UCSI University's Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs & Research Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong and Brithis Council Deputy Country Examinations Manager Deep Adhikari sealing the agreement.

Ms Margaret Soo, Head of UCSI English Academy together with Mr Deep Adhikari, British Council Deputy Country Examinations Manager and Mr Michael Yii, British Council Business Development Manger,Examination.

Kuala Terengganu, 31st May, 2012 - A memorandum of understanding was signed between UCSI English Academy (UEA), represented by UCSI University's Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs & Research Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong and British Council Deputy Country Examinations Manager Deep Adhikari, making UCSI University's Kuala Terengganu campus the third IELTS test venue after its campuses in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching.

Besides establishing UCSI University's Terengganu Campus as a Premium Member within the British Council IELTS Associate Membership Scheme, the event aims to further strengthen the ties between the two organizations in reaching their common goal of quality in education.

In his speech, Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Research said, "UCSI University Kuala Terengganu Campus possesses the added advantage of having its School of Education here, thus making it possible for us to have English language teachers who are well trained in teaching skills and education administration".

"Our impressive university-based academy which places great emphasis on teaching quality, pleasant classrooms, and exciting English communicative activities have made us very popular with our students and corporate clients," he added.

The UEA works closely with UCSI University's School of Education to prepare its students in English language training prior to entering the institution, as well as offering English language camps for youth, Business English, workplace communication , public speaking and presentation skills to employees of corporations in the region. 

From the British Council, Deep Adhikari, Deputy Country Examinations Manager mentioned that "The British Council aims to reach out to the public in order to provide an opportunity for them to take the IELTS test at different locations in Malaysia. The partnership between British Council and UCSI University Terengganu Campus fulfills our strategy of our access to IELTS candidates and increases convenience. This partnership will mean that British Council will be delivering IELTS for the first time in the East Coast. "

He added, "As part of the corporate social responsibility, the British Council is offering the IELTS Scholarships for the second year. A total of RM50, 000 is awarded to five Malaysians who are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course in an institution that accepts IELTS as part of the entry requirements. The application deadline is 30 June 2012."

According to Margaret Soo, Head of UCSI English Academy, the collaboration with British Council is one of the many steps taken by UEA to raise its courses to international standards in order to help transform Malaysia into one of the most sought after education hubs, particularly in English language training.

"English language learners especially IELTS candidates in Terengganu and the eastern economic region need not travel the miles to register, sit for the IELTS test and collect their results in the capital city any longer.  They only need to visit us at our University's Marang campus at Bukit Khor.  They will also be offered an orientation to familiarize themselves with the test prior to taking it as well as be provided free access to a 30-hour online course for IELTS called ‘Road to IELTS,' offered by the British Council."

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world's leading English language test designed to assess a person's ability to communicate in English for education, emigration and professional accreditation worldwide.  It is the world's most popular test for evaluating English proficiency and is accepted by over 7,000 institutions in 125 countries around the globe.  IELTS is recognised by more than 3,000 American higher education institutions, and all Canadian, Australian and British universities. I

Its success is driven by the strength of its international partnership with British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and University of Cambridge ESOL examinations, which is committed to excellence and to meeting the needs of test takers and stakeholders, as well as to the continual research-driven improvement of the test.