IT professionals across the globe can now accelerate their careers in over 160 countries thanks to a new partnership between the British Computer Society (BCS) and Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.co.uk), a specialist provider of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) solutions.
By helping BCS lead and build the IT professionalism agenda, Pearson VUE will deliver electronic tests to thousands of hopeful candidates each year for Foundation Certificates in Software Testing (FCSWT), Business Analysis (FCBA), Project Management (FCPM) and ISO/IEC 20000 via its professional network of over 5000 testing centres.
Estimated to be worth around £530 million in 2007*, the IT training market has seen a 10.5 per cent rise year-on-year, in part due to the rise in popularity of best practice and professional courses.
Working with BCS – which is the leading body for those working in IT Pearson VUE will provide fast and secure delivery of tests, reducing the time-consuming job of manual scoring, preparing hand-written reports and eliminating the complex logistics of distributing, storing and tracking test papers.
According to the majority of organisations listed in the top 50 IT training companies, being highly customer-focused is a vital part of providing good IT training*. Pearson VUE also understands this is imperative in the testing process. The company’s innovative online registration system will allow BCS to offer greater flexibility to IT professionals when booking and paying for their tests. Candidates can book online, anytime, anywhere via Pearson VUE’s web site, or by calling one of the company’s three main contact centres and speaking to experienced, multi-lingual staff.
Recognising how busy IT professionals’ lives can be, Pearson VUE has also devised a system that makes it extremely easy for candidates to change the time or day of
their test at no charge and at short notice. Instant on-screen and follow-up email confirmations of appointment details are also generated to reassure candidates that their test is booked.
Pearson VUE’s network of Pearson VUE Authorised Test Centres™ offers an extremely high level of exam security and control including an array of biometric technologies to ensure that candidates are identified correctly. Pearson VUE ensures that its Authorised Test Centres™ all comply with stringent security measures and Pearson VUE are in the process of further raising the bar to take into account the IT market’s requirement for increased levels of security. Specifically, there is requirement for the Authorised Test Centres to have digital signature pads and digital photography equipment which goes beyond the suite of the minumum BCS requirements.
Michiel van der Voort, International Director at the British Computer Society, commented: “BCS views electronic assessment through Pearson VUE as an important new dimension to our fast growing global market. This will enable us to offer greater flexibility to the growing thousands of IT professionals who are seeking support from the BCS to extend their skills and broaden their careers in this highly demanding profession. We are looking forward to Pearson VUE’s services further establishing BCS as a major global player in the IT training and qualifications market.”
Signed for a rare three-year deal rather than the usual industry standard of one year, the partnership with BCS signifies a major UK IT contract win for Pearson VUE. Suzana Lopes, Vice President – EMEA Sales and Marketing, comments: “We are proud to be working with the British Computer Society and to be contributing to its continual work to build IT professionalism. It is our strong network of secure testing centres and innovative technology which enables us to deliver this professional and customer-friendly service on such a large scale.”
For further information about Pearson VUE, please visit the website at www.pearsonvue.co.uk or contact Karen Schwartz, Marketing Manager on Tel: 020 7190 4047 or e-mail her at karen.schwartz@pearson.com.
