good rapport with parents.
“Educators must have a passion for teaching that is backed up with a penchant for creativity and experience. In addition, our loyal parents have played a major part in the rapid growth of our centre. We always aim to build a good rapport by addressing any requests and concerns raised by parents in a timely manner to show that we are dedicated to deliver our best service to our students.”
The biggest challenge faced throughout the operations so far was to establish the centre and earn the trust of a new market.
“Once we have gained the trust of parents, the snowball effect starts, rapidly increasing the growth and development of our centre,” said Ong.
She also credits Smart Reader Worldwide for its tremendous support in all aspects, whether curriculum- or operation-related.
In the United Arab Emirates, there are currently two Smart Reader Kids centres located in Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi, respectively.
This fun and innovative concept has been well-received by the community in the United Arab Emirates with further plans to develop and grow operations in the region.
Achievements in 2017 and beyond
Smart Reader Worldwide group executive director Datin Seri Datuk Dr K.H. Wang stresses the significance of teamwork in order to achieve success.
“Our accomplishments are attributed to all in the Smart Reader fraternity. I’m very proud of everyone to have achieved such impressive results and I hope we continue to strive for excellence in 2018,” she said.
In recognising the success and growth of Smart Reader Worldwide in the past year, the company was recently conferred awards by two prestigious associations – the World Confederation of Businesses (WORLDCOB) and the Malaysia Canada Business Council (MCBC).
Among the most influential business awards, the BIZZ 2017, organised by WORLDCOB in Bucharest, Romania and the Business Excellence Awards 2017 by MCBC in Kuala Lumpur, Smart Reader Worldwide was awarded as the “Inspirational Company” and “The Outstanding Leader in Early Childhood Education” respectively.
In the same events, Wang was conferred as the “World Education Leader” in the BIZZ 2017 and “The Most Illustrious Woman Entrepreneur in Early Childhood Education” in the BEA 2017 for her extensive contribution to the education landscape across the globe.
With a vision and passion to provide educational institutions for the children of Malaysia, Wang co-founded and developed Smart Reader Kids and transformed it into what it is today.
Referred to as the woman entrepreneur who has won the most number of awards in Malaysia, according to the Malaysia Book of Records, Wang has dedicated her career to ensure all children have equal access and opportunity to preschool education.
Furthermore, she has recently been accredited as an approved lecturer and trainer in Early Childhood Education and Care, which is recognised by the Australian Qualification Framework.
This opens up further opportunities to expand the Smart Reader brand and fraternity in Australia.
Reflecting back on the past 17 years as a franchised business, Smart Reader Worldwide chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Richard Ong said, “I believe that enthusiasm is the energiser for us. Our passion drives opportunities for improvement and growth for the future leaders.”
Having grown their brainchild from an English enrichment centre to an international multi-award winning brand spanning three continents has not stopped co-founders Ong and Wang from reaching for the stars.
It took them over three decades to be where they are and looking back, Ong shared that the challenges faced along the way in realising their vision are the most invaluable learning tools for him.
As for Wang, “I just believe in loving who you are and enjoying being the wonderful expression of life, and to me, a wonderful expression of life is seeing the children smile and get access to quality education which they deserve.”
At the heart of it all, it comes back to their very motivation of starting Smart Reader Worldwide – to provide a platform where children have the opportunity to obtain quality early childhood education.
■ For more information, call 03-6279 5555 or SMARTLine at 1300 885 555.
Visit www.smartreader.edu.my or its Facebook page and Instagram at smartreaderworldwide for details.