Paving the path to skilled work for refugees from Ukraine and beyond

PTE Author
PTE Author
The Pearson and Talent Beyond Boundaries logos
Reading time: 3 minutes

Talent Beyond Boundaries and Pearson to offer free English language tests

MELBOURNE, Australia, Tuesday May 10, 2022: Pearson and Talent Beyond Boundaries now offer free English language tests to skilled refugees to help them resume their careers and rebuild their lives in a new country.

Over 600 refugees from around the world will benefit from the partnership, offering 300 free tests and a further 300 tests at a discount over three years.

Gio Giovanelli, Pearson’s President of English Language Learning said: “Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year, are stark reminders that refugees need solutions – now more than ever.

“Refugees have skills and a desire to work and would be a valuable asset to a company and community if given the opportunity to migrate for work.

“A test of English costing GBP 180 can be a barrier to applying for a work visa. We want to make the pathway as easy as possible for these people during their time of crisis.”

Talent Beyond Boundaries Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Cousins said: “Many governments are embracing connecting refugees to meaningful work in their field.

"So far we've launched displaced talent visa programs with the governments of Australia, Canada and the UK.

“Together, these programs will provide safe migration pathways for thousands of refugees over the coming years.

“We're so grateful to private sector partners like Pearson for stepping up to support these programs.

“We believe this collaborative approach is the fastest and best route to a more equitable system; one that extends life-changing work and migration opportunities to displaced people everywhere.”

Talent Beyond Boundaries is the first organization in the world to focus on pioneering talent mobility for refugees as a complementary solution to traditional humanitarian resettlement.

Anyone displaced by the crisis in Ukraine, or anywhere around the world, can register on the Talent Catalog to be considered for international employment and skilled visa opportunities.

Pearson Test of English Academic English tests for study and work visas and is accepted by the Australian, New Zealand, and UK governments and over 3,000 universities and colleges worldwide. It takes about two hours to complete, and test takers receive results in about 48 hours.

ENDS

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c.20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. Visit us at pearsonplc.com

Pearson Media Contact: Heather Gilmore heather.gilmore@pearson.com

TBB Media Contact: Jessie Mawson jmawson@talentbeyondboundaries.org

Related Content

  • Image- reading, 750px
    World-leading experts ensure PTE Academic is of the highest standard
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 1 minute

    Academic institutions and professional associations that accept PTE Academic test results can do so confident there is an independent panel of experts behind the scenes helping us ensure our test is of the highest standard.

    PTE Academic offers test takers a secure, fast, flexible and fair examination of their English language skills. They can take the test and within five days can demonstrate their language skills when applying to study or work abroad.

    The PTE Academic Technical Advisory Group comprises experts from language testing, psychometrics, teaching, and business who we meet on a regular basis and who provide feedback, advic,e and a critical eye on what we do now, and how we should continue to lead language assessment in the future.

    Rose Clesham, Pearson Director Academic Standards, and Measurement said:

    “We have taken great care to include a variety of language, assessment and technology experts in our TAG group. They are world leaders in their respective fields. They offer qualitative and quantitative expertise, research, operational and strategic experience and take both a stakeholder and a global perspective on the robust and valid use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in language testing.”

    Find out more about our Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members.

  • Image- Asian student group, 800px x 451px
    Students can now see the scores they need with Studyportals
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    New partnership makes it easy for students to find out the PTE Academic score they need to get into University

    London, September 5th, 2018: Pearson, the digital education company, today announced a partnership with Studyportals, the global study choice platform, which will benefit all students worldwide taking the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).

    When students look at a particular university and course they are interested in attending through the Studyportals site, they will now be able to see the minimum PTE Academic score they should achieve in order to be accepted by that institution.

    PTE Academic is the computer based English language test trusted by thousands of universities and colleges around the world. Students like it for its speed, flexibility, fairness, and security – they can book online up to 24 hours in advance, there is year round test date availability and a choice of 250 test centers in over 50 countries. The test itself only lasts three hours and students can typically expect their results within five working days – with 85% getting them within two. The test also has industry-leading security measures – all test centers use state-of-the-art digital biometrics incorporating palm-scanning, digital signatures, secure paperless results, randomized test formats, and CCTV.

    Freya Thomas Monk, Pearson’s Vice-President of Assessment, English & Schools, said: “Pearson is always looking for ways to provide its customers with a quick, effective and seamless digital service. This ‘one stop’ partnership with Studyportals is a great example of this. When students are looking at particular universities and courses on the Studyportals site they will now also be able to see the PTE Academic score required – a simple step, but one which saves them precious time searching themselves.”

    Studyportals CEO, Edwin van Rest added: “At Studyportals we want to make it as easy as possible to match students with the right universities, and every bit of information helps a lot. We had noticed that an increasing number of our 35 million unique visitors were taking the PTE Academic test, yet were not able to confirm their eligibility because of the missing information. We are therefore happy to partner with PTE Academic test to help bring more transparency to study choice.”

    Students wishing to find out more about the partnership should visit the Studyportals site.

    Read more information on PTE Academic.

    About Pearson

    Pearson is a global digital education company with expertise in educational content and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit the Pearson website and follow us on Twitter @Pearson.

    For media queries please contact Media Relations - media@pearson.com

    About Studyportals

    Studyportals is the international study choice platform, enabling students to find and compare their study options across borders. With over 150,000 published courses, 3,050 participating universities, and 28 million users in 2017, Studyportals is a leading information source for study seekers. Studyportals’ 210-person team represents over 35 nationalities. For universities, Studyportals is a results-based channel for international student recruitment. For more, visit www.studyportals.com and follow us on Twitter @Studyportals or LinkedIn.

    For media queries please contact Carmen Neghina at carmen@studyportals.com or +31655875270.

  • Image - Pyramids Egypt, 1080px
    Pearson partners with MUST Test Center in Egypt to offer PTE for UK Visas
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    People living in Egypt who want to study, work or live in the UK are now able to take PTE Academic and PTE Home for UK Visas and Immigration at Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST).

    With PTE Academic test volumes in Egypt growing 29% in 2019, Pearson is working with MUST to increase choice and capacity for local test takers.

    The MUST Pearson test center is located in Giza. Pearson VUE’s network of test centers have implemented proactive health and safety measures including, but not limited to, readily available hand sanitizer, increased sanitization in high touch areas, and disinfected testing workstations (completed between each test taker) to support the safety of testing candidates and staff. 

    Ipek Aydin, Head of PTE for the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa said: “Even in these uncertain times, we are seeing that people are still aspiring to move or study abroad. We are proud that we are able to partner up with the MUST center to offer people the opportunity to take either PTE Academic or PTE Home for Visa & Immigration purposes and help them on their journey to the UK.”

    Khaled Altoukhy, Chairman of the board of trustees of Misr University for Science and Technology said: “As the strategic and the successful cooperation between our university and Pearson continues, and after passing all the required security checks. Must Test Centres have been granted the permit to operate the new secured English language tests mentioned above which will be required for all the applicants applying for UK Visas and immigration. These Secured English language tests will be a new value-added to what Must Test Centres offer.”  

    • PTE Academic (UKVI) is a four-skills language test accepted for work and study visas. 

    • PTE Home is a two skills language test accepted for family, settlement, citizenship applications as well as Sportsperson and Representative of an Overseas Business applications.

    Note to Editors: 

    1. Book a PTE test at MUST or any other location.

    2. MUST Test Center is a PTE Academic Official Test Center. The centers are equipped with advanced technology that provides the highest standards of quality and confidentiality, which include 4 separate centers with waiting areas with camera surveillance.