New IELTS test centre in Sydney at UWS

New IELTS test centre in Sydney at UWS – 8 January 2010 The University of Western Sydney’s UWSCollege recently launched the region’s first dedicated IELTS testing centre in a move that will greatly support migrant and refugee settlement programs in Greater Western Sydney. UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid said the new centre is another great way in which the University is opening up opportunities and access to higher education for the people of Greater Western Sydney. “Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveal that 34 per cent of people in the Greater Western Sydney region are born overseas and 29 per cent come from a non-English speaking background, a higher amount than any other parts of Sydney,” she said. The new IELTS Centre will assist new migrants, refugees and overseas students on the path to greater participation in the community, work and further education. The centre will cater for about 350 people a session where the candidates will complete individual tests for listening, reading, writing and speaking. The CEO of UWSCollege, Dr Kerry Hudson, said: “What sets IELTS apart from other English language tests is the face-to-face speaking component, and the security and integrity of testing. The interactive component closely resembles a real-life situation, to really test the students’ English language skills and proficiency.”