CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Business Club (CBC) takes the initiative to invite industry stakeholders to help push Cebu as an international hub for “English as Second Language” (ESL).
“We have a huge potential, we will not waste this opportunity. CBC will invite stakeholders in this sector, like the international and local universities, the Department of Education and accreditation bodies to officially make Cebu as an ESL hub in the Philippines,” CBC president Dondi Joseph said.
Although, a good of number on schools and informal institutions are already into offering ESL, Cebu needs to quantify and provide a formal accreditation procedure in order to maintain high standard in this promising educational product.
While Koreans, Chinese, and Arabs have already learned the capabiliaty of Cebu in providing trainings in ESL, Cebu should no be limited within these markets, as there are a lot of nationalities around the world wanting to learn good English, specifically in Asian countries.
Positioning Cebu as an international hub has not gained much attention from the government, thus, CBC takes the initiative to form a group that would specifically push for this purpose. The group will be tasked to encourage key organizations and government agencies to participate.
At present, Cebu is attracting an average of 30 thousand to 50 thousand foreign students wanting to learn ESL.
According to Joseph, this number is expected to triple if a formal body will be created to promote this product to the international market, while providing a good policy and programs that encourage other nationalities to consider Cebu as their preferred ESL site.
Joseph said Cebu also needs to provide good and internationally at par ESL facilities, with proper accreditation from international accreditation bodies.
There is a need for Cebu to formalize this positioning, and proper implementation of programs, as well as security assurance should be reinforced.
While Joseph believes that Cebu’s strong economic drivers are tourism and ICT, positioning Cebu as an International ESL hub could provide another revenue generation channel for the provincial economy.
He said Cebu should not be complacent of the constant influx of foreign students to avail of a month or two-months long ESL programs here. It has to be sustained with proper marketing tool and programs that will support this potential.
Last year, the government of Geochang City, in South Korea has sent 25 elementary and secondary students in Cebu, for its university-based ESL program.
Geochang City, through its Board of Education has partnered with the University of San Carlos (USC) for one-month ESL program.
Other universities in Cebu such as the University of Cebu (UC), University of Visayas (UV) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) have also their own ESL programs in partnership with foreign schools.