FELTOM names new president

Alex Fenech, sales and marketing director at Clubclass Language Schools, has been elected new president of the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations - Malta, succeeding Andrew Mangion.

Julian Cassar Torregiani of AM Language Studio, Louiseanne Mercieca (English Language Academy), Nadya Aquilina (EC Malta), Alan Calleja (NSTS) and Carol Galea Souchet (Institute of English Language Studies) were elected to serve on the executive board at the annual general meetings.

Mr Fenech has previously served as industry relations director on the FELTOM executive board in 2009 when he was also responsible for co-ordinating the federation's 20th anniversary celebrations. The programme also included Malta's first international ELT industry workshop.

Mr Fenech, who brings several years' experience in the language travel and hospitality industry to the post, said he planned to further strengthen the FELTOM accreditation scheme. The scheme sets minimum standards of operation for all FELTOM member schools and offers clients quality assurance guarantees.

He will continue to promote Malta's English language tuition industry locally and abroad, to secure the recognition it deserves as a serious professional industry, and to ensure its continued growth and development.

FELTOM is the recognised association of English language schools in Malta and Gozo. It was established in 1989 to "set, improve, and ensure the maintenance of standards in all aspects of English language stays in Malta".

It currently has 15 members which represent approximately three quarters of the total number of foreign students enrolling for English language courses at licensed EFL schools. For the past 20 years, FELTOM has taken a lead in establishing quality standards within the sector.