EC Malta named ‘English School of the Year 2017’ at ESL Language Travel Awards

Maltese-owned EC English Language Centres’ flagship school in Malta was recently named English School of the Year at the prestigious ESL Language Travel Awards in Barcelona, Spain.

Established in 1996, ESL is one of the industry’s leading study abroad agencies, originating in Switzerland but now has 58 offices all over Europe as well as in Panama and Colombia. The organisation prides itself on partnering with international language schools that meet its high standards of quality, and offer students the best languagelearning experience possible.

This year’s edition of the awards saw some of the top players in the language travel industry come together to recognise and celebrate excellence and commitment to a quality student experience. The nominees and winners for each award category were selected based on a wealth of feedback gathered directly from students and staff through- out the year. EC Malta was included along with several major education providers and claimed the top spot.

Commenting on this most recent achievement, EC’s Executive Chairman, Andrew Mangion, said: “It is truly heartwarming to see EC Malta, our first school, recognised with this prestigious award. Although we have grown into a strong, international presence, at our core we have remained true to the same family values that my mother initially established when we took our first bold steps into the international language travel industry. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful team at EC Malta, and the customer-focused leadership of our Chief Operations Officer, Jan Matthews.

Asked about the award, EC Centre Director, Ingmar Albig, remarked: “Being named ‘Language School of the Year’ is a huge honour for all of us here at EC Malta. As Centre Director, I really could not be more proud of our fantastic team, because without their commitment and passion for giving students the best study abroad experience, none of this would have been possible.”

In 2016, EC announced the launch of the Orange Carpet Experience (OCE), an award-winning initiative exclusive to EC which reinforces the company’s commitment to making every student feel like a VIP. The OCE ensures a high standard of quality across each core aspect of the study abroad experience, and comprises eight key points that work towards providing a positive and memorable stay. Before students leave home, they can log on to EC Online, a unique tool which allows learners to access resources and set personalised academic goals. Upon arrival at their chosen destination, students are welcomed by their host family or EC representative, who are fully briefed and equipped to answer any questions students might have. Once settled in their accommodation, students can meet their new classmates and socialise through a number of pre-course activities, allowing for a far smoother first day of class. Towards the end of their time at EC, students are given an opportunity to talk about and evaluate their progress and future plans oneto-one with EC staff. The graduation event is a time for students to reflect on their achievements and celebrate their successes with their classmates and teachers.