Malvern Intl Regulatory News (MLVN)

4 September 2017

MALVERN INTERNATIONAL PLC

("Malvern" or the "Company")

Collaboration with Oxford University Press - Learn English Through Games

Malvern International plc (AIM: MLVN), provider of educational services in the UK, Europe and Asia, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned UK subsidiary, Malvern House International Limited (MHIL), has entered into an agreement with Oxford University Press (OUP) to allow for the use of OUP's content and expertise in relation to developing mobile application games for the learning of English.

MHIL has been successfully offering English Language learning since 1999. This new initiative is part of the group's strategic plan to play a larger role in the learning technology environment. The final product will 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.

The two partners (Malvern International and Oxford University Press) will be co-branding the mobile application which is expected to be introduced to the market in the first half of 2018. The final application will be rolled out on an international basis with bespoke elements incorporated within the game depending on the target country or group. The software is being developed by Playware Studios Singapore, as part of its agreement with Malvern International signed earlier this year. Playware has a proven record of success in the development of gaming products which increases user engagement and enhancing knowledge retention through a practice-based learning experience.

Playware's gaming technology platform 3DHive.mobi has been recognised internationally with awards such as: the Brandon Hall Group Awards for Excellence in Technology and Excellence in Education (2015), Microsoft Partner of the Year (Public Sector Education 2013), BETT Asia and IDA Award for EdTech Innovation (2014) and the Innovplus Flame Award from WDA Singapore (2016).

Commenting Dr Sam Malafeh, Deputy CEO of Malvern, said "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. 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."

Joseph Noble, Head of Partnerships & Innovation at Oxford University Press, said "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. 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."

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.malverninternational.com/learning-technology/english-is-fun/ 

ENDS

About Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. OUP is the world's largest university press with the widest global presence.

It currently publishes thousands of new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide.

It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, children's books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.

Further information on Oxford University Press: https://global.oup.com/ 

Further information on Playware Studios: http://www.playwarestudios.com