Throughout the year International Connections Consulting (ICC) has been fine tuning and improving their web site in order to meet the needs of  their clients (businesses, organizations, schools, students, and teachers).  ICC specializes in identifying quality educational programs to fulfill the needs and interests of our clients.  We offer our patrons many complementary services to attract attention to their business,
organization, or school. 

Here are some of the complementary services that ICC offers: 

• Free Educational Advising 
• Self Service Event Calendar 
• Self Service Resource Directory 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Additionally, we offer several services that enhance all of the above. 

• Downloadable Promotion Flyers 
• On-going Marketing 
• Global Presence 
• Advertising Opportunities 
• On-line Conferencing 
• Audio/Video 
• Chat Rooms 

Free Educational Advising is available to anyone who is interested in finding a high quality program of study in almost any field throughout the world.  To get started all you have to do is complete  ICC's Contact Form with as much detail as possible and the search begins.  You will be asked a series of questions to ensure that you are sincerely interested and serious about  obtaining the necessary information and being connected with the schools once all pertinent information is obtained.  Its just that simple. 

Self Service Global Event Calendar provides information about various conferences and special events around the world.  ICC selects certain events that will appeal to their audience and list them complementary.  If any of our patrons are interested in listing an event or suggesting an event, you can contact International Connnections Consulting for details.  Once ICC recieves your information, they will review it and decide if they will list it complementary or charge a minimal fee for posting.  All conferences/events will have to be consistent with ICC's mission statement. 

Self Service Resource Directory provides a wide variety of  information to the world regarding cultural information, education, funding, scholarships, specialized programs, etc. This allows our clients to obtain additional information to further assist them with their education programs, vacations, business opportunities, teaching material, etc.  If you are interested in listing in the directory or obtaining more information contact ICC. 

Each month International Connections Consulting tries to feature their clients, schools, special events/conferences that ICC may participate in or that would be of interest to our patrons in the International Connections Consulting Newsletter.  This allows our clients, schools, to showcase their school and have it be featured for one month and then placed in our Newsletter Archives for viewing after the month ends.  When students express an interest in an institution, ICC can then refer them to the article and based on the information the potential student can decide if they would like to attend the school or find out more about their programs.  The clients can then complete ICC's contact form and the process begins.  The newsletter is also an ideal vehicle to advertise related products to the world with an audience that includes businesses, organizations, schools, students, and teachers.  Contact ICC for details. 

Spread the word.  ICC has made it easy for you to spread the word about International Connections Consulting and all their services by providing you with downloadable flyers with tear offs.  Print one today and hang it up in your office, school, employee cafeteria, or anywhere someone might be interested. 

One of the great things about ICC is the continous on-going marketing that is done monthly by e-mail, fax, direct mail, flyer distribution, word of mouth, conferences, etc.  Our clients receive maximum exposure to the world.  By advertising with us in our Event Calendar, Newsletter, or Resource Directory, you get a built in Promotion Campaign that runs all year long. 

Last but definitely not least, International  Connections Consulting is currently developing on-line conferencing tools  and services.  These tools and services will foster the interaction necessary between ICC clients. ICC will make available  to its clients streaming audio and video tools, chatrooms  and message boards to support on-line conferencing suites.  These rental suites will allow  clients to conduct on-line on-demand training, interviews, presentations and forums. These tools and services will be made available in in the first quarter 2000.

ALPHE BRINGS THE LANGUAGE TRAVEL INDUSTRY 
TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF

Each year the Language and Education Travel Industry has been growing at a steady pace for associations, agents, businesses, educational institutions, and students.  Hothouse Media puts on the Agents Language Providers Higher Education (ALPHE) Workshop to bring together all of these entities under one roof to facilitate meetings, business alliances and future collaborations. 

Hothouse Media offers a wide range of  products such as  the Language Travel Magazine, which was recently nominated for the PPA International (Business and Professional) Magazine of the Year; the Education Travel Magazine, a quarterly education publication; Language World, an annual student and teacher magazine; the ALPHE Workshop, an annual industry event for education agents and providers; and the Language Travel Phone Card. 

Mr. Scott Wade (SW), Director of Hothouse Media, gave International Connections Consulting (ICC) a list of reasons why participants attend the ALPHE workshops. 

ICC:    "What is your role at Hot House Media?  How long have you been at this  organization?  (any other background information that you wish to provide)." 

SW:     I am the Director and have run the company since the early 90's. ALPHE is a Hothouse Media team event, put on for the first time in 1998." 

ICC:    "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for conference participants to attend ALPHE?  What makes  ALPHE unique?" 

SW:     "The atmosphere, which is organised and professional. You will see in many of the participant's comments that the atmosphere is mentioned. This is because the Hothouse Media team know the language and education industry and have a special interest in the educators and agents that attend the workshop." 

ICC:    "Explain the purpose/activities/workshops?" 

SW:     "ALPHE is where educators and agents/student recruiters can meet in the hope of establishing new business relationships." 

ICC:    "What is your criteria for evaluating conference participants/exhibitors/etc.?  location?  quality?  organization type?  etc?" 

SW:     "The concept of face-to-face meetings between agents and educators is not a new one. IALC, the international association of language centres, has been running a very professional workshop since the mid-eighties, offering agents the opportunity to meet a mixed international group of high-quality language schools. The Marketing English in Ireland group runs an excellent workshop, that we have attended since its inception in 1996, and which is an ideal event at which to meet English language schools in Ireland. The longest running workshop is, of course, the Arels Workshop, and it will always be the premier showcase for British Council recognised English schools in Britain.  ALPHE is a different workshop with several aims.  One aim is to bring together all the businesses and associations who work in language and education. It doesn't matter if you are a one-teacher language school or the biggest university in the USA, it doesn't matter if you are a member of an association or an independent operator who offer quality programmes and want to meet agents, you are welcome at ALPHE. 

A second aim is to encourage interaction between language schools, high schools and universities. 

The language and education travel industry is huge, but often it doesn't get the recognition it deserves from world leaders. In Australia, education and training is the sixth-biggest export earner, while, for the UK, Asia alone brings in £300 million. Often it is  the self-regulation and self-promotion of our industry that attracts the attention and earns the respect of decision makers, and the best way to gain attention is by working together with those that may sometimes be your competitors - agents with other agents, schools with other schools, agents with schools, associations with associations and workshops with workshops. 

This is the third aim of ALPHE- to encourage all those involved in language and education travel to work together to promote the industry as a whole. This is why one can meet representatives from associations 
at ALPHE, unlike at most other workshops. Associations play a very important role, of binding together members who are in most respects competitors, of promoting the members through professional
marketing and of guaranteeing quality services. 

At ALPHE, the representatives of associations such as IALC, AAIEP and MEI can meet agents and educators and explain the aims and goals of their association. They can also meet other associations, leading, perhaps, to better international co-operation and understanding in a very competitive market. 

ALPHE will play a role in helping us to find ways of working together, so that we may face, as a united industry, the challenges that lie ahead." 

ICC:     "We would like to thank Mr. Scott Wade for the interview." 

Some of  organizations and schools participating in the conference are Centre of  English Studies in Ireland, ILO-International Language Organisation in France, Oxford House College in the UK, Sociedad Hispano Mundial in Spain, SUREUROPA, ESCUELA DE ESPANOL in Spain, The Heart of  England Language School in UK, and The Homestay Providers Network in the UK just to name a few. 

International Connections Consulting's  President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Scott Wade, Director of  Hothouse Media, for providing all the information for the article.  If you would like more information about future ALPHE conferences, contact Mr. Scott Wade, Director, Hothouse Media Ltd, 33 Riding House Street, London, W1P 7 PG, England, Phone +44 171 436 3502, Fax +44 171 436 3503, E-mail scott@hothousemedia.com, Web Site http://www.hothousemedia.com. 

Here's what some of  last years attendees have to say about the ALPHE Conference. 

 - "I really enjoyed the relaxed but busy atmosphere of this workshop." 
(Matin Schatzmann @ Credit Suisse)

- "I would like to take part in Alphe next year" 
( Sirina Serebriakova @ Agency Efes) 

- "We found Alphe very successful .. I'm sure that there will be some very good relationships from the workshop." 
(Sharon Curl @ CAPLS) 

- "Very well organised with a wide range of countries represented ... we have established an excellent number of contacts from whom we have now received positive feedback and we anticipate long term benefit in our recruitment of pupils." 
(John Jennings @ Royal Russell School) 

- "If you ask me was this conference a success for USIU-ESL? I'd have to say yes, Alphe delivered what they promised ... agents ... and I believe true quality agents." 
(Annette Bernier @ United States International University) 

- "Agents were writing appointments between other agents' appointments." 
(Annette Bernier @ United States International University) 

- " What was even more important, was that there appeared to be many more buyers than sellers; .. I was busy for the entire two days." 
(Ivan Filby @ Trinity College, Dublin) 

- "An excellent and worthwhile workshop with committed and genuinely interested agencies." 
(Stefan Adenet-Kaven @ Institut Linguistique Adenet) 

- "Very good ration of agencies to schools." 
(Diana Lowe @ International Colleagues) 

- I thought Alphe was very well organised. It was a very warm workshop, those that were involved were very interested in what was going on and that was appreciated." 
(Marco Righetti @ Educational Consultants)

For more information  please contact International Connections Consulting (ICC).

CAVENDISH COLLEGE LONDON MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE 21ST 
CENTURY STUDENTS

As we venture into the 21st century the demand for well rounded qualified students becomes greater than ever.  Not only are we faced with tremendous advances in technology, we are also confronted with the need for well educated and culturally rich businesspeople.  At Cavendish College London, they are in a prime position to meet this challenge. 

Cavendish College London (CCL) is located in the center of  London, United Kingdom in a prestigious building.  Offering the worlds most envied arrangement of historic buildings, museums, libraries, galleries, concert halls, restaurants, cafes, London provides an ideal location to study.  In order to meet the requirements of the arts, business, and related technology-based education, CCL has designed teaching (word) specifically to meet this requirements.  The main building, which is spacious and comfortable, makes it a pleasant environment to work and meet with fellow students.  Located close by is the British 
Museum and London University Library for those desirous of cultural pursuits and wishing to study.  Near by public transportation services give the students access to all of  London including Britains most renowned provincial cities and sites with historical significance and natural beauty. 

Mr. Keith Porter (KP), Vice Principal of  Cavendish College London,  offered International Connections Consulting (ICC) a host of reasons why students should take advantage of their wide selection of courses and programs of study. 

ICC:    "What is your role at Cavendish College London?  How long have you been at this 
organization?" 

KP:     "I am the Vice Principal of the college and have a wide brief. About half my time is teaching and the other half is spent on marketing and recruitment. I've been here as a full time member of staff for the
past 18 months but have been teaching here part time for about 8 years."

ICC:    "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for students to attend Cavendish College London?  What makes Cavendish College London unique?" 

KP:     "Cavendish College is a private college - one of the largest in London and all our students are from overseas and are fee paying. UK students would attend a local State college of further education since their fees would be paid by their local education authority whereas they would not if they came here. Most of our students are here by recommendations from friends and acquaintances and the remainder are recruited by agents. A few are simply passers-by who are in London on holiday or are studying  English Language courses at other, smaller, colleges and wish to continue their studies in other subject areas. We have about 350 full time and 400 part time students from 70 different countries.They prefer Cavendish College because we offer a wide range of vocational & academic programmes that are simply not available at most other colleges. We also restrict our class sizes so that students receive a great deal of personal support & assistance from the staff. We have a student counseling service to help with personal problems and with accommodation in London." 

ICC:    "Explain the language learning concept." 

KP:     "All students are given a diagnostic English Language paper when they arrive. This helps the teaching staff in identifying those students who may need additional language support. In addition, they are also given an 'English for Academic Purposes' paper which gives us an indication of the level of their study skills. All students are regularly monitored and tested - especially those intending to progress from here to UK University Degree programmes where their level of English must be more advanced. We offer a very wide range of courses - Business Studies, Marketing, Investment & Portfolio Management, Import/Export, Hotel & Catering Management, Travel & Tourism, Tour Guides, Fares & Ticketing, Secretarial Training, Art & Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion, Photography, Special Effects Make Up, Computer Animation, Multi-Media and Website Design, Computer Aoded Design & 3D Modelling, Systems Analysis, and Programming ( Visual Basic & C++) as well as a number of programmes in English as a Foreign Language. All students can attend additional English Language support classes for 2 hours per week if they wish - there is no charge for this." 

ICC:    "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency?" 

KP:     "Students are expected to have completed their secondary education and should be of Upper Intermediate level of English. We do run classes for absolute beginners. For most courses there is no academic minimum requirement. For some of the business studies programmes the professional bodies will have their own entry criteria which normally includes previous work experience." 

ICC:    "What type of  student do you accept?  What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student?" 

KP:     "Students come from a wide educational background and we would look for a positive attitude and also whether a student is likely to benefit from the course. The UK Home Office checks on the attendance of overseas students and we need to be sure of the student's motivation for being here before accepting them. We encourage applications from mature students who may not have traditional academic qualifications." 

ICC:    "Explain your teaching methodology." 

KP:     "Because many students come from very formal school & college traditions we have to be a little careful how we approach the teaching process. Students have to learn quite quickly that they are expected to discuss ideas, present their own findings and opinions and question much of what they are learning - many find this difficult at first and trust is necessary otherwise students feel that they 'lose face' if they admit that they are unsure of something or do not understand a particular concept. Teaching therefor often begins in a formal class setting but then students are expected to work on their projects & assignments in small groups supported by the teaching staff. The lecturers will normally provide summary handouts and will use a range of teaching methodology from formal lectures to small group discussions & 
presentations, videos, guest speakers and visits to workplaces, museums, reference libraries and so on." 

ICC:    "We would like to thank Mr. Keith Porter for the interview." 

International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Keith Porter, Vice Principal at Cavendish College London and Dr. John Sanders, Principal, for providing all the information for the article.  If you would like more information or to enroll, please contact International Connections Consulting (ICC).

A Note from the President
By Tasha Lewis

Over the next year, International Connections Consulting (ICC) will be working with various Editorial Consultants (including Publishers, Education Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Undergraduate/Graduate students, and a list of other professionals) with a wide background of expertise in order to give our newsletter a global and innovative approach to appeal to our audience.