NEWS - HIGHER EDUCATION
TOEFL Test Score equivalencies for visas in Australia Following an approval by the Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship of the TOEFL test for student visas in May 2011, the Minister has now accepted the test score equivalencies identified by ETS research for the TOEFL test when compared to International English Language Testing System (IELT) scores.The new score equivalencies will likely come into effect on November 5, 2011. “We are delighted that the Minister has agreed to the equivalency scores recommended by Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the TOEFL test as an alternative English language test for student visa purposes,” says David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS’s Global Division. “ETS recognizes the importance for both the Australian government and test takers in establishing reliable equivalencies between TOEFL scores and the IELTS academic scores currently in use for student visa regulations. ETS undertook transparent research with objective, data-based results to provide the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available on the equivalencies between the two tests,” Hunt explains.
QAI tie up with IBM Career Education QAI, a consulting and workforce development organization has announced that it is working with IBM’s Career Education to help create skilled workforce in Software Testing. The co-designed programs by QAI and IBM Career Education will be offered on campus across India, as a blended learning program supported by world class courseware and internationally certified faculty members. The co-branded Certificate and Diploma Programs in Software Testing are aimed at offering a cost-effective skill-building program to students that aligns with industry needs and also encourages adoption by academia. Both Diploma and Certificate courses will be offered, accompanied by real world projects. For students, this collaboration presents an opportunity to gain from the tacit knowledge and experience of the best industry practitioners and helps them acquire industry ready skills that will enhance their job prospects and give them the edge in their career. Over the years, there has been a widening demand-supply gap for the appropriately skilled, ready to deploy workforce in India. The Indian market itself requires 35,000 testers approximately to bridge the gap which is projected to increase to almost 1, 65,000 in the year 2013.
IGNOU, Intel conduct session on usage of ICT in Education In a bid to create awareness, share ideas and experiences on the use of ICT in Education amongst key policy and government officials, academia and research industry, IGNOU’s Distance Education Programme- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (DEPSSA) and Intel Corporation and civil society stakeholders organized a consultative session. While inaugurating a consultative session on the use of ICT in Educational systems and policies at the campus in the capital, Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) said, “We all have considered, formulated and implemented national and organizational policies, strategies and action plans relating to ICTs. There are priority issues faced by every one of us in becoming knowledge societies which focus on information and technology. But due to the dynamic environment, the challenges are becoming more acute and intense. This workshop shall explore such opportunities and priorities for deriving optimum benefits from ICTs as developmental tools in education.” “Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing there is a need for our education systems to empower the next generation of learners to become productive and capable citizens of tomorrow. We are glad to be partnering with IGNOU and other key stakeholders from the central and state governments as well as Academia on this path of Education Transformation,” said Ashutosh Chadha, Director- Corporate Affairs Group, Intel South Asia during the session.
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november / 2011 www.digitallearning.in