World leading languages team host their seventh group of Panamanian English teachers

The Panama delegation receive a warm welcome in the Great Hall, James Graham Building.

Currently, 25 English teachers are taking part in the successful programme at Leeds Beckett which is designed to equip their population with better English so they can compete for work globally. 

Hosted by the languages team at Leeds Beckett, the group is joined this week by the Bilingue Programme Director, Eneida Lopez, the General Secretary of MEDUCA (the Ministry of Education), Delva Batista; and Katrin Bouwens from the British Embassy in Panama.

More than 100 teachers have completed the programme at Leeds Beckett University since its launch in January, 2015. The University’s English Language Department was asked to tender as one of a select few UK institutions following a number of visits to Panama by Phil Clements, Principal Consultant for Events, Tourism and Hospitality at Leeds Beckett, and meetings with Higher Education Institutions, the Minister of Education and Government officials, the British Ambassador and UKTI in Panama. 

Eneida Lopez, the Director of the Panama Bilingual Programme, said “We are grateful to Leeds Beckett University for its continued support of this very successful programme initiated by our President. The University’s professors are helping to equip our teachers to support the teaching of students when they return to Panama”.

Sue Birch, Principal Lecturer in Events, Tourism, Hospitality and Languages, said: “We are very proud of the partnership with the Bilingual Programme and delighted to host school principals from all over Panama for a visit to see our programme in action”.

The group met Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Phil Cardew; and were given tours of the Rose Bowl facilities, including the media suite; the Hydra at Portland, the Great Hall in the James Graham Building and Leeds Civic Hall.