Washington Post 2013 Annual Report Download - page 30

studying. In 2013, the biggest change was the introduction of a new screening process called a “Credibility Check” for
potential students. This interview process can affect the number of visa refusals Kaplan International’s businesses receive,
which is a risk factor for loss of the relevant license. However, Kaplan International has not experienced a significant
increase in visa refusals. Since the introduction of the new rules, sponsored students are also monitored in terms of their
attendance and course progression, and failure to meet thresholds set by the UKVI obliges Kaplan International to
withdraw sponsorship and report these students to the UKVI. The introduction of revised immigration rules has negatively
impacted Kaplan UK’s enrollment rate in relation to students from outside the EEA and Switzerland.
No assurance can be given that each Kaplan International business in the U.K. will be able to maintain its HTS status and
Educational Oversight accreditation. Maintenance of each of these approvals requires compliance with several core
metrics that may be difficult to attain. Loss of either HTS status or Educational Oversight accreditation would have a
material adverse effect on Kaplan Europe’s operating results.
Asia Pacific. In the Asia Pacific region, Kaplan operates businesses primarily in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and
China.
In Singapore, Kaplan operates three business units: Kaplan Higher Education, Kaplan Financial and Kaplan Professional.
During 2013, the Higher Education and Financial divisions served more than 18,000 students from Singapore and
3,000 students from other countries throughout Asia. Kaplan Professional provided short courses to approximately
15,000 trainees in 2013.
Kaplan Singapore’s Higher Education business provides students with the opportunity to earn bachelor’s and
postgraduate degrees in various fields on either a part-time or full-time basis. Kaplan Singapore’s students receive
degrees from affiliated educational institutions in Australia and the U.K. In addition, this division offers pre-university
and diploma programs.
Kaplan Singapore’s Financial business provides preparatory courses for professional qualifications in accountancy and
finance, such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Kaplan Singapore’s Professional business, which is an authorized Workforce Development Agency Continuing Education
Training (CET) Centre, provides professionals with various skills training to help them to rejoin the workforce, shift to new
careers or catch up with changes that occur in the workplace.
In Australia, Kaplan delivers a broad range of financial services education and professional development courses. In
2013, this business provided courses to approximately 11,500 students through classroom programs and to more than
50,400 students through online or distance-learning programs. In 2012 and 2013, Kaplan Australia underwent
significant operational restructuring and now offers its programs through three business units: English Language and
Pathways; Vocational Education; and Higher Education.
Kaplan Australia’s English Language and Pathways business is part of KIC, which operates locations in Australia and one
location in New Zealand, teaching more than 7,000 students per year. Also included in this division are Murdoch
Institute of Technology and Bradford College, which continue to offer pathways education for students wishing to enter
university.
The Vocational Education business of Kaplan Australia includes Kaplan Professional Education (KPE) and Franklyn Scholar.
KPE offers financial services education programs and continuing professional development courses primarily to a business-
to-business market, including major banks and numerous industry sectors. Approximately 43,000 students are taught
through KPE each year. Franklyn Scholar offers a wide range of custom-developed programs to business clients. More
than 15,500 students are taught through Franklyn Scholar each year.
The higher education business of Kaplan Australia comprises Kaplan Online Higher Education (KOHE) and Kaplan
Business School (KBS), which offer diploma, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. KBS has recently opened a new
school in Brisbane and now operates in four states in Australia, teaching approximately 1,300 students each year. KOHE
teaches approximately 400 students annually in postgraduate courses primarily in the financial services sector. KBS and
KOHE launched an MBA program in 2013 and have enrolled approximately 100 students in the new program.
Kaplan Australia announced the closure of the Carrick group of schools in 2013. Certain of Carrick’s higher education,
English-language and vocational programs have been transferred to other Kaplan Australia businesses. All Carrick
students have either been transferred to other Kaplan Australia schools or to third-party schools, or are being taught until
the completion of the programs in which they are enrolled and then the programs will be discontinued.
In Hong Kong, Kaplan offers a comprehensive array of programs, ranging from language education and standardized
test preparation to corporate and financial training and higher education degree courses. During 2013, Kaplan’s
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