• ETN Focus Agent Fairs
  • About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Media Resources
  • Contact
facebook
linkedin
twitter
youtube
email
  • Home
  • Internationalization
  • Diversification
  • Retention
  • Cross-cultural Management
  • Market Focus
  • Meet The Educator
  • Meet The Agent
BREAKING NEWS
INPS 2021 call
The number of Italian students studying abroad to double in 2021
Tips and tricks: how to recruit international students?
Italian students abroad: here’s some figures and facts
The Importance of attending agents fairs
ITACA: a great opportunity for Italian students to study abroad
INPSIEME, the scholarship for Italian students who want to study abroad
PON (National Operational Program): New Opportunities to go abroad for Italian Students
ETN Focus – Milan 2019 | Interviews
ETN Focus in Milan, September 6 and 7 – Here’s what happened

INTERLINK Language Centers: Students’ Needs Come First

Posted On 25 Oct 2016
By : ETN Focus
Comment: 0
Tag: Interview

Language schools play a key role in the pursuit of education abroad. International students rely on them not just to master the appropriate level of language they will need to use for their studies and in everyday life in another country. Very often, language schools also lay a crucial foundation for successful cross-cultural integration and, subsequently, retention of international students within the hosting institution.

interlink-logo2Today, we put the spotlight on INTERLINK – language centers that do an excellent job as the vital link between their tight network of partner universities and prospective international students. Read the full interview with Marshall Brewer, Executive Director of INTERLINK Language Centers below.

ETN Focus: Tell us a bit more about INTERLINK Language Centers?

INTERLINK: Established in 1980, INTERLINK operates ESL programs on four US university campuses and include Indiana State University, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Valparaiso University, and, opening in 2017, St. Ambrose University.

The success and experience of the student is central to our operations. Students’ needs come first. This means the teacher guides and coaches and does not lecture. Students learn by doing. Teachers design learning experiences that expand what the student can do, inside the classroom, within the university, and in the community. Learning is holistic and includes study habits, social skills, critical thinking, and other essentials of good communication, academic preparation, and cultural orientation. Learning is reflective. Students use knowledge and skills in new ways and develop the capacity to think clearly and critically. Learning is discovering and depends on the student’s motivation, creativity, goals, and needs.

interlink-students1E: What kind of international students do you look for?

I: INTERLINK seeks high school and university graduates with each of these qualities:

  1. who are serious about learning English (as demonstrated by their grade point average)
  2. who intend to enroll at a university in the US or elsewhere or who have graduated and will need English on the job
  3. who are curious, motivated, and respectful

 

E: What are your advantages of working with student recruitment agents?

I: In face-to-face meetings, agents can explain the features of our program more clearly than a brochure or a webpage would. The agent is a professional who understands the needs of her or his clients. We trust the agent to be focused on their clients’ needs and recommend programs accordingly. Finding the right educational institution for the client can be a challenge. We seek representatives who understand our distinct way of helping students learn and can identify clients who will benefit from the INTERLINK approach.

E: How do you support the agents you work with?

I: INTERLINK supports its representatives in several ways.

  • We listen and respond carefully, thoughtfully, and respectfully. We are all in this business together.
  • We provide clear and friendly personal contact for counselors frequently (email, Skype, phone).
  • We offer documents designed for use by the agent’s clients.
  • We ensure the relationship between INTERLINK and agent is a human one, informed by mutual needs and interests.
  • The online manual for agents provides guidance to counselors, their trainers, and supervisors.
  • We affiliate with high quality US universities that are known for their commitment to international education.

 

interlink-students3

E: How does INTERLINK Language Schools’ membership in the American Consortium of Universities strengthen the consortium’s international student recruitment and retention efforts?

I: Retention of students occurs when there is a good match between the student and the institution. Students who are academically prepared by INTERLINK have greater success and satisfaction with their degree programs as shown by their graduation rates. Unlike the INTERLINK experience, standardised tests do not predict academic success of students.

While each member institution conducts its own, separate recruitment activities, our schools provide the on-campus training that almost all international students need prior to enrolment. Further, most sponsors prefer universities with on-campus English programs. In this case, INTERLINK serves as an excellent recruiting mechanism. INTERLINK not only provides this attractive recruitment feature but offers programs that focus on preparing students linguistically, academically, and cross-culturally. The four university members of the Consortium rely on INTERLINK for intensive English training that is effective, broad-ranging, rapid, and inexpensive.

E: Do you reach out to alumni who have attended your schools? How do you follow up on your former students’ future activities and endeavours?

I: INTERLINK has a program newsletter that is shared with alumni. There is also quite a lot of social media activity, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, among others. Graduates who attend the university return to us and speak with new students and their former teachers. For them, INTERLINK has become their home away from home.

Even so, our alumni are well integrated into their universities. Most former students understand INTERLINK is part of the university and may not consider it separate. Alumni visit classes and talk about their university experience. After university graduation, INTERLINK alumni often refer their friends and relatives, describing.

***

All photos courtesy to INTERLINK.

  • google-share
Previous Story

WESLI Institute: Preparing Students to be Collaborative Leaders

Next Story

TASIS England: Thriving with Diversity Is a Huge Challenge

Related Posts

bath-spa-summer-graduation
0

Bath Spa University: International students are at the core of our strategy

Posted On 04 Sep 2017
, By ETN Focus
ef-education-first-header
0

Francesca Falcone, EF Peru: Breaking down barriers is our biggest reward

Posted On 31 Aug 2017
, By ETN Focus
latin-american-students
0

Jennifer Phillips, WESLI: Latin American students are full of warmth

Posted On 21 Jul 2017
, By ETN Focus
agents
2

Anna Harrison, Education Agent Reviews: US Universities Are Investing More On Agents Network Building

Posted On 27 Feb 2017
, By Renata Lorusso - ETN Focus

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

banner

Stay Focused

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Upcoming Workshops

banner
banner
banner
banner

Subscribe for our Newsletter

ETN Video Stream

Focus Workshop moments

Institutional Partners

coicec-logo yedab

Categories

  • Cross-cultural Management
  • Diversification
  • Internationalization
  • Latest News
  • Market Focus
  • Meet The Agent
  • Meet The Educator
  • Retention
  • Student Focus
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Uncategorized

Popular Posts

La Paz, Bolivia

Dr. Renetta Garrison Tull: The Jessica Effect and Gender Equity in STEM

2 Comments
maria-consultancy-header

Maria Consultancy: Visiting Institutions Plays A Vital Role In Our Business

2 Comments

Student Recruitment Agents And Where To Find Them

2 Comments

Contact us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2019 ETN Focus Workshops