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demitrescou
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 122
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 Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:11 pm Post subject: Language centre in a university? Advice sought. |
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Hi,
A Chinese friend of mine working at a university has approached one of the directors to ask if we would be permitted to start our own IELTS tuition groups on university grounds and using university facilities. His intention is effectively to start a sort of language centre within the university itself. It would actually be a registered company.
Now the director has encouraged him to pursue the idea as he feels it would also be beneficial to the university. A fee would have to be paid to make use of university grounds.
My friend is trying to pull me in to be a part of it but I can't help feeling that it sounds too simple. Does anyone know anything about possible rules regarding such an enterprise? How on earth can it be ok to set up a language school IN a university? It just doesn't feel right.
Any input would be much appreciated. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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I can't speak for China, but I know of similar enterprises in Western universities - so much of my experience may not apply at all.
It's pretty common for outside educational enterprises to rent university facilities. Short TEFL course providers LOVE to do this in North America, as it adds a bit of (bogus) respectability to their substandard courses.
On the more legit front, there are also language centres which have independent business licenses operating inside several major Western European and Canadian universities that I know of. In most cases, these well-established institutions primarily serve the faculties and secondarily solicit contracts with outside businesses and government agencies. Faculties are basically approached by higher level staff with proposals for things like academic writing or presentations in field, and contracts are negotiated on a year-by-year basis. This can become, over time, quite extensive and well established - and credible.
I have no idea to what degree this might apply to what's being proposed in your own situation, but I can say for certain that there are precedents in Western Universities.
Last edited by spiral78 on Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Opiate
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| It's fine. A University near me does this exact thing. They lease out some classrooms to a private training center. |
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danasoverseasemail
Joined: 08 Jan 2012
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:51 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| I can't speak for China, but I know of similar enterprises in Western universities - so much of my experience may not apply at all. |
This is precisely where this post should have ended. Non-Chinese country rules, regulations, and laws do not apply in China. |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:49 am Post subject: |
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New England University in Australia has set up at least one such center in a Chinese University. I know of one college in Jiangsu that allowed FTs to set up a tutoring-for-pay service on-campus as an adjunct program to the existing English program. They didn't charge much.
It is possible in some cases, and it probably depends upon how much pull the FAO has and how cooperative the Chinese faculty would be in allowing such an operation.
I'd give it a shot! |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:56 am Post subject: Re: Language centre in a university? Advice sought. |
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| demitrescou wrote: |
How on earth can it be ok to set up a language school IN a university? It just doesn't feel right.
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Jiangnan University's foreign language department (English) is actually administered by Lambton, a Canadian outfit. There are other universities that have allowed foreign entities to run their English programs. |
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hochhasd
Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 422
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:35 am Post subject: Re: Language centre in a university? Advice sought. |
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| Miles Smiles wrote: |
| demitrescou wrote: |
How on earth can it be ok to set up a language school IN a university? It just doesn't feel right.
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Jiangnan University's foreign language department (English) is actually administered by Lambton, a Canadian outfit. There are other universities that have allowed foreign entities to run their English programs. |
side note: no longer called Lambton College. The name was changed to North American College,but Lambton's courses still taught. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| danasoverseasemail wrote: |
| spiral78 wrote: |
| I can't speak for China, but I know of similar enterprises in Western universities - so much of my experience may not apply at all. |
This is precisely where this post should have ended. Non-Chinese country rules, regulations, and laws do not apply in China. |
Dana, I don't claim to know anything about Chinese regulations and I made that very clear.
However, general information about ways that Language Centres can operate inside universities may be useful to the OP or possibly others; I'll let them be the judge of that.
Most people tend to feel that the more info they can glean from the boards, the better, even when it's not 100% applicable to their own situations. This is actually true of almost all advice or information given on an international board such as this by definition, and most participants don't have any problems taking what's useful and politely leaving the rest. |
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Opiate
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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You lost him there. |
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demitrescou
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 122
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you so much everyone for the input. I forgot how helpful people on these boards can be. As soon as I know more I will update this post and hopefully get more feedback.
One other thing maybe someone can help with is the visa situation. If this were to go ahead and I was to go to China to get the ball rolling then how would it work with the visa? I wouldn't have an employer so I would have to go over on a tourist visa. Then what? |
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shadowrider
Joined: 05 Feb 2012
Posts: 208
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| danasoverseasemail wrote: |
| spiral78 wrote: |
| I can't speak for China, but I know of similar enterprises in Western universities - so much of my experience may not apply at all. |
This is precisely where this post should have ended. Non-Chinese country rules, regulations, and laws do not apply in China. |
Attempting censorship again? Your Shtick is getting really old... |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Language centre in a university? Advice sought. |
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| hochhasd wrote: |
side note: no longer called Lambton College. The name was changed to North American College,but Lambton's courses still taught. |
Thank you for the update! |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| demitrescou wrote: |
One other thing maybe someone can help with is the visa situation. If this were to go ahead and I was to go to China to get the ball rolling then how would it work with the visa? I wouldn't have an employer so I would have to go over on a tourist visa. Then what? |
Whoa. You're wrestling with information about visas?
I assumed that you were already in China and teaching at a university. Where foreign entities have assumed administration of English programs, the foreign entities were recognized and accredited institutions. Somebody coming from another country with (I assume) no experience in China and no way of securing licenses and permits and no proven curriculum would not even be considered. From what I understand from someone who was a co-owner of a private school, she needed a Chinese counterpart and co-owner.
If you were already teaching at a university, you MIGHT have a shot at establishing a tutoring center with the blessings of the school's FAO and the local Bureau of Foreign Experts. (As I said before, I've seen it done).
Even then, somebody would need to have some sort of extra magnetism because eventually, word would get out to the Ministry of Education who would need to officially look the other way or give its blessing.
If you have never taught in China, forget this pipe dream PRONTO. Teach in China for awhile. If you have valid formal education, teaching experience and evidence of present or past licensure in your home country, you stand a shot at opening your own program. If you can do that, there's no sense in trying to work within an existing university. Just pay the required fees, find a place to conduct business, and find a Chinese partner. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it is doable.
You may find yourself negotiating for months or years on end if you don't know anyone where you want to start a business, ESPECIALLY if you don't know the language, have never been to China, and have no business experience in running such an operation.
For some strange reason, people think that China is the Land of Milk and Honey where any foreigner can do anything because he thinks the Chinese are stupid and believe that westerners are messiahs.
Ain't so on all three counts.
I don't intend to offend, but I think you need to get real--- SOON. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with Miles S (and others).
If OP hasn't had direct China exp then he/she is at a disadvantage.
My thought also when reading OP was: Are the Chinese promoters looking for a white faced 'show pony' to front for them?
No one seems to mention contacting the British Council whose service IELTS is.
Would make sense for an IELTS training centre to be in the same town as a test centre and to have a good working relationship with it.
Make an enquiry through the BC website as a starting point. |
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demitrescou
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 122
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Just to clear things up, I am an experienced esl teacher but it is not me instigating this thing. My friend who is Chinese and an adjunct professor at a Chinese university is the one trying to get this off the ground at his university. He would like me to be a part of it.
I don't have experience in China but as he is at the helm I would think it shouldn't be so tough.
Do I still need to 'get real' as you say miles or does this sound more realistic now? |
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