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

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