When Chris Bundesen says the University of Queensland plans to take its continuing education programs more and more into the community, she has 15 years of success to support her intentions.
Recently named one of two inaugural winners of the Outstanding Contribution to International Education Award by IDP Education Australia, Ms Bundesen has overseen the spectacular growth of a suite of educational programs ranging from TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) to continuing professional education.
Under her leadership, the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE) has enjoyed continuing success.
ICTE operates on a self-funding basis to provide English language and continuing education (community and professional education, extension studies, conference organisation) for international and domestic clients.
Since it started in 1981 with a $10,000 grant from the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Institute has grown to an international enterprise generating $6.4 million and providing a wide range of services both within Australia and overseas. ICTE delivered more than 28,000 hours of teaching/training in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) programs to 1800 clients.
It was the fifth largest centre in the world in the International English Language Test System, and administered 1801 tests. ICTE also co-ordinated and administered 1442 hours of teaching/training in community education to 1271 clients, and administered nine conferences with more than 2000 participants.
She said ICTE expected to complement courses on campus with more programs in the community, both in Australia and overseas.
'We are enhancing emphasis on the University going out into the community, not just relying on the community coming to the University,' Ms Bundesen said.
'The world of education is changing to one of life-long learning and we are changing with it to meet our clients' needs.'
Ms Bundesen said ICTE was just starting from the point of flexible delivery options and diversification and had huge potential markets in Australia and overseas.
'Our research on offshore and Internet course delivery programs indicates they are likely to have a significant impact in continuing professional education, English language training and teacher training and community education,' she said.
'We will offer opportunities for life-long learning in a non-threatening, supportive way, conducive to our clients' personal and professional development, and we will be expanding our delivery options and program and service ranges.'
IDP Education Australia chief executive Dr Denis Blight said the award, inaugurated this year and intended to be occasional, recognised an outstanding contribution by an Australian in the field of international education. Also to receive the award was Professor Tony Adams of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
'Chris received the award because of the leadership she has shown in the ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) sector and in international education generally,' Dr Blight said.
Ms Bundesen is chair of the ELICOS Association and a member of the boards of IDP Education Australia, International English Language Test System (IELTS) Australia, the English Language Centre of Australia in Bangkok and a member of the Council of the Australian International Education Foundation.
She is also one of three international advisers on the University of Cambridge Advisory Council, Cambridge Integrated Language Teaching Schemes.
Educated in Australia, America and Canada, she was appointed co-ordinator of ELICOS in 1982, as Director, TESOL Programs in 1987, and as Director, Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education in 1996.
Ms Bundesen said the Institute's success was built on recruiting and keeping skilled personnel and through close relationship marketing and regular contacts with gatekeepers and clients onshore and offshore.
'Because we are in a self-funding position, we can budget risk capital and invest funds and resources into developing new markets and globalisation strategies - it's very exciting,' Ms Bundesen said.
'Australia because of its geographical proximity to Asia can capitalise on significant potential opportunities using professional training through offshore and flexible delivery.
'We are also developing new markets in non-traditional geographical regions throughout Europe and South America and expect results in the next few years.'
Ms Bundesen said ICTE's recent external achievements included winning a UNESCO consultancy contract in North Korea at Pyong Yang and a United Nations training contract in Vietnam.
ICTE currently holds Japanese and Korean Ministries of Education program contracts, the copyright licensing of distance courses to the Open University of Hong Kong, and domestic and international contracts in institutional, corporate and government commercially competitive environments.
In 1995 ICTE was selected for a scholarship for the King's Royal Projects in Thailand, and was a finalist with special mention in the Queensland Premier's Export awards, ahead of whole institutions. This month it won the Tourism and Hospitality category in the Quest Publications' Business Achievers Awards. ICTE is currently undergoing ISO-9001 quality assurance accreditation as part of its international profiling.
For further information, contact Ms Bundesen, telephone 07 3365 6500/07 3365 6565.
