Ally Spotlight: Cambridge English
Beryl Meiron explains how Cambridge English, a CGS Ally, helps universities feel confident their international graduate students have the language skills they need to succeed.
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CGS: Can you introduce us to Cambridge English?
Beryl: Cambridge English is a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge, UK, providing English language assessment since 1913 – over one hundred years. Cambridge English produces a range of exams for learners and teachers of English for speakers of other languages, and is also responsible for the research, development and production of the IELTS test. (IELTS is jointly owned and managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.) The exams are widely recognized around the world.
CGS: What is one thing you wish more people knew about Cambridge English?
Beryl: Cambridge English exams are extensively taken by large numbers of students around the world. By accepting the high level academic exams as an additional option for graduate admissions, US institutions can attract and diversify their international student population while continuing to ensure that applicants have the high standards of English proficiency they need to be academically successful.
Cambridge English: Advanced, for example, one of the appropriate tests for graduate admissions, has monthly test dates at exam centers in more than 115 countries. The exam is traditionally popular in both Western and Eastern Europe, and South America, and is rapidly growing in India and China.
CGS: What is the biggest challenge that you help universities solve?
Beryl: In graduate international admissions, it is challenging to know the reliability of English language measures. Cambridge English exam results are focused on higher levels of language learning meaning they allow admissions professionals to be sure of an applicant’s overall and skill-specific English language ability. Cambridge English exams are secure, reliable and valid, and the level-based test results allow universities and graduate admissions teams to feel confident that applicants with appropriate scores can cope with the demands of an academic and competitive graduate career.
CGS: Why is CGS an important relationship for your company?
Beryl: The Cambridge English association with CGS establishes a connection with the community of graduate institutions and organizations engaged in best practices for graduate education and seeking to internationalize their campuses. Additionally, CGS is a respected resource on the latest research and global trends in higher education. Our common goal of preparation of students around the world for a truly global future is a mutually beneficial collaboration.
CGS: What future projects are on the horizon?
Beryl: We are currently working on research with QS on how international graduate skills match up with the language needs of employers in the global market place. Watch this space next year for more details of this.
We continue on-going, extensive research projects including validation and quality systems of our exams, and project results are published in the free, downloadable Research Notes available on the Cambridge English website. Issue 62 summarizes the major review and revision project on Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE).
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