A longstanding pillar of the ELICOS sector, PICE has closed its doors after more than 25 years of service.
A notice from The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) confirmed that PICE was placed into liquidation and ceased operating on June 16. The TPS said it is working to assist the international students affected by the closure.
Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, of which PICE was a member for more than 20 years, commented on the challenging environment faced by ELICOS providers like PICE and the reasons behind its closure.
“Despite PICE’s exemplary reputation for quality, the increase in the student visa fee to $1,600, the record high student visa application refusal rates over the last 18 months, and the visa application processing delays have meant that PICE were unable to attract enough enrolments to be financially sustainable,” said Aird.
The increase in the student visa fee to $1,600, the record high student visa application refusal rates over the last 18 months, and the visa application processing delays have meant that PICE were unable to attract enough enrolments to be financially sustainable
Ian Aird, English Australia
Aird said that since its founding in 2002, PICE director John Paxton, along with his team of highly dedicated ELICOS professionals, welcomed, served and taught tens of thousands of students from the world over.
For over 12 years, Paxton was a board member of English Australia and the state delegate representing Western Australia’s ELICOS sector.
“English Australia’s board and secretariat are deeply saddened by this news. John and the PICE team have been integral to our community and our efforts for two decades,” continued Aird.
English Australia is also working with Paxton and the team, along with the TPS, to support impacted students, with a student information session being held on the PICE campus.
Aird also offered his thoughts to “all those friends and colleagues across the sector” who have lost their jobs over recent months and urged stakeholders to reach out to the peak body body, and to one another, to give and get support.”
The closure follows the shutdown of fellow ELICOS providers IH Sydney, which also put down rising costs of visa fees as contributing factors to its closure.
More recently, The Language Academy, with campuses in Gold Coast and Sydney, ceased operations after more than 10 years.
ELICOS stakeholders have previously told The PIE News about the “immediate and crushing” impact of the 2024 visa fee increase on the ELICOS sector, with the sector suffering an across the board decline in English language enrolments of 50%.
