ACE wins prestigious PIEoneer Award for Language Educator of the Year

The Australian Centre for Education (ACE), part of IDP Education, became the first school outside Europe to win the prestigious PIEoneer Award for Language Educator of the Year.  

This year’s PIEoneer Awards were announced at a ceremony at London’s Guildhall on 3rd September 2021. The winners were selected by an international panel of 43 judges from leading universities, institutions and professional bodies from 25 countries across the globe.  

The annual PIEoneer Awards are merit-based with winners selected according to the quality of the product or service being assessed, following a rigorous nominations process. 

ACE Principal, Mr Ashley Irving said that after the most challenging in the organisation’s history, this award is a dream come true for the whole ACE team, students, parents and the Cambodia ELT industry.  

“We are honoured to be recognized for our outstanding performance during the most challenging year in our history. I am so proud of every ACE department, our students, parents and partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure the uninterrupted delivering of quality language education for our students, including catering to around 100,000 enrolments over the last 18 months,”  Mr Irving said. 

ACE and IDP Education Cambodia Country Director, Mr Mao Sreng credited the award to the ACE team. “Our team has done an incredible job during the pandemic to pivot to digital learning and ensure world-class education continues for thousands of our students across the country.” 

“We are also supporting the government’s efforts to tackle COVID19, using one of ACE’s campuses as a vaccination centre and providing care packs and refreshment to frontline workers and stakeholders. Approximately 15,000 people have already been vaccinated at the campus,” Sreng added. 

IDP Education Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Barkla, said the award was a testament to ACE’s team performance this year.  

“I am proud of the way our teams in Cambodia have worked tirelessly to make virtual, online learning function on such a large scale. The work and agility being demonstrated is phenomenal, to drive the highest standards of education and safety for our students, teachers and employees.” 

The Minister for Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), HE Dr Hang Chuon Naron congratulated ACE when learning of the news about the award.  

The Minister has been at the forefront of driving the education reform agenda for quality, equity and inclusiveness, and acknowledges language education as a crucial component. “With English as the main language for education and business, I appreciate the role ACE plays in building the English language proficiency of our Cambodian students,” said the Minister at ACE’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2017.

The Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, HE Pablo Kang, also congratulated ACE.  

“Institutions founded by Australia, including the Australian Centre for Education (ACE), have played a pivotal role in promoting and providing English language training in Cambodia. ACE has equipped Cambodians with the English they need for their jobs or studies abroad, including in Australia. I’m very pleased to witness the growth of the Australian Centre for Education in Cambodia,” remarked Ambassador Kang about ACE last year. 

ACE and IDP Cambodia’s recent awards include two Global CRS awards (Best Community Program Award and Excellence in Provision of Literacy & Education Award) in 2019, Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award in 2020, and Cambodia Best Brand Award in 2020. 

The full list of The PIEoneer Awards 2021 winners can be found on The PIE website and social media channels.