Wall Street Institute is among the largest providers
of
English language instruction to adults and corporate clients around the world. WSI was established in 1972 in
Italy by
Italian Luigi Tiziano Peccenini. The company has provided instruction to over 2 million students and currently operates over 400 centers in 28 countries in
North Africa,
East Asia,
Southeast Asia,
Europe,
Latin America, and the
Middle East. Its international offices are in
Baltimore, Maryland in the
United States,
Barcelona, and
Luxembourg. Wall Street Institute was privately held by the global private equity firm
The Carlyle Group, which acquired the company in 2005. Citi Private Equity ("CPE") is also an investor in the company. In 2010 it was bought by
Pearson Education for $92 million in cash. It is not related in any way to
Wall Street in
New York City.
The WSI "Blended Learning Method" is a technique of teaching that combines multimedia lessons, small classes, native teachers and fun activities. Through the Blended Learning Method, students listen, read, write, speak, and practice English. Students and staff at WSI centers around the world only speak English while in the center.
History
The first Wall Street Institute centers opened in Italy in 1972, and within two years 24 new centers opened across Italy. In 1983, Wall Street Institute expanded outside of Italy, and by the late 1980s Wall Street Institute was well established across Europe. Expansion continued through the early 1990s, when centers were opened in
Mexico,
Chile, and
Venezuela. Beginning in the late 1990s, Wall Street Institute expanded into the
Middle East and then to Asia, which has grown to be a significant part of the business.
In 1997, Wall Street Institute was purchased by Sylvan Learning Systems. In 2005, Wall Street Institute was acquired by the global private equity firm The Carlyle Group. In 2010, Wall Street Institute was acquired by Pearson PLC.
Allegations of corrupt and unfair business practices have dogged the company. It was forced to close its headquarters in Barcelona in 2005. Students complained that the company, two weeks before closing was asking that students renew their contracts for one year more and to make payment for course fees in advance.
A similar situation is arising in France in 2011. The national franchiser is attempting to force franchisees out of business in an effort to developp his own centers at their expense. This approach has already been successful in Nice and Orléans. Wall Street Institute seems not to care that hundreds of clients are left stranded in the process. The same is set to happen in Normandy and Amiens in the close future.
By country
Wall Street Institute has centers in:
Argentina,
Brazil,
Chile,
Colombia,
Czech Republic,
Ecuador,
France,
Germany,
Hong Kong SAR,
Indonesia,
Israel,
Italy,
Mexico,
Morocco,
People's Republic of China,
Peru,
Portugal,
Russia,
Saudi Arabia,
South Korea,
Spain,
Switzerland,
Taiwan,
Thailand,
Turkey, and
Venezuela.
Argentina
In
Buenos Aires, Wall Street Institute centers are in
Palermo,
Belgrano,
Caballito, Tribunales,
Villa del Parque, and
Microcentro (4). In
Buenos Aires Province, centers are in
Olivos,
Martinez, and
Lomas de Zamora.
Chile
In
Chile, Wall Street Institute is the biggest English institute in the country, and has 17 centers. From
Antofagasta, down through
Puerto Montt.
Czech Republic
Wall Street Institute has one center in
Prague,
Czech Republic.
Ecuador
Wall Street Institute has had centers in
Ecuador since 1999. The current 12 centers include:
Ambato,
Cuenca,
Guayaquil,
Ibarra, La Prensa,
Los Chillos, Orellana,
Santo Domingo,
Tumbaco,
Villaflora.
France
Wall Street Institute operates 65 centers in France, of which 13 are in and around Paris, 7 are affiliated to Wall Street Paris. The rest of the centers operate under distinct management.
Germany
There are twenty-seven Wall Street Institute centers in
Germany, five in
Berlin, four in
Munich and the rest in
Bonn,
Bremen,
Dortmund,
Düsseldorf,
Essen,
Frankfurt,
Hamburg,
Hannover,
Karlsruhe,
Cologne,
Leipzig,
Mannheim,
Nuremberg,
Stuttgart and
Wiesbaden.
Hong Kong
Wall Street Institute currently has 5 education centres in
Hong Kong, in
Causeway Bay,
Jordan,
Tsuen Wan,
Kwun Tong and
Shatin. All centres (except the newly relocated Jordan centre as of Feb 2009) have been registered with the
Education Bureau of Hong Kong.
Indonesia
In
Indonesia, Wall Street Institute has centers in
Jakarta at
Ratu Plaza (opened February 2007),
La Piazza (opened January 2008),
Pondok Indah Mall and
Central Park.
Israel
In
Israel there are centers in
Raanana, Kiryat Bialik, Beer Sheva, Ashdod,
Ramat Gan (Tel Aviv) and
Haifa
Italy
Wall Street Institute was first established in
Italy where there are currently 95 centers.
Morocco
Wall Street Institute has one center located in
Casablanca.
Mexico
Wall Street Institute has 2 centers in
Mexico, 1 in Mexico City and another one in Monterrey City.
People's Republic of China
Wall Street Institute has 47 centers in the
People's Republic of China in
Beijing (13),
Shanghai (11),
Shenzhen (7),
Guangzhou (8),
Tianjin (3),
Qingdao (2), and
Hangzhou (2).
Russia
Wall Street Institute has 3 centers in
Moscow.
Saudi Arabia
Wall Street Institute -
Saudi Arabia has 9 centers, located in
Jeddah,
Riyadh,
Khobar,
Medina,
Abha, and
Taif.
South Korea
In
South Korea there are Wall Street Institute centers in
Seoul (
Samseong,
Jongno,
Gwanghwamun,
Shinchon, and
Yeouido) plus
Busan (
Seomyeon) and
Daegu.
Spain
There are currently 8 Wall Street Institute branches in
Spain, in
Madrid,
Cartagena,
Toledo and
Valencia.
Switzerland
There are 9 Wall Street Institute centers in
Switzerland:
Biel/
Bienne,
Fribourg/
Freiburg,
Geneva,
La Chaux-de-Fonds,
Lausanne,
Lugano,
Montreux,
Neuchâtel,
St. Gallen.
Taiwan
Wall Street Institute operates five centers in Taiwan, including three in the capital
Taipei (one at
Xinyi District, one near
Taipei Main Station and one in
Banqiao District in
New Taipei City), one in
Hsinchu City, and one in the southern city of
Kaohsiung.
Thailand
In
Thailand, Wall Street Institute first opened in
Silom in
Bangkok in July 2003. Centers in
Sukhumvit, Lad Prao,
Siam, and Pin Kloa followed. In 2008, the Sukhumvit branch was moved to
Seacon Square, in January 2011 Fashion Island Branch opened and in March 2011 Future park Rangsit branch will open. There are also 8 Corporate centres located inside the offices of large companies such as TOT,
KPMG and SCB.
Turkey
There are thirteen centers in
Turkey: six in
Istanbul (at
Bakirkoy,
Caddebostan,
Sisli,
Erenkoy,
Taksimand
Beylikduzu, there are three centres in
Ankara (
Kizilay,
Cayyolu and
Ostim),
Izmir,
Izmit,
Eskisehir, and
Bursa.
Venezuela
There are eleven Wall Street Institute centers operating in
Venezuela, six of which are located in
Caracas. There are also centers in
Maracaibo,
Puerto La Cruz,
Puerto Ordaz and
Valencia.
References
External links
Wall Street Institute - International
Category:English-language education
Category:Pearson PLC