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Planet Learning bids farewell to long standing member of staff, November 2007

 

After several years with Planet Learning, Peter Mackey is moving on to a new challenge, and has accepted a position with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade).  In his new role with Austrade as their Senior Export Adviser, Education and Training, Peter hopes to maintain close contact with Planet Learning and his long standing friendship with colleagues and clients of the business.

Please contact Peter Harrison [info@planetenglish.com] for any contract/business development matters. Wendi Murray [support@planetenglish.com] will be the initial contact for customer and technical support.

Peter would like to thank all clients and colleagues for their support and friendship over the years and hopes to keep in touch in his new role into the future.

Planet Learning exhibits at 21st AIEC Conference, Melbourne

Peter Mackey demonstrates Version 4.0 of Planet English to a delegate at the display stand during the conference.

Planet Learning was pleased to be able to exhibit at the 21st Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) held this year in Melbourne. The Planet Learning team of Peter Mackey and Phil Henville showcased the latest version of Planet English and the recently upgraded suite of 'Planet Albums' LOTE products (featuring 'China Album - Learn Mandarin', 'Album Indonesia - Learn Indonesian' and 'Album Italiano - Learn Italian').

The theme of this year's conference, 'Quality and Outcomes: Fulfilling the Promise', was timely given the context of the IDP Student Mobililty data released during the conference, projecting a doubling of international student enrolements in the Australian Higher Education sector by 2025. The growing demand over this period will put pressure on capacity so it is essential that the sector manages this growth, while ensuring Australia continues to deliver a quality product to international students.

Planet Learning's Peter Mackey said, "It was a pleasure to be able to exhibit at the AIEC conference for the first time. It was great to see so many delegates at the conference, and to catch up with valued clients, colleagues as well as meeting new people starting out in the industry. Planet Learning hopes to be able to contribute to the quality of the Australian education brand into the future."

Planet English exhibits at 20th EA Conference, Sydney

 

Planet Learning's Peter Mackey demonstrates Version 4.0 of Planet English to prospective clients at the display stand during the conference.

Planet Learning once again demonstrated its support for the Australian ELICOS sector by sponsoring the 20th EA Conference as an exibitor in September 2007; as the company has done consistently over the past 8 years.

Planet Learning's Peter Mackey said, "It was a pleasure to be able to exhibit at the 20th anniversary conference for EA here at the beautiful Sofitel Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. It was great to see so many delegates at the conference, which is always a fantastic way to catch up with clients, colleagues and meet new people starting out in the industry. Planet Learning is proud of its long association with EA, which plays such a vital role in protecting and promoting the growing Australian ELICOS sector".

Planet English exhibits at NEAS Dos Conference May 2007

 

Peter Mackey demonstrates Version 4 of the program at the conference during one of the breaks

Planet Learning was again one of the sponsors of the National English Language Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) Directors of Studies (DoS) Conference held in Sydney at the Swisotel from 10-12 May. Planet Learning has been a regular sponsor of the NEAS DoS Conference consistently over the past 7 years.

The conference was attended by a record number of delegates from the majority of ELT providers around Australia. There was a great deal of interest in the latest version (4) of Planet English with new content at Intermediate Levels 3 & 4.

The theme of this year's conference, Leading in a time of change; issues and insights, allowed for much discussion around the impact of recent changes to Australia's visa requirements and how these changes will affect the local industry. Student enrolment data provided at the conference painted a picture of an extremely bouyant market particularly across the ELICOS and VET sectors here in Australia.

Delegates preview the latest version of Planet English (Version 4) during the conference.

Austcare commences use of Planet English in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

 

From left: Hendro Susanto, IALF Jakarta, Cut Nanda Meutia, Austcare Project Officer , Ms Kira Meadus, Austcare Program Development Manager, Tomex Iskandar, Austcare Operations Manager, and Yus Damual, Austcare Finance Manager at the Banda Aceh office following the installation and training in April 2007.

The Australian-based humanitarian aid and development organisation, Austcare, has commenced use of Planet English at their regional office in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The program was installed in April with the kind assistance of one of Planet Learning's longest-standing and highly valued clients in Indonesia, The Indonesia Australia Language Foundation (IALF, Jakarta).

Mr Henro Susanto of IALF travelled from Jakarta to Banda Aceh to install the program and to provide training for the Austcare staff in their Banda Aceh office.

In addition to providing Austcare staff with an English language training resource, it is hoped that Planet English will be used to assist with Austcare's broader commitment to local education. Such initiatives include projects which aim to increase literacy and numeracy among older women and the new school Austcare is building in Lhok Nga in Banda Aceh.

Austcare's Country Director, Ms Deborah Leaver said, "The opportunity to work together with IALF has been a very positive experience for Austcare. Not only will the Planet English program help our staff develop their own English skills but it will also assist in further developing our many projects in which literacy and education are key focus areas."

Planet Learning General Manager, Peter Mackey said, "Planet Learning is delighted to be working with an organisation like Austcare that is doing such important work in Indonesia and elsewhere throughout the world to reduce poverty and build local capacity. As a corporate sponsor of Austcare, we hope that Planet English will assist local Austcare staff and contribute in some small way to the education programs Austcare is running in Aceh. We are extremely grateful to our friends at IALF for their kind assistance in making this all happen".

IALF Jakarta Manager, Richard Howells, said, "The IALF has found Planet English to be a valuable resource for both teacher led and self directed learning: it should prove to be a very useful tool to increase the English language capacity of the Austcare staff in Aceh".

Austcare staff try out the program in their office in Banda Aceh following the installation and training.

University of Queensland commences use of Planet English in Brisbane & Vietnam

 

Patrick Donoghue (left) Acting Director of Studies at ICTE-UQ and Peter Mackey of Planet Learning, following the installation and training held at the St Lucia Campus of UQ in Brisbane on 9 March 2007.

The University of Queensland's Institute of Continuing TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) has recently commenced use of Planet English with students at the Institute on the St Lucia Campus of UQ, following the installation and training held in Brisbane last week. Acting Director of Studies at ICTE-UQ, Patrick Donoghue, said "It is clear that there has been a lot of work developing a program that is both teacher and student friendly. The ease of integration into our General English programs is a definite plus. Planet English has been very helpful in assisting us to integrate the lessons in PE with our class content. The ability of the teacher to control what the students have access to at the beginning of a lesson is an excellent class management tool. We have just installed the Planet English software and appreciated how well managed the installation and training was.

The program is already being used effectively with UQ's offshore partnership in their world-class, purpose-built facilities in Danang in central Vietnam. Planet English was implemented at The University of Danang-University of Queensland English Language Institute (UD-UQ ELI) in December last year. Stephen Heap, on secondment as Director of Studies at the UD-UQ ELI commented, the Planet English material has proved to be a hit with both students and staff. Students enjoy practising their listening and speaking skills at their own pace in self-access mode and also using PE under the guidance of a teacher during one of their timetabled lessons, where PE has been integrated into all General English courses. Teachers appreciate the relative simplicity of use and flexibility of the package and that students are able to get the skills practice they need at the appropriate language level".

Planet Learning General Manager, Peter Mackey said, "Planet Learning is delighted to be working with an institution of the calibre of ICTE-UQ, one of Australia's leading and longest established English language teaching institutions. We are delighted that ICTE-UQ has chosen to implement Planet English as a flexible learning computer-based resource in its teaching programs in both Brisbane and Danang, Vietnam".

The recently completed, purpose-built premises of The University of Danang-University of Queensland English Language Institute (UD-UQ ELI) in Danang, Vietnam, where Planet English was installed last December.

For more information about UD-UQ ELI, click below:
http://www.elidanang.edu.vn