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EF English First

One year prior to the 27th Summer Student Games in Kazan, EF Education First and the Universiade Directorate announced their partnership at Kazan Kremlin presidential residence. President of Tatarstan, Kazan city mayor, and the ministers cabinet participated in the signing ceremony.

Edward Baldakov, head of EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions in Russia & CIS, and Vladimir Leonov, head of Universiade Directorate, sealed the memorandum of intent. According to the partnership agreement, EF Education First will develop a language learning program and provide Universiade volunteers with English learning vouchers.

- Thanks to partnership with EF Education First we will be able to provide volunteers with high quality language training, - said Vladimir Leonov. – Kazan will host over 13,5 thousand athletes and official visitors from 170 countries. Our guests’ impression of Kazan depends a lot on how we will be hosting them and speaking a common language, and that will form an opinion about Russia’s new generation. Language training in this context becomes key.

EF has been a partner to main international sports events around the world for over 25 years. Apart from being an official provider of language learning solutions to Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, company’s history of partner programs includes Olympic Games in Seoul, Olympic Games in Beijing, Asian Games in Guangzhou, World Cup in Brazil and others. «We are glad to offer extensive experience to Universiade in Kazan, - said Edward Baldakov, head of EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions in Russia. – We are honored to take the responsibility and provide cutting-edge technology to help Universiade volunteers reach the necessary level of English».

In April, 2012, EF and Universiade started a language training program for Universiade’s executive directorae, and in June this year EF Education First and Kazan city mayor signed a partnership agreement. To prepare for large international sports events, EF Russia launched specialized English language courses for the hospitality and private security industries called EF Frontline
EF Russia Official web-site
EF Russia Press Club web-site

EF Education First is the largest private education company in the world, founded by Bertil Hult in 1965. It consists of 16 divisions. EF’s mission is to break down language, cultural and geographical barriers.

EF has 400 schools and offices in 58 countries. EF’s international network includes 34 000 employees and teachers. EF has already helped millions of students to learn a foreign language or get a degree.

EF is an official language training provider for Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. EF English First was an official provider for the Olympic Games in Beijin in 2008. Besides, the company helps Brazil national tourism organization to prepare for 2014 World Cup.

EF Education First operates in Russia since 1993, offering a wide range of programs: corporate language learning solutions for business and government, specialized languages courses for industries, partnership programs, Englishtown online-school, study abroad programs and language training in 35 English schools in 11 cities in Russia.

EF has accredited private schools, offering high school program, bachelor, master’s and MBA degrees. Hult International Business School is listed as of one the best business schools globally, with campuses in Boston, San-Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai. www.hult.edu

EF research Unit based in Cambridge brings together linguists, scholars, teachers, and researchers in language innovative learning area. EF conducts worldwide studies to identify English proficiency level in Russia and in the world www.ef.com/epi.