3 Oct 2016 (Taiwan) – In continuation of its expansion plans in the Taiwan market, the British Council and LTTC have signed an alliance agreement to operate jointly the delivery of IELTS in Taiwan on the 3rd October 2016. Under the terms of the alliance, LTTC will facilitate promotional activities and operation of the IELTS test in the two cities of Hsinchu and Taichung through this alliance, LTTC will utilize its experience and domestic network to improve convenience significantly for test takers. The alliance means improved availability and an increased number of test venues, and enhanced provision of IELTS information. The alliance will go into effect in October 2016. The alliance unites both partners’ professions and abundant resources in English language proficiency assessment and international education. With the expectation to enhance the efficiency in English learning and international communication, and to further improve education and matching of skills, both partners will put efforts to cultivate the vision of international perspective for the youths in Taiwan.
The guests who attended the agreement signing ceremony include Greg Selby (Director Examinations for East Asia, Examination Services, British Council), Lee Hewson (Director Examinations for Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Japan, Examination Services, British Council), Mark Knight (Exams Operations Manager for East Asia, British Council), Jamie Gibbings (English Director, British Council), Hsien-Hao Liao (Executive Director, LTTC) and Dr Jessica Wu (Program Director of the R&D Office, LTTC).
“In anticipation to a growing market for IELTS test in Taiwan, we are looking forward to cooperating with LTTC. I believe the strategic alliance will further enable IELTS to be more widely recognised by universities, institutions, professional bodies and employers. This will facilitate students’ further study plans either locally or abroad, and at the same time improve their English communication skills and international competitiveness’’ said Greg Selby, Director Examinations British Council, East Asia.
“Over the last few years, LTTC and British Council have been working closely in promoting rural education, teachers’ professional development, research projects and hosting events. Now, we’ve joined forces on the promotion and implementation of IELTS, providing learners in Taiwan and people who take LTTC tests with more complete and convenient study tools. This collaboration is a milestone for both LTTC and the British Council, establishing a model of integration of learning resources”, said Hsien-hao Liao, Executive Director of the LTTC.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most recognised English language proficiency test for study, work and global migration. In the last 27 years, the number of people who used IELTS scores to step into their next stage of life has increased dramatically. With over 2.7 million tests taken globally in 2015, the total number of new applicants is still increasing every year. The growth in test numbers also reflects the strong growth in the number of organizations turning to IELTS to meet their needs for language proficiency assessment. IELTS is now accepted by more than 9,000 educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments in 140 countries around the world – including over 3,700 institutions and programs in the USA. In general, the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, European countries, and Hong Kong are the most popular study destinations for students in Taiwan. The content of IELTS test is practical, and the main advantage of using IELTS as a major admission requirement is that it reflects the accurate level of students’ capability in English. In recent years, more and more Taiwanese students have started to use IELTS scores for domestic studies. This also reflects the education in Taiwan is heading toward a more diversified and international direction.
The British Council has more than 70 years of experience in English assessment and is a global leader in English testing. We offer a wide range of exams to help people in more than 140 countries gain English language qualifications. We promote and support International Higher Education collaborations and partnerships between universities, industry and governments. In addition, we work with the Ministry of Education and local education authorities to provide customised courses and workshops on English teaching. Similarly, LTTC, as the leading institution in language study for more than 60 years, provides the most professional language tests and assessments. Its assessment quality is highly recognized by the academic and professional institutions around the world.
Through the sharing of professional knowledge and resources between the two organizations, a new milestone in language proficiency assessments will undoubtedly be reached, further promoting English education and raising the international competitiveness of Taiwan.