Malvern International pens deal with Oxford University Press

Educational services provider Malvern International announced that its wholly-owned UK subsidiary, Malvern House International, had entered into an agreement with Oxford University Press to allow for the use of OUP's content and expertise in relation to developing mobile application games for the learning of English.

The AIM-traded firm said Malvern House had been successfully offering English Language learning since 1999, adding that the new initiative was part of the group's strategic plan to play a larger role in the learning technology environment.

It said the final product would be rolled out on an international basis by the Malvern Group with bespoke elements incorporated within the game depending on the target country or group.

“We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with a credible partner which allows us to access their resources, expertise and brand whilst we continue to push forward our key strategy of digital innovation,” said Malvern’s deputy CEO Dr Sam Malafeh.

“Mobile games are part of the daily mobile experience for most and gamification is widely being used to enhance the learning experience.

“This new product has the potential to elevate this collaborative partnership with an esteemed and successful academic provider to a leading position within the English learning environment and more significantly to provide an easier and more engaging path to those who want to learn English.”

The two partners would be co-branding the mobile application which Malvern said was expected to be introduced to the market in the first half of 2018.

It said the final application would be rolled out on an international basis with bespoke elements incorporated within the game depending on the target country or group.

The software was being developed by Playware Studios Singapore, as part of its agreement with Malvern International signed earlier in the year.

Playware had a “proven record of success” in the development of gaming products, Malvern said, which increased user engagement and enhancing knowledge retention through a practice-based learning experience.

“Oxford is a great partner for a collaboration like this given our breadth of English-learning publishing: we have been able to draw on a wealth of materials, from leading courses for primary students, students of Business English, as well as those preparing for a career in tourism and other service industries,” said Joseph Noble, the head of partnerships and innovation at Oxford University Press.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to transform these materials with Malvern to create new learning experiences.

“It represents a next step in our commitment to harnessing the potential of new technologies to support our purpose of helping English learners around the world to achieve their potential.”