I get there and get home? How many other teachers are in the city and where they are from? Who is the head and where did they come from?” According to Fryzicka, the current most popular
destination is the Middle East, with its currency spreading beyond Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Qatar. “Just because a destination is popular doesn’t mean it is the best place for teachers though. If they are not working in the premier school in the city, it might be worth looking elsewhere.” Saudi, too, is attracting more interest. “Ten years ago
if I had approached somebody about a job in Saudi, they wouldn’t have taken the call, but it has made some amazing hires recently because it is showcasing the progress it is making.” Although China is still struggling to attract teachers
post-Covid, Diane Jacoutot of Edvectus expects that to change. “Teachers are financially motivated and China has the golden combination of high salaries and low cost of living.”
“flexible and agile” about what is happening in the world, for example embracing AI and VR and thinking about how they can work in the curriculum. “Go out and look at potential partnerships that can add something different,” she says. “For example, if you want to be a sustainable school, don’t just look at what other schools are doing, but look at sustainability in industry and add that to curriculum.”
7. THINK ABOUT TAKING OVER AN EXISTING SCHOOL Working with an existing school can be a faster way to gain a presence in another territory, but there are advantages and disadvantages. Reigate Grammar International successfully took over the Multinational School in Riyadh in 2022, working as a partnership, and rebranded it. “The numbers went up from about 350 to 400 to over 1,000 in 18 months”, says Sean Davey, managing director of Reigate School International, which also operates schools in China and Vietnam. It doesn’t work for everyone though, cautions RSAcademics’ Russell Speirs. “The acquirer has to perform a difficult balancing act: on the one hand, they will want to retain all that is good about the school and on the other hand, they will want to start the difficult task of introducing structures and systems that are in line with the ‘mothership’. Get either side of the balance wrong and you lose the goodwill of stakeholders or damage the brand.”
8. CONSIDER HOW ATTRACTIVE YOUR LOCATION IS FOR TEACHERS Competition for the best teachers is tough and not all destinations are equal in their eyes. Direct flights, opportunities for CPD, career progression and good accommodation are key. According to school recruitment specialist Monika Fryzicka, pre-empting the questions teachers are likely to ask is a useful way of analysing a destination. “The things they want to know are: how do
9. LOOK AT DEMAND, GROWTH & SUPPLY Traditionally, markets like Dubai and Singapore have been driven by expats, but increasingly it is locals in countries like Saudi who are looking for a high-quality British-style education. “Looking at supply is important too,” says Assomull.
If there is a lot of vacant capacity, then it will be much more competitive to enter the market. “Explore the size of the market and potential for growth and enrolment growth. The ability to increase fees without government interference is critical because it reflects revenue and allows your partner to reinvest in the school.”
10. BE RESILIENT The last word goes to LEK’s Ashwin Assomull. “Resilience is critical. The successful markets have remained strong through Covid and economic downturns, so make sure your partner is in it for the long haul.”
EDUCATION EVENTS COMING IN 2024
Global mobility insights for schools & the international education sector – Spring 2024
Talent of the future – October 2024
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GLOBAL EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL GROWTH
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