EF Education
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education & Language |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Bertil Hult |
| Headquarters | Lucerne, Switzerland |
Area served | Worldwide |
Number of employees | 29,000 (2008) |
| Website | ef.com |
EF Education First is an organization that was founded 1965 in Sweden by Bertil Hult. It consists of 15 separate subsidiaries and nonprofit organizations focused on language learning, educational travel, cultural exchange, au pair and academic studies. EF has over 29,000 employees, teachers and volunteers, with offices and schools in 54 countries. EF's stated mission is to break down barriers of language, culture and geography.
History
EF was founded in 1965 when Bertil Hult took a small group of Swedish students to the United Kingdom to study English during the summer. During the 1970's it opened offices in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Mexico. In 1985 EF welcomed its 1,000,000th student. Today, EF is the world's largest private education company, with a group of 15 subsidiaries and nonprofit organizations centered around language learning, educational travel, cultural exchange and academic programs. EF is still privately held.
Subsidiaries
EF Educational Tours allows educators in North America and Europe to lead escorted tours of their classes abroad.
EF International Language Schools allows students to study abroad and learn a language where it is natively spoken. Programs in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and English begin every Monday year round.
Smithsonian Student Travel allows educators to take their classes on escorted tours to Washington, D.C., New York and other parts of the United States.
EF Go Ahead Tours offers group travel experiences abroad to adults. This tours are generally escorted by a full-time tour guide.
EF College Break offers escorted backpacking trips to Europe, South America, etc. for college aged students.
The Hult International Business School is a one-year MBA program that also teaches English. Campuses are in Dubai, Cambridge and Shanghai.
Huron University is a private university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The campus is located in Russell Square, London.
College Study Tours are professor-led study tours for college and university students.
EF's Englishtown.com is an online English school that combines online teachers with interactive tutorials.
EF English First operates English schools for kids, teens and adults in non-English speaking countries around the world.
External links
- EF Education First Ltd
- Study Abroad with EF International Language Schools
- EF International Academy
- Educational Travel
- Educational Travel Canada
- Smithsonian Student Travel
- College Study Tours
- College Travel
- Adult Tours
- Au Pair Programs
- Foreign Exchange Programs
- EF English First