In 2026, Elac Study Vacations proudly celebrates its 35th anniversary, marking an important milestone in its journey as an independent, ethical and environmentally aware organisation proudly dedicated to nurturing positive values in international students aged 7-17 through the teaching of English.
Founded in Eastbourne in 1991 by John and Sara Dunster, Elac began with just 100 students in its first summer. What began as a small summer programme has since grown into a global community of thousands of young English learners across 7 UK centres.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Elac sponsored the Welcome Reception at StudyWorld Brighton on Monday 26th February. Speaking at the event, CEO Tim Cooke reflected on the organisation’s journey and the evolving international education landscape:
“Reaching a milestone like this invites some reflection, not only on Elac’s journey, but on the changing landscape of international education and the role we all play in it. Over the past three and a half decades we’ve seen tremendous shifts in student expectations, global mobility, technology and the competitive environment that we all work in. Yet one thing has remained constant – the transformative impact of meaningful educational experiences.
Elac’s story has always been shaped by collaboration, and we would not be standing here today without the agents, schools, and partners who have trusted us with your students and helped us deliver programmes that are engaging, safe and genuinely enriching.”
Looking ahead, Elac remains focused on building on the foundations that have shaped its success so far: quality teaching, vibrant experiences, strong safeguarding practices and partnerships built on trust. Here’s to many more years helping young students explore, learn and grow.
