Cambridge International Study Programme

We invite you to join a network of international assessment professionals for the fourteenth year of the Cambridge International Study Programme (CISP) from 11 - 15 May 2020.

"Education plays a crucial role in equipping people with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to thrive in their modern and professional lives." (OECD)

Understanding how assessment of education can support this important goal is critical to get right. While we accept significant change in the world of education, the principles and practice of assessment remain unchanged and fundamental. Learning how to respond to change but with a deepened sense of assessment theory and knowledge underpins CISP. 

New, more flexible programme for 2020

From 2020, the course will be made up of a core programme of learning available to all attendees. This programme is built around five dominant forces in educational assessment. The themes covered are universal in the challenge they present to assessment professionals around the world.

1. International issues in education
2. Curriculum assessment coherence
3. Maintaining standards, comparability and quality
4. Anticipating the future of learning and assessment
5. System disruption

In addition to the core programme, we invite you to choose learning sessions from a technical or policy based route. You can be flexible with which sessions you pick, giving you the opportunity to optimise your time in Cambridge and to add value to your organisational and individual learning needs. 

Sessions on the technical route will drill down on key practice elements of assessment, including:

• Developing an assessment strategy
• Assessment types
• Mark scheme design
• Grading and grade review
• Computer adaptive testing
• Item response theory (IRT)

Sessions on the policy route will address:

• Whole system challenges currently facing assessment organisations
• Curriculum and assessment reform
• Competency based assessment
• Comparability and maintaining standards over time, and
• Implementing whole scale e-assessment

Time is built into the programme for networking and action learning sets, ensuring that you can relate your learning to your own context and leave Cambridge with implementable actions. Sessions are delivered by senior assessment experts from across Cambridge Assessment.

As you study in this historic city, we have also arranged opportunities for you to enjoy a guided punt tour along the river Cam and a celebratory end of course dinner at a Cambridge College. 

Who should attend?

This course is designed for professionals working for an educational body or an exams provider outside the UK - anyone working with high stakes testing/examinations. Previous course participants have come from a variety of backgrounds including heads of ministries of education, directors and senior managers from awarding bodies, programme and examination officers.

"An excellent course for heads of examination/awarding bodies, policy makers and practitioners. Strongly recommend for colleagues in Pakistan and other countries." Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik, Additional Secretary at Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Pakistan.

Due to the interactive and academic nature of the course, you are required to have a high level of proficiency in English.

How much does it cost?

The fee for 2020 is £3,200. This includes tuition, course materials, accommodation, lunch and some evening meals. For more details, see the Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions about CISP, please email thenetwork@cambridgeassessment.org.uk or call us on +44 (0)1223 553846.