19 October 2005
The Rt Hon Lord Kinnock of Bedwellty, Chair of the British Council, visited Cambridge today to see for himself some of the good work that is being done around the globe by Europe’s largest assessment agency.
Cambridge Assessment's two international arms, Cambridge International Examinations and Cambridge English Language Assessment are active in some 140 countries around the world providing educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Lord Kinnock was shown presentations which explained their work and some of the innovative new ways in which Cambridge Assessment is benefiting learners around the world. He saw a demonstration of the ASSET programme which will accredit the skills of students in a wide range of languages and is being developed in partnership with the UK Department for Education and Skills.
Simon Lebus, Cambridge Assessment's Chief Executive, said: "It is an honour to have Lord Kinnock visit our offices in Cambridge. In many parts of the world we are working hand in hand with the British Council. We both have similar missions to promote the benefits of education and provide access to those benefits around the world. We believe too that our success is a real asset to Britain, in a challenging world we are confident that what we do is key to promoting Britain's reputation as a leader in education."
Lord Kinnock said: "I am very pleased to have the opportunity to visit Cambridge Assessment. The British Council puts a great deal of value on our global business partnership. I was impressed by the innovations I saw today and the way in which they will support our joint work to broaden the use of British exams around the world."