Executive Summary
Academies Australasia is one of the leading education providers with teaching excellence, which offers English language courses, Senior High School, Singapore Government School Preparatory Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor and Master degree courses.
We have our campuses stretched across Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Dubbo. Additionally, we operate a college in Singapore providing Australian-standard courses. The qualifications we offer exceed 230 for about 14,000 students, who come from over 122 countries making a diverse student population with a unique learning experience.
Academies Australasia Group Limited has been operating for more than 108 years and has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange for more than 39 years. We always seek opportunities to give students relevant practical experience. For instance, we arrange work placements in different paid internship programs.
Quality is our primary focus in everything we do. Our courses are accredited nationally and developed in partnership with industry and professional associations, which include Central Queensland University, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School and California State University, Monterey Bay in the USA.
We are honoured to mention that 3 of our colleges have Vet Student Loan scheme approval, while the domestic market continues to be competitive. We have a competitive advantage over our international competition such as USA, UK and Canada, as we are attracting more aspiring students to seek further education in Australia due to geopolitics happening globally.
The consolidated profits for the financial year of 2017, after accounting for income tax and interests, amounted to $3,041,000 showing major improvement compared to the losses of 2016.
Business Plan Summary
The Business:
Academies Australia established in 1908 operating for more than 109 years. The Group is registered on Australian Securities Exchange with hundreds of shareholders since about half a century. As an education provider, we function with more than 14,000 students all over our campuses. Each campus is succeeding with its unique qualities and environment offering excellent opportunities to students.
The Group is dedicated towards quality education and student satisfaction. All faculty members are passionate about brilliant reputation from other leading universities, and real-world expertise from work experience in real businesses and industries. Our primary objective is to produce world leaders that are confident and competitive in the real world of obstacles with a challenging, rewarding and friendly environment.
We are positive about our prospects and continuous improvement in our quality of education attracting thousands of students. We seek to grow our network of 18 colleges in 5 states in Australia and Singapore to Hobart, Tasmania, opening a new campus and exploring new opportunities. In addition, our unmatchable educational services will be available to larger number of students.
The Market:
The domestic market is full of competition and a few setbacks such as the replacement of the VET Fee Help with Vet Student Loan, which the students and parents will take time to adjust with. On the brighter side, the international market is favourable for Australian universities as competitive countries like USA and UK have developed strict migration policies for international students. The political stability and welcoming environment attracts many international students who are major contributors towards our annual profits because international students increase diversity and such unique atmosphere attracts local students to be a part of the international community while staying at the comfort of their country.
The Future:
The firm seeks future developments and expects a potential growth in the educational sector. We plan to allocate more attention and resources to international business, particularly in Agriculture, Nursing and Hospitality.
Academies Australasia will extend its educational services to Hobart with the establishment of a new campus in the area. The campus is expected to attract students from around the globe and from the city of Hobart.
The Finances:
The finances required for future developments and growth will be collected through external sources such as loans from finance providing firms or banks. These loans are going to be long-term and paid as soon as the campus generates profits. The new campus is expected to return its investment in less than five years.
Business Plan Timeline:
The Organizational Structure and Operational Plan
Business Details (New Campus):
Academies Australasia is planning to expand a new campus in Hobart, Tasmania. The new campus will offer vocational education qualification. The Group will stretch its excellence in educational services to the new area. It will operate with brilliant teachers and faculty members coming from different parts of the world and exceptional reputations.
Registration Details:
Academies Australasia has 12 of its colleges registered on Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). The Hobart Campus will also be registered on CRICOS to make it suitable for international students.
Business Premises:
Academies Australasia has its campuses located in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Dubbo, and Singapore. The new campus will be situated in Hobart, Tasmania.
Organizational Chart
Management and Ownership:
The company is managed by Chairman, Dr John Lewis Schlederer and Group Managing Director, Christopher Elmore Campbell.
Human Resource Policies:
Employees are selected based on their range of skills, experience, diversity and commercial expertise to ensure their success in the organisation. When an individual is selected as an employee in the firm, it is based on their skill set and ability to enhance the efficiency of the organisation.
Strategic Planning
Environmental Scan:
Hobart, Tasmania is a suitable place for a new campus offering vocational education. There are over 30,000 students including 5,200 international students. Most of them are potential customers for the new campus. About 100,000 residents, students and visitors are always in the city who can be potential students or workers at Academies Australasia. The beauty of the city attracts many tourists yearly. Students desire to study and live in Hobart.
Economic Profile:
Hobart has a young population with the median age of 39. The great population of Tasmania of 509,965 is expected to be attracted to the city of Hobart due to the new campus. The high number working population will be hired on lower wages, increasing the profits for the firm. The property in Hobart is cheaper and large land space is available for a new campus to establish. The high number of businesses, restaurants and other services provided in the area is also an attraction for international and out of state students. Hobart has experienced major 
developments recently shown in the figure below (“Development,” n.d.).
Legal Constraints:
Law affects almost all areas of business activity including marketing, production, employment, relationships with customers and competitors, even the establishment of the business itself. Academies Australasia will have to go through similar legal process and registrations for the new campus as they did for the previous successful campuses.
Firstly, for establishing their university they will need approval from Australian Higher Education Committee according to the acts of Higher Education Support Act 2003 (PMC, n.d.-b), Educational Regulation (NI) (Infrastructure, n.d.), Higher Educational Provider Guidelines 2012 (PMC, n.d.-a) and Education and Training Legislation Repeal Act 2017 (Training, n.d.).
When it comes to offering educational services to international students, the legislative framework is dominated by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act which provides the legal work for protecting the reputation of Australian Education System. The National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 sits under ESOS, which is a set of national standard that protects overseas students enrolled in education providers registered on CRICOS. An institution must be registered on CRICOS in to legally provide education to international students (Australia, n.d.).
Market Analysis
Market Research:
Market research is essential to every business and new idea or launch. To reduce the risks associated with new products and ideas, it is important for the marketing team to study the market, analyse the potential customers, estimate the demand for the product and cater the needs of the market.
For the campus opening in Hobart, the marketing team carried out extensive research on the surroundings of the campus and the demand for a quality education provider. Thousands of students in Hobart seek a higher education degree that can help flourish in the future and become leading entrepreneurs. Academies Australasia aims to provide such excellence to these potential customers.
Most of the research data is collected from secondary sources that are reliable and credible to use. On the other hand, some research is created through primary research by the marketing team. They prepared questionnaires for schools in the area near Hobart, as well as, conducted an online survey for international students. The results of the survey and research were favourable for the establishment of a new campus, showing that most high school students wanted a university environment that has high diversity and helps them develop their social and real work skills.
Market Target (Product, Price, Promotion and Place):
Product, price, promotion and place are the four key decisions involved in a marketing mix. These have a major influence on the success of the product or any new idea.
- Product:
The idea of the new campus in Hobart comes into the category of product. The purpose of the product should be to serve customer needs. The requirement of a new campus is highlighted through the research done by the marketing team. This proves the success of the launch.
- Price:
We aim to offer brilliance at an affordable tuition. The goal is to make quality education available to a majority of the population. The annual tuition fee will be around $18,000. The campus will adopt promotion pricing and offer scholarships and financial aid for the first five years.
- Promotion:
The launch of the new campus will be promoted around the globe to attract students from every part of the world. We will make announcements at our existing campuses, spread awareness through television ads, make our application forms available in different schools and colleges, and register on Common App. For attracting more applicants, the application fee will be removed for first five years.
- Place:
Hobart, Tasmania.
SWOT Analysis:
SWOT analysis is a tool used to gather information on the current situation of an organisation. Different elements of the situation are evaluated within the categories of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
- Strengths:
Academies Australasia has an exceptional human resource from the directors to the managers, and to the faculty members at different campuses. These teams work hard and are dedicated to offering excellent quality of education to its diverse student body.
- Weaknesses:
The new campus lack finances for the establishment. There is a possibility that the research performed by the marketing team lacks credibility. This could lead to a failure of the new campus. However, the managing team is focusing on promotions.
- Opportunities:
The increasing number of students coming to Australia for further studies is a great opportunity for Academies Australasia to attract global students and increase the student body.
- Threats:
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has been rejecting many visas including student visas which is a problem for Academies Australasia as we are losing potential international students. On the other hand, the domestic market is very competitive.
The Future
Vision Statement:
Academies Australasia will be a leading education provider globally, with Hobart Campus as a major contributor to the community.
Mission:
Academies Australasia will cater the learning and education requirements of students from around the globe.
Goals and Objective:
We aim to make our students excel in the real world and become inspiring leaders. The goal is to list among the top universities in Australia and globally.
The Financial Plan
Academies Australasia has made extraordinary profits in the financial year of 2017. The long term liability has also decreased. However, it will require big investments for the new campus. The following are the forecasted financial statements for Academies Australasia.
Balance Sheet Forecast:
| BALANCE SHEET | 2018 |
| Current assets | $2224 |
| Cash | $13,634 |
| Trade and other receivables | $13,715 |
| Other current assets | $8,123 |
| Investments | $3,970 |
| Fixed assets | $48390 |
| Trade and other receivables | $2,224 |
| Plant and equipment | $9,307 |
| Deferred tax assets | $3,839 |
| Intangible assets | $33,020 |
| Total assets | $87,832 |
| Current/short-term liabilities | $34,555 |
| Tuition fees in advance | $24,323 |
| Trade and other payables | $6,090 |
| current tax liabilities | $1,230 |
| Borrowings | $462 |
| Provisions | $2,450 |
| Long-term liabilities | $13,202 |
| Borrowings | $4,948 |
| Provisions | $8,254 |
| Total liabilities | $47,757 |
| Net Assets | $44,557 |
| Equity | |
| Share capital | $50,677 |
| Share option reserve | $198 |
| Accumulated losses | -$6,760 |
| Foreign Currency Reserve | $34 |
| Non- controlling interests | $408 |
| Total Equity | $44,557 |
Forecasted Income Statement:
Conclusion:
Academies Australasia is pleased to present a profiting year ahead and excellent prospects for the future and the success of the new campus at Hobart. The primary reason behind the progress of the Group is hard work of the human resource and constant dedication to serve great learning experience.
References
Australia, U. (n.d.). Legislation and Regulation. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/global-engagement/legislation-and-regulation
Development. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Business/Doing-business-in-Hobart/Hobarts-economic-profile/Development
Infrastructure, R. D. and C. (n.d.). Education Regulations (NI). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015Q00052/Html/Text, http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015Q00052
PMC, E. and T. (n.d.-a). Higher Education Provider Guidelines 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2013C00787/Html/Text, http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2013C00787
PMC, E. and T. (n.d.-b). Higher Education Support Act 2003. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00023/Html/Text, http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00023
Training, E. and. (n.d.). Education and Training Legislation Repeal Act 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017A00088/Html/Text, http://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017A00088
