Newsroom
Cambridge explain how change is initiated at anniversary event in Cardiff
9 April 2009
As part of Cambridge University’s 800th Anniversary, Cambridge ESOL and Cambridge University Press (CUP) hosted a special celebratory reception at Cardiff’s National Museum on 4th April.
The event was an opportunity to look back on achievements to date and how the departments of the world famous university are using this experience to continue to offer innovative education solutions. The evening opened with a speech from Stephen Bourne, Chief Executive of CUP. The 300 strong audience was then addressed by Dr Nick Saville, Director of Research and Validation at Cambridge ESOL who covered the past, present and future of language assessment. He used this opportunity to launch a new 2009 research volume on how key Cambridge ESOL exams have developed over the last few decades. The audience was offered an insight into: 'Examining FCE and CAE: Key issues and recurring themes in developing the First Certificate in English and Certificate in Advanced English exams' by Dr Roger Hawkey – the latest from the popular Studies in Language Testing (SiLT) series. Now in its 28th volume, this series from CUP and Cambridge ESOL covers a wide range of important issues in language testing and assessment. On the subject of how change is initiated, Dr Nick Saville, Director of Research and Validation at Cambridge ESOL explained to the audience:
“Change in language assessment is brought about by good quality research and by responding to the needs of our candidates. Just as technology allows us to do more, it also encourages people to expect more. For this reason we are currently working towards offering more solutions that are flexible, accessible and supportive in line with the needs of contemporary learners.”
In illustrating how the exams have been developed over nearly 100 years, the audience was invited to answer a question from the original 1913 paper of Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE). Dr Nick Saville also highlighted some of the more recent milestones in language testing such as Cambridge ESOL’s growing Top Tips revision guide series and how emerging technologies such as online testing are becoming more prevalent.
The reception was held during the week of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) annual conference and exhibition.
