During the Myanmar Trade and Investment conference taking place in London, Mr Derek Price, Chief Executive Officer with the Linguaphone Group, the parent company of Direct English, confirmed GUSTO College as their new Direct English Master Licensee partner for Myanmar. This exclusive partnership will see GUSTO College open its first Direct English training school in Yangon, before developing a nationwide education franchise presence across the country.

Mr Douglas Barnes, Director, Department for International Trade – Burma, Mr Derek Price, Chief Executive Officer, Linguaphone Group, Mr Win Htein Win, Founder and Principal, GUSTO College, Ms Aye Thiri Maw, Executive Director, GUSTO College, Dr Myo Kywe, Chairman of National Education Policy Commission, Myanmar

The signing ceremony between Direct English and GUSTO College was witnessed by Mr Douglas Barnes, Director of the Department of International Trade (DIT) in Burma, Mr Peter Crowhurst, Chief Executive Officer of the British Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar and Dr Myo Kywe, Chairman of National Education Policy Commission, Myanmar.

Linguaphone Group already has a strong presence worldwide with their education programs, including within the ASEAN markets of Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. They also already have a presence in Myanmar with their pre-school English language training and kindergarten brand, Pingu’s English. Now adult students across Myanmar will be able to enrol in the popular nine-level Direct English language training system too – featuring over 85 learning hours per level, and a brand-new online learning platform.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Derek Price, Chief Executive Officer of the Linguaphone Group said:

“As one of the fastest growing markets in Southeast Asia, appointing a strong Direct English partner in Myanmar is critical to the Group’s expansion plans for the ASEAN region. We are therefore absolutely delighted to welcome GUSTO College to the global Direct English Master Licensee team. As an established education business in the Myanmar market, we are confident that GUSTO will deliver our prestigious international Direct English brand across Myanmar passionately and effectively and look forward to supporting them wholeheartedly with this exciting new venture”.

Mr Win Htein Win, Founder and Managing Director of GUSTO College said:

“As a leading education organisation in Myanmar, this partnership highlights GUSTO’s ongoing commitment to the capacity development of the Myanmar population. Due to recent economic development and influx of FDI into Myanmar, improving English language skills is absolutely essential. We are therefore very proud and delighted to collaborate with the Linguaphone Group with their extensive experience in delivering English language training programs worldwide.”

Commenting on this exciting new partnership, Mr Douglas Barnes, Director of the Department of International Trade (DIT) in Burma said:

“I am delighted to witness the signing of this partnership agreement between the Linguaphone Group and GUSTO College, Myanmar. This is a great example of the type of partnership that DIT Burma is striving to support to grow the UK-Myanmar bilateral trade and investment relationship. I am especially pleased that DIT has played a role in supporting both parties in developing this relationship, which is now being formalised today. My congratulations go to both companies but particularly to Direct English, as they take a further step in widening their footprint in the Myanmar education sector. I wish you a long and successful partnership.”

Ends

For more information please email Ms Sarah McAllister, Head of Marketing (New Business), Linguaphone Group by email at sarah.mcallister@linguaphonegroup.com

To view the original press release from Direct English, please click the link below.