Services

	>>We help our partners
	>>Smart Schools
	>>Recruitment Services
	>>Strategic Planning
	>>Educational Technology Consulting Services
	>>Management and Management Consulting Services
	>>Professional Development Programs for Educators
	>>Articulation Agreements and Partnerships

SERVICES

Vancouver Offshore Schools Group (VOSG) offers total school management solutions, from school project inception and planning to operations. Leveraging the rich knowledge of the organization’s management team, VOSG developed strategies to provide a variety of education and management consultant services including:

•	Establishing and operating Canadian Government certified offshore schools projects including Smart Schools.
•	Handling accreditation process for international independent schools.
•	Developing strategic business plans for educational institutions.
•	Recruiting and contracting Canadian teaching staff and administrators
•	Providing professional development training for teachers and schools administrators.
•	Integrating technology into curriculum and a school management system.
•	Establishing articulation agreements between Canadian post-secondary educational institutions and international partners.

	We help our partners establish schools based on a Canadian system that is internationally recognized. Wether you’re planning to establish a new school or convert your current school system into Canadian education system, VOSG will help you to achieve your goals by facilitating the process of the Offshore Schools License, developing transition plans, and recruiting Canadian staff.
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Smart Schools

The concept of the Smart School is to create a school environment that prepares the students for the information age. By this we mean that the students are prepared to meet the challenges of a very diverse society where technology is critical to their success. Creating an innovative learning environment where the focus is to produce students who can take on the unique challenges of our complex global society does this.

The aim is not to replace caring people with machines. A significant goal is to facilitate and enhance learning processes through the integration of education-related technology with the caring teachers and staff. The intent is to develop more knowledgeable computer savvy students. A wide range of software and hardware options are available, allowing schools to deliver curriculum that is pedagogically superior when used by qualified, compassionate teachers. In this way the teachers can choose to individualize the learning to be harmonious with their students learning styles. In addition, technology can be used to improve the school’s management and tracking systems, thus freeing up personnel. Our goal is to help schools determine their learning and pedagogical requirements and educate their staff to use these tools to their advantage.

Some systems are available that enable students to advance at their own pace without being held back by other learners. In this way students are able to create their own learning plans thus reducing the tedium of gaining knowledge and skills. This technology has the potential to allow students to collaborate and exchange knowledge with international students that have mutual interests. In this way the system can strengthen social relationships between citizens from different countries. As a result creates connections are created that position students for collaboration in other areas.

VOSG prides itself in being one of a few educational consultancy providers whose management possesses substantial experience in this field. The key services include:

•	Participating at all stages of a Smart School plan from concept to implementation.
•	Determining requirements for implementing a Smart Schools model.
•	Assisting with the specifications and purchasing of equipment.
•	Providing professional development courses for teaching staff and principals prior to project implementation and on an ongoing basis as the project advances.
•	Providing training for the technical support personnel.
•	Outsourcing of the Smart School platform operations and management.

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Recruitment Services

VOSG specializes in recruiting teaching staff and school administrators to work at offshore locations. VOSG’s educational network provides the company with direct access to certified professional teaching staff and administrators.

VOSG can provide schools with entry-level teachers who are certified to teach Canadian curriculum.

VOSG understands that not all schools require entry-level teachers. Some schools require individuals having extensive knowledge in the uses instructional methodologies and instructional technologies. These individuals are capable of taking into account individual student needs. They are able to apply multimodal and multifaceted approaches to ensure that the individual learning styles of students are addressed.

What we will do for you:

•	Discuss requirements and qualifications with clients
•	Advertise for the required jobs
•	Short list and interview prospective candidates
•	Verify educational qualifications and degrees
•	Verify employment history
•	Conduct reference checks
•	Conduct criminal record checks
•	Administer skills personality testing
•	Arrange for travel schedules/visas
•	Handle employer agreement process
•	Provide career transition technology workshops

Guarantees:

We will do our best to provide our clients with caring, qualified teachers and we understand that there are times when an employee relationship goes wrong. Should any employee leave employment within the first three months, or if an employer decides to dismiss employee with valid reason, VOSG will find a suitable replacement and will not charge recruitment fees for the replacement.
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Strategic Planning

Our consultants will assist you to successfully provide a vision for success that is based on the requirements of the stakeholders, grounded in the environment of your organization.

The process of educational reform and the implementation of technology are often done as add-ons to organizations wishing to embrace technology and new instructional environments. We suggest the development of a complete strategic business plan including a corporate charter designed in a way that learning, technology and innovation are central to the values and mission of the organization. This strategic business plan becomes the construct for the culture of a learning organization where self-actualized teams provide a learning environment where students and staff can flourish in a technologically rich environment.

The process will culminate in an implementation plan that includes specific action plans for every level of the organization. Accountability contracts will be designed in such a way that every individual and group will understand their role, their responsibilities and the measures for their individual, group and organizational success. Harmonious relationships begin with a solid plan.

The master strategic plan may consist of the following:

•	An Organizational Plan
•	A Human Resource Plan including a staged development of all staff
•	Strategic Market Positioning Plan
•	Space Utilization plan
•	The School Transition and Accreditation
•	The Technology Enhancement Plan
•	The school Operation Plan and Financial Scenarios
•	The School Action Plan and Milestones

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Educational Technology Consulting Services

Our network of experts in the utilization and implementation of educational technology will provide your organization with ongoing support and services.

As you integrate technology into the learning process, these individuals will be able to objectively assist you with the development of pedagogically sound curriculum and audit the results based on Canadian standards. It is important that learners and teachers enjoy a harmonious relationship with — technology.

Availability can be arranged in a number of flexible formats in order to best serve your unique needs.

Our goal is to help you to make learning more effective.

Some examples of this service package may include:

•	Complete analysis of client requirements
•	Determine required infrastructure and write specifications
•	Assist client with selection of technology platform and if required assist with outsourcing
•	Develop an implementation and transition action plan
•	Assess teaching and administrative staff technology competence and determine appropriate technology training requirements
•	Provide onsite training for your staff prior to technology plan implementation
•	Develop accountability frameworks that ensure program sustainability and effective implementation of the transition action plan
•	Provide an oversight and audit function for technology projects

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Management and Management Consulting Services

VOSG has the capacity to provide you with management services that comply with Canadian and international educational standards.

Once you have developed a strategic business plan we will manage and direct the implementation.
Your action plan may include educational reforms requiring external audits that we will facilitate.

Your organization may wish to contract with VOSG to provide onsite management of the school. This may extend to a full service arrangement that could be designed and customized to provide your organization with ongoing onsite management of the facility.

This service package may include:

•	Conduct an assessment of the facility.
•	Develop strategic business plans.
•	Implement the new business plans and create relationships with Canadian partners with the aim to diversify the school revenue steams.
•	Engage in the process of the creation of the new organizational structure.
•	Recruit, train and supervise teaching staff.
•	PAccredit the school within the time limit specified in the action plans.
•	Develop and supervise school policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the requirements set by the authorities for delivery of the Programs.
•	Provide marketing support, including but not limited to promotional materials describing Program content, Program schedules, Training Personnel, and requirements for candidates wishing to be accepted into the Program, and organization of regional workshops to promote the Programs.
•	Advice the school authority with respect to the acquisition of necessary resources, development of school budgets, and marketing strategies.
•	Oversea program implementation as required by the Canadian authorities.
•	If required, out source for the development of appropriate technology platforms.

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Professional Development Programs for Educators

In order to improve students’ learning an effective staffing plan must be created and followed. All jobs within the organization will be clearly defined and staff will be hired to meet the criteria of the staffing plan. This plan will include job descriptions as well as an evaluation process.

An effective Human Resources plan must align with the strategic plan. In order to be effective, clearly defined strategies and company goals must be articulated to staff who will then strive to meet expectations. VOSG will monitor this process and ensure effective practices assist staff to deliver the company goals and objectives.

High turnover of staff is a source of concern because of the costs of recruiting and training. In addition learning is enhanced when students develop relationships with their teachers over many years. VOSG will develop a clearly articulated retention and succession plan to assure the school is adequately staffed at all times and is able to deliver valuable educational opportunities for students.

An effective communication plan will be developed so that all staff are aware of their roles, responsibilities, the company philosophy, and the chain of command. In addition, changes in operations or practices, which will enhance the learning opportunity for students, will be clearly articulated through the communication plan. Clear communications are critical to maintaining morale and focus on the schools vision. Communication plans are critical if schools are to develop as learning organizations. VOSG will provide guidance in the development of communication plans.

An ongoing organizational development plan will include a continual scan of the way employees operate within the organization. VOSG will recommend organizational development evaluations, interventions and action strategies to improve the school’s goal achievement, maintain the school’s vision and fulfill its mission statement.

As we have identified in these materials, VOSG will assist you in developing your human resource infrastructure as you work towards becoming a learning organization.

We wish to help you with a continuous improvement plan that will be developed and personalized for your purposes. The diagram provides a view of a continuous development process and provides an indication of one of many methods that could be developed for human resource development.

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Articulation Agreements and Partnerships

Going to another country to study is a complex process. VOSG’s goal is to simplify this process and make higher education available to individuals who wish to study in Canada.

We help international students design their educational choices so that they make smooth transitions into Canadian postsecondary institutions without having to repeat courses taken in their home country.

We will strive to negotiate, develop and implement articulation agreements with international post-secondary institutions that suit the needs of the individual learner.

Our service package may include the following:

•	Prepare international institutions profile to be submitted to the Canadian education partners.
•	Make arrangement between International High Schools and Canadian Postsecondary institutions to provide opportunities for students to receive advanced credits for certain programs.
•	Propose plans to simplify and facilitate transfer of credit between institutions.
•	Recruit and approve instructors to deliver programs at offshore locations.

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