beo was established in 1999 as a consultancy service for international higher education institutions wishing to access international education markets. Working to develop and support academic dialogue, links, joint research and international exchange beo activities now encompass a wide range of areas including art, science, education, teaching and examinations. We arrange exhibitions, conferences, workshops, lectures and visit programmes. Our beo Study International Education Counselling and Placement Service provides a free, friendly and professional advisory service for students interested in studying overseas and includes full application processing and pre departure support.

beo has grown substantially and now includes two student recruitment offices and teaching centres in Tokyo and Osaka and a student recruitment centre in central London. In addition, beo works closely with similar organisations in China, Taiwan and Thailand. Over sixty people are employed in various capacities within the beo organisation and all counselling staff have overseas qualifications, most at postgraduate level. (Staff introduction at http://www.beo.co.jp/support/003_001.html) Annually over 1,000 students enroll on overseas higher education and English language programmes through beo and there are over 200 students on preparation courses in the BEO College in Japan.

Director of beo Ltd is Paul Taylor, a former British Council Education Director. Paul has worked for the Japanese Ministry of Education and National Panasonic in Japan. He established the Nagoya Office for the British Council in 1995 and was in charge of one of the British Council’s largest overseas international education operations in Malaysia until 2000. He has over 18 years' work experience in international education and student recruitment, with experience in China, India, Australia, America, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and South America as well as Japan.