University of Queensland (UQ) researchers and industry partner International Education Services (IES) have globally launched the latest version of LanguageMAPTM: a quick and accurate online English language test.
Developed by Dr Michael Harrington and colleagues from UQ's School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies, LanguageMAP is an innovative program enabling international education agents to reliably assess clients’ English skills as beginner, intermediate or advanced in only 15 minutes.
The test is also valuable to individuals, language schools, and other teaching or work environments where demonstrated English language competency is essential.
UniQuest Pty Limited, UQ's commercialisation company, negotiated the collaborative research and development project with IES in readiness for a commercial release.
IES is a Brisbane-based organisation providing assistance and training to international student recruitment agencies, and the agreement gives its global network of 2100 qualified agents free access to LanguageMAP for the next 12 months.
LanguageMAP research has shown that English language testing is more successful when assessment is based on knowledge of English, as well as a demonstrated ability to use the language in real time. Three tightly controlled and successful research trials in the past four years, involving more than 1200 English learners and native English-speakers, demonstrated the program to be a cost-effective screening tool for quickly and accurately assessing English skills.
IES Managing Director, Chris Evason, said he believed LanguageMAP was one of the best new professional tools now available for student recruitment agents.
"Using LanguageMAP, our agents will be able to provide their clients with almost instant and accurate feedback about the level of their English proficiency and the academic opportunities that await them," Mr Evason said.
“International Education Services, through its PIER brand, has 12,000 registered agents, so we’re always looking for value-adding products to improve our agents’ ability to counsel and help their student clients,” said Mr Evason.
"Until now, our agents could only answer questions about a client's English language proficiency following a traditional English skills test, such as IELTS or TOEFL, which can be expensive. With LanguageMAP, an agent will have an indication of their client's proficiency within 15 minutes and without having to leave their desk," he said.
The IES agents are among the first commercial operators to have access to the evidence-based screening tool. With its web-based interface, agents can readily access LanguageMAP from anywhere in the world.
UniQuest Managing Director, David Henderson, said this was a unique opportunity for industry practitioners to benefit directly from innovative research originating from UQ's Arts Faculty.
"LanguageMAP has a sound theoretical base and responds to some clearly identified needs of international education agents," said Mr Henderson.
"A key feature of this project is the ongoing collaboration – the agents will be contributing valuable data to LanguageMAP’s further development and refinement, while helping the researchers understand how well this product compares with other tests available in the market."
UniQuest established the start-up company LanguageMAP Pty Ltd in 2007 to commercialise the innovation. The company is seeking further investment to accelerate an international commercial release.
PIER – Professional International Education Resources; IELTS – International English language Testing System; TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
Media: Leanne Wyvill +61 7 3365 4037, +61 409 767 199 or l.wyvill@uniquest.com.au.
Investment inquiries: Sarina Hobbin +61 7 3365 4037 or s.hobbin@uniquest.com.au.
Agent inquiries: Chris Evason +61 421 620 423 or evason@fdh.uq.edu.au.
About UniQuest Pty Limited
Established by The University of Queensland in 1984, UniQuest is widely recognised as one of Australia’s largest and most successful university commercialisation groups, benchmarking in the top tier of technology transfer worldwide. From an intellectual property portfolio of 1500+ patents, it has created over 60 companies, and since 2000, UniQuest and its start-ups have raised more than $400 million to take university technologies to market. Annual sales of products using UQ technology and licensed by UniQuest are running at $3 billion. UniQuest now commercialises innovations developed at The University of Queensland and its commercialisation partner institutions: the University of Wollongong, University of Technology Sydney, James Cook University, University of Tasmania, Mater Medical Research Institute, and Queensland Health. UniQuest also provides access to an expansive and exclusive network of independent academics to tailor a consulting or project R&D solution to meet the diverse needs of industry and government, facilitating some 500 consulting, expert opinion, testing, and contract research services each year. UniQuest is also a leading Australasian provider of international development assistance recognised for excellence in technical leadership, management and research. Working with agencies such as AusAID, NZAID, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, UniQuest has developed and implemented more than 400 projects in 46 countries throughout the Pacific, South-East Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Africa.
About LanguageMAP Pty Ltd
LanguageMAP Pty Ltd was established in 2007 by The University of Queensland's main research commercialisation company, UniQuest, to commercialise a web-based multimedia system for assessing English proficiency, originating from the School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies within the University's Faculty of Arts. The LanguageMAPTM technology was invented by key linguistics researchers Dr Michael Harrington, Dr John Ingram and Mr Michael Proctor. Technical development has been undertaken by Mr Vikram Goyal. Current clients have used the program for quick assessment of English skills prior to and at the completion of language teaching programs, as an assessment tool for overall English competency. The product is under active development and is available for commercial applications and collaborative opportunities.
About International Education Services
International Education Services Ltd (IES) is a Brisbane-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides educational products and services specifically for the international education sector. IES commenced in 1997 with the principal function to manage and operate the University of Queensland Foundation Year (UQFY). UQFY has become one of the most respected foundation programs in Australia and currently enrols more than 550 international students annually, of which more than 85 percent will continue on to study undergraduate programs at UQ. More than 3000 undergraduate students have entered UQ through UQFY since the program commenced. IES also collaborates with the Australian Federal Government and others in offering training to student recruitment agencies and other stakeholders in the international education industry through its Professional International Education Resources (PIER) brand. PIER has introduced the first accredited courses for professionals working in international education, delivered online. PIER also delivers the Education Agent Training Course (EATC) in association with Australian Education International (AEI) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). CRICOS Code: 01697J.
