Introduction to series
The Teaching English as a Foreign Language industry can be broadly categorised into 3 areas; TEFL, ESOL and EAP. But what do these acronyms mean? How does each differ from the other, if at all? What does this mean for the teachers delivering these courses? And for campaign organising? In a series of short introductory articles on each of these aspects of the TEFL industry, we will attempt to address some of these questions and discuss the implications for the industry, its workers, and its consumers.
This first article in the series gives a brief introduction to English for Academic Purposes (EAP).
International students in UK HE is big business
A recent report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Universities UK International in September 2021 estimated the value to the UK economy of international students in UK Higher Education for 2018-2019 at £28.8 billion, with an estimated net economic value of £25.9 billion.
The report found that in 2018-19 the number of international students studying at HE institutions was equivalent to 20% of all higher education students in the UK.
To echo the words of Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI: “the report confirms higher education is one of the UK’s greatest export earners”.
In other words, international students are big business. So, what do international students need to do to gain access to our prestigious education system?
International access to UK Higher Education
To be eligible to attend an under- or postgraduate degree course at a UK university, besides a minimum standard of general education, international students must also achieve a minimum standard of English language and communication skills.
The minimum standard required for entry onto a course is set by the host university; this standard varies not only according to the university, but also according to the degree course that the student hopes to attend.
For students who do not meet the minimum English language requirements, one solution is to do an EAP course.
What is EAP?
EAP, or English for Academic Purposes, is the term that broadly defines the branch of English language and academic skills that is taught to international students preparing to undertake under- or post-graduate study with a UK higher education institution.
From a teaching perspective, EAP courses are intended to help students achieve the minimum standards of language and communication skills required for entry to their degree course.
EAP courses are also intended to introduce students to a wide range of academic subject content, and academic skills such as critical thinking, and research. The overall purpose is to prepare international students for the specific demands and expectations of higher education study and academic research in the UK.
Delivery
Until recent years, EAP courses tended to be run and delivered directly by universities. In such cases teachers were usually employed directly by the universities. Increasingly, more and more EAP courses nowadays are outsourced by universities to third party for-profit providers such as Study Group, INTO and Kaplan, and teachers are employed directly by these providers.
EAP courses may be short intensive courses, known as pre-sessional EAP courses. Teachers delivering these courses are frequently employed on short, fixed term contracts and are referred to as pre-sessional teachers. Alternatively, EAP courses may be part of a wider ‘Pathways to Higher Education’ style sessional program where students can study longer term UK A levels, International Foundation, or International Year One programs, which include other subjects besides English. Teachers delivering these courses may be employed on permanent open-ended contracts, but it is more likely that they will be employed on longer fixed term contracts. These teachers are referred to as sessional teachers.
It is worth noting that international students who study on such pre-sessional and sessional Pathways programs are generally ‘guaranteed’ a place on their subsequent university degree program.
In future articles, we will consider some of the implications of working in EAP for Higher Education.